Director - Major and Principal Gifts

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $160,000-$180,000. Hiring offers will be determined based on the final candidate’s qualifications and experience. The recruiter can share more information about what the anticipated hiring salary would be based upon your specific qualifications during the selection process.

The CIA offers a substantial benefits package that includes medical coverage available at no cost to qualifying employees, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, short and long term disability insurance, retirement savings plan with high employer contributions, a generous paid time off program, and more

As the benefits package at the CIA results in a significant value above the base hiring salary for this position, we encourage you to apply so that our recruiters can share more information with you about the benefits of working for the CIA.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Culinary Institute of America’s (CIA’s) Director of Major and Principal Gifts serves as a strategic partner to the Vice President – Development and Alumni Relations, and is responsible for building and activating a major and principal gifts portfolio in support of the CIA’s vision. The Director brings an entrepreneurial approach to identify mission-aligned prospects and donors to whose philanthropic interests align with the CIA's global agenda to advance learning and development for the food, beverage and hospitality industry.

The Director builds a major gifts and principal gifts program that is representative of the CIA’s innovation and leadership in training the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators globally. The Director identifies and manages a diverse set of prospects representative of the active constituent groups, including food enthusiasts, friends, alumni, parents and other constituencies who may have an affinity for the mission of the CIA. The Director of Major and Principal Gifts partners with Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations to build strategic solicitation strategies to raise six, seven and eight figure gifts in support of the CIA's academic priorities.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work strategically to advance cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of high net worth prospects who are mission-aligned and motivated to support the impactful work of the CIA. Shape and execute ambitious multi-year fundraising strategies while personally managing a portfolio of prospects.
• Build, develop, and lead the CIA’s major and principal gifts program in support of institutional priorities and the CIA’s long-term vision. Work in partnership with academic leaders to advance cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Develop and actively manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and donors.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward mission-aligned prospects with the capacity and interest to make significant philanthropic investments in the CIA.
• Develop strategies to secure six-, seven-, and eight-figure gifts in support of the CIA’s academic and strategic priorities.
• Partner closely with the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations to develop and execute comprehensive donor cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Identify new prospective donors whose philanthropic interests align with the CIA’s global agenda and its commitment to advancing learning and development within the food, beverage, and hospitality industry.
• Expand and diversify the major and principal gift prospect pipeline across key constituent groups, including alumni, parents, food enthusiasts, friends of the CIA, and other mission-aligned audiences.
• Build philanthropic relationships that reflect the CIA’s leadership in educating and developing the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry leaders.
• Apply an entrepreneurial and strategic approach to prospect identification, donor engagement, relationship development, and fundraising.
• Serve as a strategic partner to Development and Alumni Relations leadership in advancing major philanthropic opportunities and institutional fundraising priorities.
• Foster a results-oriented, collaborative donor-centric culture.
• Work collaboratively with advancement communications and stewardship to support production of proposals, donor correspondence and stewardship.
• Work collaboratively with the Senior Manager - Development Communications to build direct mail, electronic communications and other approaches to communicating to prospect and donor audiences.
• Develop and implement measurable