Senior Development Advisor

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

📋 Description

• Oversee a portfolio of 100–150 major-gift prospects and donors throughout the entire gift cycle.

• Create personalized cultivation and solicitation strategies.

• Conduct donor visits, present funding opportunities, and secure five- and six-figure gifts along with multi-year commitments.

• Participate in moves management and portfolio assessment processes.

• Identify and assess new prospects through direct outreach efforts.

• Foster relationship development within the Intellectual Builders donor community and the corporate giving sector.

• Collaborate with Development Operations, Portfolio Management, Foundations, Communications & Marketing, Programs, and program scholars.

• Engage executive leadership and scholars to cultivate high-level donor relationships and secure key commitments.

• Keep precise records of portfolio activities, opportunities, contact reports, cultivation statuses, and solicitation plans in Salesforce.

• Assist in pipeline planning, gift forecasting, and portfolio evaluations.

⛳️ Requirements

• 5+ years of direct major gift fundraising experience.

• Proven track record of securing five- and six-figure commitments.

• Experience in qualifying prospects and initiating donor relationships through direct, cold outreach.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to engage donors from diverse professional and ideological backgrounds.

• Familiarity with CRM platforms, particularly Salesforce.

• Capacity to independently create and maintain opportunities, activities, and contact reports.

• Strong organizational abilities.

• Skill in managing a complex, multi-stage national portfolio with consistent follow-up.

• Full-time availability Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET.

• Willingness to travel approximately 2–3 weeks per year for staff gatherings and on-site collaboration.

• Willingness to undertake approximately 30–40% donor-related travel.

🏝️ Benefits

• Remote work arrangement.

• Organization-wide staff gatherings and opportunities for on-site collaboration.

• Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.