Major Gifts Director Position Available In [Unknown county], Florida

Coordinator- US Disaster Innovation
Development Director Major Gifts Director
Employer
Coral Restoration Foundation
Location
remote; South Florida or other major markets
Salary
$80,000 – $95,000 annually + benefits
Posted Date
Jun 18, 2025
categories Join a dynamic team with a fierce passion for marine conservation.
Major Gifts Director

Location:

South Florida, or flexible
Reports to: Martha Roesler, Chief Development Officer
How to

Apply:

Interested applicants should submit a combined PDF document with their resume, cover letter, and names of references to the attention of Marthacoralrestoration.org The position will remain open until filled.

ABOUT CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION

™
CRF™ is a United States (US) 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit ocean conservation organization. The core mission of CRF™ is to restore coral reefs, to educate others on the importance of our oceans, and to use science to further coral research and coral reef monitoring techniques.
CRF™ does not believe that the plight of coral reefs in the 21st century is hopeless. CRF™ has developed a strategy for coral reef restoration that exists at the intersection of four core CRF™ programs: (1) restoration, (2) science, (3) education, and (4) global.
Total CRF™ contributions and other financial support were approximately $3.5 million in 2020, $4.7 million in 2021, $5.9 million in 2022 and $5.8 million in 2023. This public and private support growth is proportionately reflected in growing staff activities such as nursery maintenance, coral transplantation, data collection, boat and warehouse operations, contract negotiation and compliance, and other administrative activities. Funding has been a mix of public grants and foundation donations. In recent years CRF™’s contributions to reef restoration have been acknowledged through numerous accolades and consistent media coverage.

CORE VALUES

The chosen candidate should embody the core values of CRF™. This includes being team-oriented and working with a diverse group of staff, interns, volunteers, donors, and community members.
CRF™

Values Statement:

CRF™ is driven by action and results. CRF™ believes that we provide hope for coral reefs and future generations through education and innovation. We always act with honesty, respect, and integrity as representatives of the organization. CRF™ promotes a positive working environment that values teamwork, education, and financial stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. Through mentorship, we cultivate an immersive environment to develop employees, volunteers, and interns.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Major Gifts Director is a newly created role on CRF’s growing fundraising team, responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Working closely with the broader development team, the Director will design and implement multi-year strategies to deepen donor engagement and increase philanthropic support.
The Director will build and manage a portfolio of qualified donors, with a focus on in-person relationship development in their assigned geographic region. They are responsible for making direct solicitations in alignment with CRF’s funding priorities and for recognizing opportunities for non-cash contributions—such as planned gifts or appreciated assets—to help secure the most meaningful and effective gifts. The Director ensures meaningful donor recognition, fosters long-term engagement, and effectively communicates CRF’s mission and programs to diverse audiences.
Responsibilities
Develop, in conjunction with the Chief Development Officer (CDO), an advancement work plan, implementing short-term and long-range plans for fundraising in key markets.
Manage a portfolio of 60-100 major donor prospects with a goal of raising $500K+ in year one, $1M in year two, with continued growth in the annual goal for subsequent years.
Craft and collaborate on grant proposals and manage related reporting.
Plan and support events that engage and cultivate major donors and prospects, including site visits, outreach activities, virtual events, and exclusive donor functions.
Assist in analyzing fundraising data to evaluate the effectiveness of engagement and fundraising efforts, adjusting strategies as necessary.
Financial responsibility includes working within a budget and meeting fundraising objectives.
Maintain accountability to the donor database, administrative systems, and procedures.
Support other Development Program efforts as needed.
Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 6 years’ fundraising experience or equivalent combination.
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with donors.
• Experience in asking for and closing gifts of $50,000 or more.
• Experience in managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication and writing skills via presentations, proposals, and reports.
• A general comfort and fluency with technology, including demonstrated experience using MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook) and donor management software.
• Experience, coursework, or other training in fundraising principles and practices.
  Preferred Qualifications
• Ability to educate prospective and existing donors about various giving vehicles.
• Demonstrated ability to design and manage fundraising plans, including cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship strategies for major donors.
• Working knowledge of charitable gift planning fundamentals.
• Experience working with an NGO board and leadership to support fundraising goals.
• Professional experience in an NGO with annual revenue exceeding $5 million.
  Personal Characteristics
• Maintain confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.
• Strong interpersonal skills: able to develop and manage productive relationships with internal and external partners who contribute to the Development Program’s goals.
• Consistently demonstrate professional, positive, and approachable attitude/demeanor.
• Deep integrity, with an unwavering commitment to ethical behavior.
• Demonstrated interest in environmental issues and marine conservation.
  Complexity/Problem Solving
• Critical thinking to adapt or modify processes in response to changing circumstances.
• Solve routine problems independently; consult Chief Development Officer for unusual or complex problems.
• Coordinate projects with several variables, work within a defined timeline and budget.

Teamwork and Effective Communications
CRF™ operates with a small staff and rely on our seasonal interns as well as local volunteers to accomplish our mission and work effectively. We are a lean operation, and teamwork is crucial to our success. Being an effective team member means not only having the ability to work with your fellow staff members but also to be a positive example to our interns and volunteers. This position requires the person to be able to work well with and communicate with a diverse group of people including fellow staff, interns, volunteers, the public, donors, and partners.
Working Conditions/Physical Effort
Typical work week is 5 days per week over the course of Monday through Sunday, 9-5pm or modified to meet mission expectations. Work may require some physical strain, and candidates must be able to carry 25 pounds. A willingness to travel locally and work flexible hours (e.g. for community events or at offsite facilities) is essential. Work environment involves frequent exposure to various elements (sun, heat, wind, rain, cold, etc. CRF™ requires Covid Vaccination (subject to applicable federal/state guidelines) to join our team.
Coral Restoration FoundationTM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.