Director of Philanthropy
Reports to: Chief of Philanthropy Location: Remote (U.S.) with travel as needed FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Summary
The Director of Philanthropy is a non-managing director who leads Miracle Flights’ comprehensive individual giving program, overseeing strategy, execution, and performance across all levels of individual giving—from first-time and annual donors to monthly, mid-level, and major gift supporters.
This position is responsible for creating a seamless donor journey that acquires, retains, upgrades, and stewards donors while driving sustainable philanthropic revenue. The Director oversees annual giving campaigns, direct mail, digital appeals, monthly giving, donor stewardship, and a portfolio of major gift prospects.
Working closely with the Chief of Philanthropy, this role develops integrated fundraising strategies that strengthen donor relationships, increase lifetime donor value, and expand Miracle Flights’ national philanthropic reach.
Primary Responsibilities
Major & Mid-Level Gifts
· Personally build & manage a portfolio of major donors, mid-level donors, and prospective major donors.
· Conduct discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
· Develop individualized engagement strategies.
· Increase donor engagement and giving through meaningful relationship management.
· Prepare proposals, gift agreements, and impact reports.
· Collaborate with leadership on key donor relationships.
Annual Giving
· Lead Miracle Flights’ annual giving program.
· Develop integrated annual fundraising strategies.
· Manage acquisition, renewal, retention, and reactivation efforts.
· Oversee segmentation and donor targeting.
· Evaluate campaign performance and optimize future appeals.
Monthly Giving
· Develop, grow, and steward Miracle Flights’ recurring giving program.
· Develop campaigns to acquire new monthly donors.
· Increase monthly donor retention rates.
· Create exclusive stewardship experiences for recurring supporters.
Integrated Campaigns
· Lead strategy and execution for all individual fundraising campaigns.
· Oversee direct mail appeals and production timelines.
· Partner with the Impact team to develop integrated campaigns across direct mail, email, social media, and digital channels.
· Coordinate campaign messaging with the Impact team.
· Analyze campaign ROI and recommend improvements.
Donor Stewardship & Experience
· Design and oversee Miracle Flights’ donor stewardship program.
· Ensure every donor receives timely, meaningful acknowledgment and recognition.
· Create impact reports, donor communications, and appreciation initiatives.
· Continuously improve the donor experience to increase retention and loyalty.
Collaboration
· Partner with the Chief of Philanthropy on key donor relationships and transformational giving.
· Works closely with the Impact team on stewardship pieces and direct mail campaigns.
· Collaborate with the Director of Corporate Philanthropy on collaborative opportunities.
· Work with the Manager of Fundraising & Events to steward, retain, and convert event attendees to donors.
· Collaborate with the Philanthropy Associate to ensure accurate CRM documentation, reporting, acknowledgments, and stewardship tracking.
· Partner with the Grant Specialist by providing relationship strategy, funder insights, proposal direction, and reporting support for family foundations.
Performance & Reporting
· Achieve annual revenue goals for corporate partnerships and sponsorships.
· Maintain a healthy pipeline of qualified prospects.
· Track activity, proposals, solicitations, and revenue in Bloomerang.
· Prepare pipeline forecasts and revenue projections.
· Report progress through monthly portfolio reviews and department dashboards.
Qualifications
Required
· Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
· Five or more years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
· Demonstrated success managing individual giving programs across multiple donor segments.
· Experience personally soliciting and closing meaningful gifts from individuals.
· Strong campaign management and direct mail experience.
· Experience with donor databases/CRMs (Bloomerang preferred).
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
· Strong analytical and project management skills.
Preferred
· Experience in a national nonprofit organization.
· CFRE credential or interest in pursuing certification.
About Miracle Flights
For 41 years, Miracle Flights has provided free commercial air travel for children ages 0–17 who need specialized medical care far from home. Through financial-need eligibility, we connect families with board-certified medical providers and accredited treatment facilities across the United States. Since 1985, Miracle Flights has covered more than 100 million miles helping families reach the care they need.
Please submit your curriculum vitae along with a thoughtful cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications to [email protected]
