VP, Head of Principal Giving

Job Title: VP, Head of Principal Giving

Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its VP, Head of Principal Giving position. This position is responsible for raising $10-20M annually. In this role, you will be responsible for fundraising at six and seven-figure levels to meet associated revenue goals.

On a day-to-day basis, you will be an active relationship steward and frontline fundraiser, managing the overall strategy, planning, execution, and delivery of bespoke donor engagement plans that support the teams' goals. The portfolio comprises of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and longstanding donor relationships that require collaboration with Executive leadership, as well as partners across the Office of the CEO, Marketing and Communications, and Research Programs.

This position will manage a team of Principal Giving relationship managers and fundraisers, as well as Senior Manager, Board and Councils Relations. In this position, you will develop and maintain strong collaborative working relationships with colleagues within Development and across the Foundation.

This is a hybrid-flex position that will require in-person attendance on a semi-regular basis at MJFF’s office in New York City

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Provide effective thought leadership for the Principal Giving team's efforts towards increased financial revenue that supports impactful delivery of the Foundation’s mission
Manage a portfolio of 20-30 high net worth individuals and families, including members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors
Design tactics and creative, long term engagement strategies to deepen donor commitment and increase giving
Liaise with relationship managers and Executives who also work with the Board to ensure strategies are consistent and relevant
Partner with the Chief Development Officer and VP, Head of Individual Giving to develop a coherent and ambitious strategic plan, including setting annual and multi-year/campaign goals for the team
Ensure transparent and regular updates on the Principal Giving portfolio’s open opportunities are shared with key stakeholders at intervals that best support internal discussions, revenue forecasting and reporting, annual planning and key research funding decisions
Effectively and regularly communicate risks and opportunities, initiating timely internal discussions to problem-solve and/or capitalize on opportunities. Be proactive and lead with a solutions-first mentality
Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer, Chief Scientists and Communications leadership to develop an overarching vision for high-net-worth donor engagement. Advocate for messaging and resources that best connect the Principal Giving portfolio to the Foundation’s Strategic Research Agenda (SRA). Share back learnings from donor/prospect feedback to iterate and improve the SRA. Articulate and cascade that vision to key stakeholders to encourage and foster effective and innovative relationship management at all levels
Manage a team of front-line fundraisers and relationship managers; inspire, motivate and challenge the team through active mentorship; foster an environment that supports new ideas and innovative approaches to donor relationship management
Develop and implement guidelines and standards; work with partner teams to create and evaluate tools and procedures towards a best-in-class approach to bespoke donor engagement and fundraising
Evaluate current practices and processes for in-office activities including high-end stewardship and solicitation mailings, special interest communication strategy, revenue tracking, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Qualifications and Skills:

Proven success as a front-line major and principal gifts fundraiser who has independently secured multiple six and seven-figure gifts
Proven experience securing and conducting personal, face-to-face visits to qualify, engage, solicit, and steward major donor prospects
Ability to comfortably pivot between serving as the forward-facing relationship manager to internal strategic implementation lead based on donor needs
Proven track record of building partnerships that lead to sustainable revenue generation at the leadership level
Proven success managing a strong team of front-line fundraisers who meet revenue goals and collaborate across teams
Ability to digest complex material and present in an empathetic and compelling manner; ability to communicate science and business models to donors with high level of proficiency as well as teach and mentor others to do the same
Outstanding interpersonal skills and a high level of comfort and professionalism with direct donor interaction, including discussions of personal and family finances
Exceptional communication and presentation skills, including excellent writing skills inclusive of high-level solicitation letters, proposals and impact statements and public speaking abilities
High level of discretion and respect for donor privacy
A capacity to work independently and collaboratively across multiple departments
Familiarity with Salesforce CRM software or equivalent software and excellent Microsoft Office skills
A willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed. This position requires travel approximately 25% of each month, occasional weekend travel is required
Must have a valid Driver’s License

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $180,000 - $215,000. In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)
Competitive dental and vision plans
401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
Flexible spending accounts
Employer paid life and disability insurance
18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2pm) and a summer holiday week over July 4
Two ways of working: hybrid-flex, or remote work. We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done.
Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.

About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Visit www.michaeljfox.org for more information.

Research has shown that people from marginalized communities apply to roles only when they meet 100% of the job requirements. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, and you are someone who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, we strongly encourage you to apply.

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