National Director, Principal Gifts

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Maryland.

📋 Description

• Oversee a national portfolio comprising 25-40 ultra-high-net-worth donors and prospects capable of making seven-figure contributions.

• Guide partners through the entire principal gift engagement process—qualification, cultivation, solicitation, commitment, and stewardship—leading to transformational philanthropy.

• Develop and implement tailored, donor-centric strategies that align partner interests with World Relief’s mission, objectives, and funding priorities.

• Secure principal-level outright contributions that support national, global, and programmatic initiatives by meeting lead indicator targets and revenue objectives.

• Integrate a personal faith in Jesus Christ into donor relationships with sincerity, humility, and pastoral sensitivity.

• Spiritually engage partners as appropriate, viewing philanthropy as both a calling and an invitation to participate faithfully in the Kingdom.

• Exhibit pastoral care and spiritual leadership during discussions with partners, especially when they consider significant generosity.

• Embrace and exemplify World Relief’s fundraising values, including those expressed in Henri Nouwen’s The Spirituality of Fundraising, treating donors as collaborators rather than mere means to an end.

• Collaborate closely with the CEO, VP of Strategic Engagement and Development, and senior leaders to devise cultivation and solicitation strategies for top-tier partners.

• Create and present impactful proposals, briefings, cases for support, and stewardship reports suitable for a principal gift audience.

• Facilitate genuine, purpose-driven interactions between partners and senior leaders that reinforce long-term commitment.

• Act as a trusted advisor to leadership regarding principal gift strategy, donor discernment, and philanthropic involvement.

• Identify, qualify, and cultivate new principal gift prospects via national networks, referrals, peer fundraisers, board connections, and strategic events.

• Establish and oversee a strong principal gifts pipeline with clear strategies, projections, and next steps.

• Collaborate with prospect research and peer fundraisers to prioritize high-capacity opportunities across various regions and portfolios.

• Assist in supporting the entire Strategic Engagement team by equipping frontline fundraisers to pursue principal gifts within their own portfolios.

• Represent World Relief with excellence at national donor gatherings, small group experiences, and events focused on relationship building.

• Steward principal gift partners with integrity, transparency, and appreciation, reinforcing trust and fostering long-term partnerships.

• Maintain precise donor strategies, records, and activity reports following organizational and database standards.

• Participate in principal gifts portfolio assessments, forecasting, and goal-tracking processes.

• Collaborate across the Strategic Engagement Division to ensure donor engagement aligns with organization-wide fundraising priorities and culture.

⛳️ Requirements

• A mature and personal Christian faith.

• Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief.

• Desire to serve and empower the Church to affect vulnerable communities.

• Ability to affirm and actively embody World Relief's Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity, and the National Association of Evangelicals' For the Health of The Nation document.

• Proven integration of personal faith into professional life with maturity, discernment, and grace.

• Bachelor's degree is required.

• 7–10+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, with a proven record of securing gifts of $1M or more.

• Experience engaging ultra-high-net-worth individuals and collaborating with senior executives and boards.

• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and storytelling capabilities.

• Strategic and relational thinker adept at navigating complex donor journeys and extended cultivation cycles.

• Collaborative mindset with experience operating effectively in national or matrixed fundraising environments.

• Proficient with fundraising systems and tools (e.g., Raiser’s Edge NXT, Microsoft applications).

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive benefits package.

• Employee discount program.

• Health insurance.

• Retirement plans.