Lead and grow a national major gifts program: manage and coach fundraisers, cultivate and solicit donors giving $25,000+, maintain donor strategies and revenue projections, develop complex and planned gifts, partner across teams for prospecting, reporting, and mission-aligned fundraising.
About us (and you)
At State Policy Network, we're building an America where personal freedom, innovation, and opportunity empower everyone to thrive. We’re a national nonprofit—but more than that, we’re the connector and champion behind a growing movement of state-based think tanks and partners working toward a freer society.
That’s where you come in. In this role, you won’t just be a spectator—you’ll be in the thick of it, working alongside bold leaders to ignite durable, state-level freedom movements. Together, we’ll help high-performing, independent think tanks make a real impact—one state at a time.
How you’ll make impact
State Policy Network is seeking a Director of Major Gifts who thrives in an entrepreneurial, mission-driven environment and is motivated by building meaningful relationships that advance freedom and self-governance.
The ideal candidate has experience leading major gifts programs, coaching frontline fundraisers, and managing complex donor strategies that align philanthropic goals with organizational impact. The right person for this role is a strategic thinker, people developer, and relationship-builder who consistently delivers results while fostering a positive and accountable team culture.
This role requires someone dedicated to advancing SPN’s mission by ensuring donors are meaningfully engaged and that fundraising strategies are both ambitious and realistic. The ideal candidate is able to balance big-picture strategy with hands-on execution, managing both people and a personal donor portfolio.
The Director of Major Gifts will report to the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, serve on the development leadership team, and manage two Strategic Partnership Advisors, with potential for team growth as revenue expands.
This role includes a competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus benefits. Much of SPN’s staff are remote, and this position is eligible to work remotely from a virtual office anywhere in the United States.
Your Day-to-Day
- Lead and manage the major gifts program, ensuring fundraising goals are met and exceeded.
- Coach and mentor a team of frontline fundraisers to build long-term, sustainable donor relationships.
- Host donor strategy meetings and provide ongoing performance feedback and professional development.
- Ensure each major donor and prospect has a clear, customized engagement strategy.
- Maintain accurate revenue projections and adjust strategies as donor circumstances evolve.
- Partner with Development Operations to ensure timely and accurate data entry and reporting.
- Collaborate with Strategic Partnership Advisors and senior leaders to expand and strengthen prospecting efforts.
- Prioritize general operating support while also securing funds for special projects.
- Partner with internal teams to identify and solicit donors for RFPs, special initiatives, and a mission campaign.
- Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and prospects nationwide.
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts of $25,000+, with a focus on $50,000+ donors.
- Develop and structure complex and planned gifts aligned with donor interests and SPN priorities.
- Maintain deep knowledge of SPN’s programs, funding priorities, and strategic objectives.
- Participate in opportunities to share fundraising best practices with affiliate development leaders to help the Network raise more money.
TLDR? We’re looking for...
- 5+ years of development experience, including at least 3+ years closing major gifts of $25,000+
- Demonstrated experience managing and coaching fundraising staff
- A strong commitment to advancing SPN’s mission
- An entrepreneurial, results-oriented mindset
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
- Comfort balancing multiple priorities and deadlines
- Proficiency in MS Office; Salesforce experience is a plus
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 40%
Are YOU a good fit?
- Are you Mission-Bound? Everything we do at SPN is in service to the restoration of individual rights and self-governance. We pursue excellence in our work and set aside our pride and differences to commit ourselves to this end.
- Are you Candid and Humble? We give and receive honest and respectful feedback with the assumption of positive intent. We deal with problems and conflict directly with the individuals involved. We are open to challenges, eager to learn, and willing to acknowledge mistakes to improve.
- Are you Entrepreneurial? We seek opportunities, embrace innovation, and take prudent risk with a bias toward action. We test, fail small, and scale our successes. We’re resilient but also nimble, looking for the potential in every challenge.
- Are you Relational? Trust and respect are built over time through competence, reliability, and integrity. We establish credibility through meaningful relationships, demonstrating value before expecting influence or partnership.
Sound like you?
Qualified candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing your interest in the position, SPN’s mission, compensation requirements, and travel availability.
There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Similar Jobs
Professional Services • Social Impact
The Director, Major Gifts Partnerships leads high-value relationships with foundations and major donors, securing substantial commitments for philanthropic initiatives. This role involves strategic engagement, deal execution, and internal collaboration to develop fundable opportunities.
Social Impact
The Major Gifts Officer will manage donor relationships and fundraising strategies, aiming to secure major contributions for the organization.
Top Skills:
Crm PlatformsSalesforce
Aerospace • Hardware • Information Technology • Security • Software • Cybersecurity • Defense
Lead technical strategy and architect winning solutions for major DoD captures from shaping through proposal and program standup. Own technical volume, build high-performance teams, integrate partners, drive compliance and evaluator-focused narratives, and use AI and modern engineering practices to differentiate proposals.
Top Skills:
Ai CopilotsAWSAzureCommand And Control (C2) SystemsDevsecopsDod Systems IntegrationGenerative AiLlmsModel-Based Systems Engineering (Mbse)Shipley (Capture Methodology)
What you need to know about the Austin Tech Scene
Austin has a diverse and thriving tech ecosystem thanks to home-grown companies like Dell and major campuses for IBM, AMD and Apple. The state’s flagship university, the University of Texas at Austin, is known for its engineering school, and the city is known for its annual South by Southwest tech and media conference. Austin’s tech scene spans many verticals, but it’s particularly known for hardware, including semiconductors, as well as AI, biotechnology and cloud computing. And its food and music scene, low taxes and favorable climate has made the city a destination for tech workers from across the country.
Key Facts About Austin Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 180,500; 13.7% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Dell, IBM, AMD, Apple, Alphabet
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, hardware, cloud computing, software, healthtech
- Funding Landscape: $4.5 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Live Oak Ventures, Austin Ventures, Hinge Capital, Gigafund, KdT Ventures, Next Coast Ventures, Silverton Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: University of Texas, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Center for Complex Quantum Systems, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, Texas Advanced Computing Center
