Manager of Philanthropy - Major Gifts - Houston, TX
Job Description
How many people can answer the question, "What do you do for a living?" with the answer, "I help find cures for cancer." At Blood Cancer United, employees take our mission seriously. Whether you work in one of our regions, are an accountant at the national office or a specialist in our Information Resource Center, you work each day on making our bold goal a reality: to enable patients with blood cancer to gain more than one million years of life by 2040. Join us and give new meaning to the word, "job."
Summary: The Manager, Philanthropy is a hybrid role that combines direct frontline fundraising with strategic operational support across three designated markets. This position is a critical component of the Philanthropy Ecosystem, ensuring that as the organization surges resources toward high-complexity gifts, the foundational pipeline remains robust and active. The Manager owns the end-to-end lifecycle for foundation grants ($50K and below) while managing a portfolio of major donors with the capacity to give up to $100K.
Core Responsibilities/ Primary Duties:
Portfolio Management & Major Gift Fundraising
- Manage a qualified portfolio of major gift prospects with the capacity to make gifts ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.
- Execute personalized fundraising strategies for donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to meet and exceed annual revenue targets.
- Conduct high-impact donor interactions, including face-to-face visits, to move prospects through the "Moves Management" pipeline.
- Prepare and present compelling proposals that align donor interests with organizational funding priorities.
Multi-Market Prospecting & Pipeline Analytics
- Develop and implement standardized prospecting processes in collaboration with Campaign Teams across three assigned markets.
- Utilize internal analytics and wealth screening tools to qualify "diamonds in the rough," assessing both wealth concentration and philanthropic inclination.
- Partner with Sr. Directors to identify opportunities for the "Surge Model" of resource deployment in non-RAD regions.
Foundation Grants & Stewardship
- Own the management and submission of foundation grants and applications valued at $50,000 and below.
- Maintain an organized calendar of deadlines, reporting requirements, and compliance metrics for foundation partners across supported markets.
- Collaborate with national partners to identify broader foundation opportunities that could be elevated to Principal Giving.
Mission Integration & Collaboration
- Partner with Regional Executive Directors to create a seamless experience for donors transitioning from mid-level giving to the major gift tier.
- Serve as a knowledgeable representative of the mission at cultivation events, effectively communicating impact to inspire transformational giving.
- Ensure all donor interactions and pipeline movements are accurately tracked in Salesforce to maintain data integrity across the ecosystem.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree required.
- 3–5+ years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a focus on individual giving or grant writing.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Demonstrated success in managing a donor portfolio and securing five-figure gifts.
- Proficiency in Salesforce or similar CRM systems.
Work Environment & Physical Demands:
- Local and regional travel up to 20% of the time.
- Periodic weekend and evening work required.
- Physical demands are minimal and typical of similar jobs in comparable organizations.
- Work environment is representative and typical of similar jobs in comparable organizations.
Employee Value Proposition:
As a valued member of Blood Cancer United, you are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. Our offerings include medical, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; flexible spending accounts; a 403b retirement plan along with generous paid time off. In addition, we observe federal paid holidays throughout the year, and offer a wellness program and an employee assistance program.
The offered compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, business need, market conditions, proficiencies, skills, education, and experience. Additionally, at Blood Cancer United we place a high value on internal pay equity and will consider the current compensation of similarly situated roles and direct team members. Base compensation is only one component of our Total Rewards program, which also includes an annual incentive plan and a competitive benefits package.
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the Company. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Disclaimer
Blood Cancer United is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in its workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender, gender identity and expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, race, color, creed, national origin/ancestry, citizenship, religion, genetic predisposition or information, physical or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Blood Cancer United seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission and where they will join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Blood Cancer United home. Blood Cancer United complies with all applicable laws which prohibit discrimination and harassment in the workplace, and is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment supportive of all of our employees and the communities we serve.