Director of Development (Major Gifts)
At a glance
- Location: Charlotte, NC (hybrid: 3-4 days in office, 1-2 remote)
- Travel: At least two international trips a year, plus domestic donor travel
- Type: Full-time
The opportunity
A fast-growing Christian global ministry is hiring a Director of Development to take over the major-donor relationships that fund most of its work. In six years, the organization has grown from 5 countries to 20 and quadrupled annual revenue, from about $2M to $8M. It still runs like a startup: a lean team, real ownership, and plenty of room to build.
Today, nearly all major-donor fundraising runs through the President. You'll take over 80 to 85 percent of that portfolio, with the President introducing you to each relationship personally. The rest of your time goes to growth: new major donors, foundations, and especially church partnerships.
The ministry equips local pastors and church planters in hard-to-reach parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America with transportation, biblical training, and ongoing support. It also builds community centers that provide medical care and job training. The organization is ECFA-accredited.
Why this role
- A warm book, not a cold start. You inherit donors giving $10,000 or more a year who already believe in the work, handed to you by the President.
- Startup energy, proven mission. You join mid-growth and help shape the five-year growth plan, not just maintain what exists.
- Impact you can see. A few thousand dollars equips a local pastor to reach villages with no church. You'll see it yourself on at least two international vision trips a year.
What you'll do
- Own the major-donor portfolio. Take over most of the President's portfolio of $10,000+ donors, the relationships behind 75 to 80 percent of total funding. Keep them engaged through calls, visits, and personal recognition.
- Grow new giving. Spend about a fifth of your time finding new major donors, foundations, and church partners. Spot donors in the existing base who are ready to grow into major giving.
- Lead vision trips. Host donors and prospects internationally at least twice a year so they see the work firsthand.
- Tell the story. Turn field impact into specific, compelling stories. Shape the thank-yous, updates, and virtual events that keep partners engaged.
- Run your portfolio with discipline. Keep donor records current in the CRM and report results against annual revenue goals.
Your first year
- First 90 days: Shadow the President on donor calls, meet most of the donors you'll inherit, and learn how the ministry works. You can tell its story without notes.
- By 6 months: You own a significant share of the portfolio, and donors call you first. You've started outreach to new prospects and scheduled your first vision trip.
- By 12 months: Most relationships are primarily yours. You've closed at least one new major donor or foundation, completed two vision trips, and you're on pace for your revenue goal.
What you bring
- 3+ years building trusted relationships with high-net-worth people while owning a revenue number. Major gifts fundraising fits. So does wealth management, private banking, financial advising, business development, or running your own business.
- Results that are yours. Your success came from your own relationships and follow-through, not from a famous brand doing the work for you.
- A Christian faith that's visible in how you live. Nonprofit or ministry experience isn't required. Your faith shows up in your church, your community, and how you serve, and you align with the organization's evangelical statement of faith.
- A growth mindset. You're eager to learn how things are done here before you change them, and you welcome feedback.
- A gift for storytelling, in writing and in person.
- Comfort working in a CRM to manage relationships and pipeline.
- Willingness to work hybrid in Charlotte (3 days in office) and travel internationally at least twice a year, sometimes to remote areas.
- A bachelor's degree.
Bonus points
- You've been an entrepreneur: started a business, built a book of clients, or grown a territory from scratch.
- You've raised money through church partnerships or foundations.
- You've hosted donor or client trips, especially internationally.
- You have a network of faith-driven givers. Helpful, but not required.
Who thrives here
You're a builder at heart. You like ownership, you move fast, and you're comfortable while the playbook is still being written. You're also humble enough to learn how the ministry does things first.
You're at ease in a boardroom, a donor's living room, or a remote village overseas. You can carry a relationship handoff that takes more than a year without losing momentum. And you take a revenue goal personally.
This isn't the right seat if you need a fully built pipeline and a clear playbook from day one.
About this search
Titus Talent Strategies is leading this confidential search. The organization's name will be shared with qualified candidates after a first conversation. Along with your resume, feel free to include a short note on where your faith and your drive to build show up in your life.