Director, Leadership Giving

Director, Leadership Giving Remote in the United States Mercy For Animals aims to end industrial animal agriculture by constructing a just and sustainable food system. We envision a world where animals are respected, protected, and free. As a leading farmed animal advocacy organization, we know that achieving this goal requires a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work environment—one that welcomes and sparks new perspectives and innovative ideas. If you are passionate about our mission, driven to make a big impact for animals, and eager to be part of a dedicated team, join us! We currently seek a Director of Leadership Giving to join our philanthropy team. In this role, you will advance the mission of Mercy For Animals by managing a portfolio of mid-level donors and prospects ($1,000–$10,000), applying a disciplined moves management approach to cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts while strengthening the pipeline of donors transitioning into major giving. This role is distinct in its focus on portfolio scale and donor progression, building a strong pipeline of donors who can transition into major gift relationships over time. This role is a relationship-based fundraiser focused on managing a high-volume portfolio with disciplined moves management and clear donor progression strategies You will do invaluable work:Portfolio Management and Moves Management Strategy

• Independently manage a portfolio of mid-level donors and prospects, using structured moves management to deepen relationships and increase giving over time
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, including annual plans and measurable benchmarks
• Conduct qualification to assess donor capacity, affinity, and readiness for increased investment
• Meet or exceed goals for donor outreach, revenue, and pipeline progression

Donor Engagement and Communications

• Conduct virtual and in-person meetings with donors and prospects to build relationships and present meaningful giving opportunities
• Communicate organizational priorities and funding opportunities in a compelling, donor-centric way
• Draft personalized and semi-personalized donor communications, including emails, proposals, and stewardship updates

Mid-Level Program Alignment (Compassion Collective)

• Serve as a primary relationship manager for donors within the Compassion Collective, representing the program in donor interactions and engagement opportunities
• Partner closely with donor experience and direct response teams, who design and execute programmatic communications and engagement strategies
• Provide frontline insight on donor sentiment, engagement trends, and opportunities to strengthen the mid-level donor experience
• Support consistent messaging and positioning of the Compassion Collective in donor-facing interactions

Upgrade Pathways and Portfolio Progression

• Identify and actively cultivate donors with the capacity and inclination to give at higher levels, regardless of current giving
• Develop and execute intentional upgrade strategies to move donors into major gift portfolios
• Coordinate thoughtful, timely handoffs to major gift officers to ensure continuity in relationship management
• Maintain strong alignment with major gifts colleagues on portfolio strategy and donor movement

Data Management and Reporting

• Maintain accurate, timely records of donor interactions, strategies, and next steps within the CRM
• Track progress against revenue goals, engagement metrics, and upgrade outcomes
• Partner with advancement operations to support segmentation, reporting, and pipeline visibility

Collaboration and Departmental Integration

• Collaborate across philanthropy, donor experience, and digital marketing teams to ensure a cohesive donor journey
• Contribute to broader fundraising initiatives, including appeals, donor engagement strategies, and cross-functional projects
• Adhere to all organizational policies and procedures and perform other duties as assigned

Your qualifications will take our philanthropy team to the next level:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of experience in fundraising, volunteer management, recruitment or sales.
• Demonstrated success managing a donor portfolio and closing gifts in the $1,000– $10,000+ range
• Strong understanding of donor lifecycle strategy, including qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and upgrade
• Proven ability to assess donor capacity and affinity, and translate insights into strategic action
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience crafting donor-facing materials
• Ability to balance personalized engagement with efficient portfolio management practices
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Comfort using CRM systems and digital tools to support donor engagement and tracking
• Willingness to travel occasionally and work some evenings and weekends as needed
• Commitment to the mission and values of Mercy For Animals

What success looks like in this role:

• Consistent achievement of mid-level revenue and engagement goals
• A well-managed portfolio with clear movement across qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship stages
• Increased number of donors advancing into major gift portfolios based on capacity and readiness
• Strong alignment and collaboration with donor experience and major gifts teams
• Clear visibility into pipeline health and donor progression

About Your Team Leader Lindsey (she/her) is Senior Director of Philanthropy for the United States and Canada and a career nonprofit leader with nearly two decades of fundraising experience. She advances animal rights by mobilizing individuals and communities around a shared vision of compassion. Lindsey is especially committed to empowering people to use their time and talents to create meaningful change for farmed animals. She values accountability, creative thinking, and a willingness to try new approaches.

Compensation and Benefits

Earn an annual salary of $89,530–$101,700, depending on qualifications, and enjoy a commute-free life as a remote team member. In addition to a collaborative and innovative work environment, you will be able to take part in our benefits package, including no- or low-cost health, vision, and dental insurance; generous paid time off and sick leave; and 401(k) retirement plan, with a dollar-to-dollar employer match of up to 3.5% of your annual earnings. Application Details We consider traditional and nontraditional qualifications and carefully review each application, resume, and cover letter. Feel encouraged to go outside a traditional cover letter and state how you would add to our culture; what we would gain from having you on our team; and how you align with our organizational vision, mission, and values. To ensure fairness in the hiring process, we request that all applicants refrain from submitting materials that are generated entirely by artificial intelligence tools. We recognize that such tools can be useful in refining tone, grammar, and clarity, but please ensure that your materials reflect your personal experience, qualifications, and authentic voice. Our Commitment to You Mercy For Animals is a globally minded organization. We are committed to the principles of equity and justice, and our culture celebrates authenticity—enabling every team member to shine. All employment decisions are based solely on individual qualifications, job needs, and job requirements, and potential team members of every color, orientation, age, gender, origin, veteran status, and ability are encouraged to apply. We strive to include candidates from historically marginalized communities and those from or in communities impacted by environmental, social, and economic injustice. Come as you are, and help us transform our society and construct a truly compassionate food system. By submitting your information, you are indicating that you have read our Privacy Policy and accept its terms. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job