Senior Director of Philanthropic Strategy

Summary

Join Mercy For Animals, a leading farmed animal advocacy organization, as a Senior Director of Philanthropic Strategy! Lead and elevate major- and principal-gift fundraising efforts by managing a high-performing team. Ensure fundraising priorities align with organizational goals, foster collaboration, and drive accountability and innovation. Shape philanthropic strategies to secure transformative gifts, create compelling cases for support, and inspire donor investment. This role is remote within the United States and offers invaluable work in team leadership, strategic alignment, project development, event strategy, resource management, performance improvement, and general duties. Make a significant impact for animals and be part of a dedicated team.

Requirements

• Seven years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, including five or more years focused on major or principal giving
• Three or more years of direct management experience with a track record of mentoring and empowering high-performing teams
• Strong experience leveraging CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and analytics tools to track donor engagement, evaluate fundraising performance, and inform decision-making. Demonstrated ability to use data-driven insights to refine strategies, optimize donor stewardship, and enhance fundraising effectiveness
• Outstanding ability to identify and address challenges proactively, using critical thinking to develop solutions that drive sustainable impact
• Demonstrated proactive and adaptable approach, navigating change with resilience while maintaining team motivation and momentum. Leading with initiative, ensuring projects move forward efficiently while remaining aligned with organizational priorities
• Communicating with clarity, authenticity, and purpose, engaging audiences through both written and spoken storytelling
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, streamline workflows, and drive operational improvements. Strong ability to lead the implementation of efficient systems and processes to support sustainable fundraising growth
• Globally minded approach to philanthropy that ensures fundraising strategies reflect the diverse, international scope of Mercy For Animals’ work. Demonstrated cultural competency and commitment to equity in donor engagement and team leadership
• Commitment to the mission and values of Mercy For Animals
• Commitment to continued personal and organizational growth in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice principles

Responsibilities

• Manage and coach the philanthropy team in adopting best practices in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship at the mid-level and major, principal, and foundation levels
• Foster a cohesive and positive team culture, implement inclusive practices, and ensure that the team operates with high standards of professionalism and equity
• Provide clear expectations and accountability for individual and team revenue and nonrevenue goals
• Partner with internal leadership to determine annual and biannual fundraising priorities
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to create compelling fundraising case statements and materials that inspire donors and external stakeholders to support Mercy For Animals’ mission
• Partner with internal leadership to identify and prioritize special projects and sponsorship opportunities
• Develop sponsorship packages and materials to effectively engage prospective donors and sponsors
• Collaborate with the events team to design strategies that use events to aid in donor acquisition, cultivation, retention, and upgrades
• Ensure events align with and support overall fundraising goals and objectives
• Works Closely with senior leadership to align fundraising goals with financial planning, budget development, and strategic resource allocation
• Provide team members with the resources and materials necessary to enhance their qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts
• Lead implementation of efficient systems and processes to support sustainable fundraising growth
• Ensure the development team fully understands fundraising priorities and sponsorship opportunities
• Use data to establish metrics for success, track progress, recommend benchmarks, and set revenue projections for the mid-level, major, principal, and foundation gift programs to assist with organizational budgeting and goal setting
• Provide feedback on improving reporting systems and business intelligence to track individual and team performance
• Support the development of accurate revenue forecasts and multiyear fundraising strategies
• Adhere to all organizational policies and procedures
• Perform other duties as assigned to support Mercy For Animals’ philanthropic goals

Benefits

• Annual salary of $125,800–$142,000, depending on qualifications
• Remote work
• No- or low-cost health, vision, and dental insurance
• Generous paid time off and sick leave
• 401(k) retirement plan, with a dollar-to-dollar employer match of up to 3% of your annual earnings