JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Philanthropy, the Director of Strategic Initiatives will play a pivotal role in the success of achieving ambitious targets for CARE’s Major Gifts team. This role will streamline current processes while also implementing new systems across the Major Gifts team to advance fundraising strategy. This person is a highly organized, detail-oriented, and strategic team player who can exercise strong judgment, take initiative, and successfully work on concurrent tasks under pressure while maintaining a calm demeanor. They are proactive and innovative in developing systems, routines, and approaches to support major gift cultivation, stewardship, campaigns, and overall strategy.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Strategic Initiative Advancement & Implementation Develop and execute a cohesive strategy for Major Gifts program operations, providing critical structure and guidance to frontline fundraisers. Regularly assess, evaluate, and improve existing systems, processes, and strategies to ensure efficient and effective operations that adhere to best practices. Review and analyze key fundraising metrics to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement. Provide detailed reports and insights to Major Gifts leadership to inform decision-making and strategy adjustments. Implement initiatives to improve Major Gifts program KPIs, such as adopting new approaches to donor stewardship and engagement.

Information Management & Communication Streamline information gathering and dissemination to support Major Gifts objectives. Implement a system and calendar for tracking activities relevant to engaging major/principal gift audiences and increasing CARE’s visibility in key markets. Oversee project management of cross-cutting initiatives and campaigns that advance donor engagement and fundraising opportunities. Coordinate key activities and stakeholders to meet deadlines and ensure successful execution. Collaborate with key departments across CARE to source materials and adapt content for major/principal gift audiences. Ensure fundraisers have updated and relevant materials to share with donors about all key CARE programmatic areas. Team Leadership & Development Lead and mentor a team of 3-4 professionals, providing feedback and coaching to implement increasingly sophisticated and effective strategies that support frontline fundraisers. Foster strong relationships between the Major Gifts team and other departments, ensuring mutual understanding of shared goals and thoughtful decision-making. Maintain professional relationships with counterparts in other nonprofits and stay current with the latest developments in Major Gift fundraising best practices and trends. Other Duties as Assigned Take on additional responsibilities and duties as assigned by the Associate Vice President of Philanthropy and Major Gifts Executive Directors.

QUALIFICATIONS : Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required 8-10 years’ experience leading in project management required; project management, fundraising, communications, strategy development or combination experience preferred Consistently strong organization and project management skills, and excellent attention to detail. Excellent communication skills with ability to build strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. Excellent organization and project management skills with outstanding attention to detail.