Director, Major Gifts, Institutional Advancement

Meridian International

Description:

Title: Director, Major Gifts, Institutional
Advancement

Employment Status: Exempt

Salary: $84,000 – $130,000 commensurate with
experience

Supervisor Title: Director, Institutional Advancement

Date Revised: February 2024

Summary of Position:

Meridian International Center, a 64-year-old institution
dedicated to public diplomacy and global leadership through
exchange, culture and convening activities, is seeking a dynamic,
experienced Director of Major Gifts to continue growing a diverse
base of philanthropic partners.

Working closely with the organization’s leadership, the Director
will bring in major gifts ($100,000+) from across the country and
focus on expanding Meridian’s network for individual and major gift
donors, with a focus on building a pipeline to support an
anticipated historic preservation fund and capital campaign.

The successful Director will have front-line individual donor
fundraising experience in an international, multifaceted non-profit
organization, established relationships in the philanthropic,
cultural, international and political communities in Washington,
D.C. and across the country and an interest and understanding of
international affairs, culture and diplomacy. Experience
fundraising major gifts from corporations and foundations a
plus.

This position is located in Washington D.C. and Meridian
requires MD, DC, or VA residence for all employees. The position
may work partially remotely until further notice.

Position Responsibilities:

Individual Donors + Major Gifts Responsibilities

• Identifies individual giving prospects, develops personalized
  outreach and engagement strategies, solicits and closes major
  gifts.
• Helps manage major gifts portfolio of supporters ensuring
  budgetary expectations are achieved.
• In consultation with Senior Leadership, external consultants,
  and Institutional Advancement team, help lead a capital campaign
  strategy to support renovation and historic preservation of
  Meridian’s historic, John Russell Pope designed campus and grounds
  for diplomacy.
• Communicates regularly to individual philanthropic partners and
  prospects and serves as a central point of contact for cultivated
  major-donor relationships.
• Designs and writes donor materials, brochures and other
  collateral as well as specific partnership and solicitation
  proposals tailored to major philanthropic partners focused on
  Meridian programs and initiatives.
• Works with leadership to cultivate new Board members with an
  eye to growing the culture of philanthropy and major giving.
• Develops and implements giving strategy to support capital
  campaign.
• Represent Meridian at meetings and events, when appropriate,
  across the country
• Establish and manage benefits, privileges, recognition, and
  acknowledgment processes for philanthropic partners

Management Responsibilities

• Serves as the central link between Institutional Affairs team
  and Operations team to devise strategy for historic preservation
  and renovation needs for Meridian’s campus.
• Communicates regularly with senior leadership on overall
  development activities, budget goals, fundraising progress and
  issues.
• Serves as a cross-organization link between all Meridian
  divisions to identify and coordinate funding opportunities, sources
  and strategy and to create strategic partnerships with individuals,
  foundations and corporations.
• Contributes to Salesforce database for all development related
  activities.
• Responsible for completing all organizational administrative
  responsibilities in a timely manner and meeting all organizational
  administrative deadlines.
• Other duties as assigned.

Employer’s Statement

Meridian is committed to creating a diverse environment. We
believe in empowering global leaders and amplifying voices of a
wide variety of backgrounds to create pathways for greater
understanding, shared value and respect for all cultures as
connecting people has been our foundation for over 60 years. If you
share our values and enthusiasm to promote non-partisan
collaboration to address global challenges and opportunities, you
can find a home at Meridian.

As an equal opportunity employer, Meridian promotes equal
employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without
regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or
expression, sexual orientation, personal appearance, pregnancy,
childbirth or related medical condition, family responsibilities,
marital, veteran or military status, national origin, age,
disability, genetic information, matriculation, political
affiliation, or any other classification protected by federal,
state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity will be offered
and maintained to all persons at every stage and condition of
employment, including recruiting, hiring, training, upgrading,
promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and
termination.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should apply here. Cover letters should
include salary expectations. Only candidates being considered for
this position will be contacted. NO PHONE CALLS in reference to
this position will be accepted.

Requirements:

Education/Experience

• Undergraduate degree preferred
• 8years of progressive responsibility in a non-profit
  fundraising environment and an interest and familiarity with
  international affairs.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating major gifts of
  $100,000+.
• Or any equivalent combination of training, education, and
  experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential
  functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Confident and accomplished front-line fundraising experience
  and a proven ability to identify, engage, solicit and close
  individual major donors independently
• Demonstrated experience closing complex, multiyear gifts from
  diversified sources
• Demonstrated ability to understand priorities of high net-worth
  individuals and foundation decision makers and connect them with
  organizational priorities
• Experience in working on a capital campaign strongly
  preferred
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects
  simultaneously
• Experience with Salesforce database, iWave, and Microsoft
  Office software packages
• Strong inter-cultural communication skills; maturity, cultural
  sensitivity, and tact suitable for working with individuals from
  around the world
• Keen sense of personal integrity and discretion when handling
  sensitive information
• Superior written and verbal communication skills

Technical Requirements:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and
  PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams is necessary for this role
• Salesforce and iWave experience strongly preferred

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