Director Philanthropy Major Campaign Gifts
Company : Catholic Health Initiatives
Location : Redwood City, CA, 94062
Job Type : Full Time
Salary : 60.45-89.92 HOUR
Date Posted : 6 January 2026
Job Summary and Responsibilities
Position Summary:
Serves as the primary Foundation development staff responsible for growing and maintaining a comprehensive major gifts program focused on attracting gifts in excess of $10,000 (or the defined major gift threshold). The director builds strong relationships with major giving donors and prospects and actively develops a major giving pipeline of larger gifts and increased revenue.
Position Description:
- Researches and manages a full portfolio of major donors and prospects. Oversees and develops written cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans, utilizing a moves management approach to engage prospects and donors.
- Devotes at least 60 percent of an annual work year's hours to direct and conduct face-to-face contacts with identified, qualified potential and existing major gift donors and provide documentation of such activities as part of a moves management program recorded on CRM
- Develops, implements. and sustains program that engages and involves Foundation trustees, volunteers and staff in major gift planning, cultivation, solicitations and gift stewardship.
- Works with the Chief Philanthropy Officer and appropriate leadership to identify approved potential programs and projects for major gift support. Participates in the development of cases for support and all the proposals and materials needed to make such activities successful.
Education and Experience:
- Minimum five (5) years of not-for-profit fundraising and development experience. In addition three (3) to five (5) years' direct work experience as a fundraising professional with a major gift portfolio.
- Bachelor's degree in a related field or a combination of education and/or additional job-related experience may be substituted in lieu of the degree.
Licensure:
- None specified.
About Sequoia Hospital – Hello HumankindnessDignity Health Sequoia Hospital is an accredited not-for-profit community hospital providing innovative and exceptional health care for generations of Bay Area residents. Sequoia’s Heart and Vascular Institute is a nationally known pioneer in advanced cardiac care affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute. Sequoia has received national recognition from Healthgrades for superior patient safety and was named as one of America’s top 100 hospitals for cardiac care. Our Total Joint Replacement program is a designated Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. Our Birth Center is consistently ranked as a favorite among Peninsula families. We are also known for our comprehensive emergency care and leading-edge tomosynthesis 3-D mammogram technology. Our Pavilion combines the most advanced medical and surgical services with a unique healing environment including private spacious rooms and inviting garden areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Professionals in this role focus heavily on personalized engagement strategies, dedicating significant time to face-to-face meetings and tailored communication, especially in Redwood City’s philanthropic environment. Building trust and understanding donor motivations are key to securing gifts above $10,000, leveraging local networks and community ties.
Starting as a major gifts officer can lead to leadership roles such as Chief Philanthropy Officer or Vice President of Philanthropy. Gaining expertise in campaign management, donor stewardship, and strategic fundraising enhances prospects, especially in competitive nonprofit healthcare sectors like those in California.
Exceptional relationship-building, strategic planning to manage a major gifts pipeline, and proficiency with moves management approaches set this role apart. The ability to collaborate with leadership to craft compelling cases for support is crucial, alongside experience navigating high-stakes donor environments.
Yes, directing philanthropy within Catholic Health Initiatives involves aligning fundraising efforts with the organization's faith-based mission and healthcare priorities. This requires sensitivity to donor values and integrating campaign goals with community health initiatives, which differs from secular nonprofits.
Catholic Health Initiatives provides robust leadership collaboration and access to foundation trustees and volunteers. This support fosters comprehensive donor engagement and stewardship activities, facilitating successful solicitation of major gifts aligned with the organization’s mission-driven healthcare projects.
These directors generally earn between $120,000 and $160,000 annually in Redwood City, reflecting the specialized nature of major gift fundraising and the high cost of living in the Bay Area. Compensation often includes performance incentives tied to campaign success.
Redwood City features a growing but more niche philanthropic job market, especially within healthcare nonprofits. While less saturated than Los Angeles or New York, competition remains strong for senior roles due to limited openings and high demand for experienced major gift professionals.
The Bay Area’s affluent and socially conscious population, combined with a strong healthcare sector presence, encourages tailored approaches emphasizing innovation and community impact. Understanding regional philanthropic trends, including tech-driven giving, is essential for maximizing donor support.
Major campaign gift directors focus exclusively on cultivating and soliciting high-net-worth donors with gifts usually exceeding $10,000, requiring strategic portfolio management. In contrast, coordinators often handle broader tasks like event support and donor database maintenance with less direct solicitation.
Typical duties include managing a portfolio of major donors, executing personalized cultivation plans, and engaging in over 60% direct donor interactions. Additionally, collaborating with leadership to develop fundraising proposals and stewardship programs is essential to drive campaign success.