Senior Manager for Major Gifts
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. PHR uses medical and scientific evidence to document violations of human rights and humanitarian law, prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all.
PHR seeks a Senior Manager to develop, attract, and steward Major Gifts to support the organization’s highly respected work in the U.S. and globally.
Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.
Location: Headquarters, New York, NY
Reports to: COO/Director of Development
Organizational Overview
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) deploys scientific, medical, public health, and forensic technical expertise to document and seek justice for human rights and humanitarian violations and international crimes.
Through advocacy and partnerships with affected communities, mobilization of the moral authority of medical and public health professionals, and collaboration with local and international organizations and associations, we empower our networks of health professionals to serve as human rights advocates.
In parallel, we strengthen the methods by which clinicians, alongside law enforcement and legal sectors, gather and present evidence that documents cases of human rights violations and war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
Role Description
The Senior Manager for Major Gifts is a fundraising professional responsible for significantly expanding and stewarding PHR’s base of major gift income from individual donors, family foundations and DAFs. Primary responsibilities focus on mid-level and major donor engagement, including stewardship of PHR’s board, managing donor communications, creating funding strategies for top donors and overseeing all fundraising events.
The successful candidate will be part of an integrated team incorporating Development, Operations, and Communications. Reporting to the COO/Director of Development and working closely with the Deputy Director of Development and the Executive Director, this position will supervise the Development Operations Coordinator, development operations staff, and, share supervision of the Digital Communications Manager in close coordination with the Deputy Director of Digital Communications and Development.
The Senior Manager for Major Gifts will work closely with programmatic, communications, finance and operations staff and serve as a thought partner with the Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, and the Board of Directors.
Responsibilities
Strategic Fundraising & Revenue Growth
- Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive individual giving and major gifts strategy to achieve annual revenue goals, including principal, family foundation, major, mid-level, and digital gifts.
- Deliver on set fundraising targets (e.g., $3M annually), with accountability for growth and program sustainability.
- Lead the strategy and execution of annual fundraising campaigns across all channels in collaboration with digital and vendor partners.
- Analyze fundraising performance and data trends to inform strategy and improve results.
Donor Portfolio & Relationship Management
- Cultivate and manage a portfolio of high-capacity individual donors and prospects, including family foundations and DAFs, using a disciplined move-management approach to cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Identify, research, and qualify new major gifts, family foundations, DAF and HNWI prospects; maintain a robust donor pipeline; integrate pipeline growth goals into portfolio planning.
- Design and execute tailored engagement and stewardship plans to deepen donor commitment and increase lifetime value.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Digital Development, Institutional Development, and Communications teams to build integrated fundraising strategies that leverage multiple channels to reach various donor segments.
- Oversee development of compelling proposals, donor briefs, and online and print fundraising materials in collaboration with program and communications staff
Engagement Facilitation & Leadership Support
- Lead or support donor meetings, events, and cultivation activities, representing the organization with professionalism and mission-centered messaging.
- Coach and prepare senior leadership and board members with talking points and materials for high-impact donor interactions.
Moves Management & Donor Data
- Maintain accurate and timely donor engagement tracking, segmentation, and pipeline data in CRM (e.g., Salesforce), ensuring moves management best practices are followed.
- Work with the Development Operations team to update and streamline tracking processes and reporting.
Event Strategy & Execution
- Design and implement an annual donor engagement calendar, including cultivation events and stewardship touchpoints aligned with fundraising priorities.
- Oversee production and success metrics for key fundraising events (e.g., annual gala), ensuring alignment with revenue and engagement goals.
Team Leadership & Capacity Building
- Supervise, mentor, and develop staff supporting individual giving (e.g., digital development and communications, development operations), and manage external consultants as needed.
- Promote team effectiveness through coaching, performance feedback, and process improvement.
Internal Reporting & Accountability
- Set, monitor, and manage individual giving goals to meet organizational revenue needs.
- Regularly report on progress against revenue and engagement goals to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
- Drive consistent use of tracked metrics to improve fundraising operations and donor insights.
Other
- Perform additional duties as assigned in support of organizational fundraising priorities
Requirements
- Minimum five to seven years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, with a strong emphasis on major and principal gifts, including a demonstrated track record of identifying new prospects, building donor relationships, and successfully closing five- and six-figure gifts.
- Demonstrated knowledge of individual giving programs, including major gifts, mid-level giving, family foundations and familiarity with digital fundraising, direct mail, and multi-channel donor acquisition and solicitation.
- Proven knowledge of donor-advised funds (DAFs), planned giving, and estate giving, or a demonstrated ability to partner effectively with specialists in these areas.
- Results-oriented, self-directed professional with the ability to set priorities, manage multiple initiatives, and drive revenue growth with minimal supervision.
- Strong understanding of and commitment to fundraising best practices, including donor lifecycle management, stewardship, and ethical fundraising standards.
- Proven ability to build trust and credibility with high-net-worth individuals, principal donors, board members, and senior stakeholders.
- Excellent planning, organizational, and project management skills, with the ability to balance strategic thinking and hands-on execution in a fast-paced environment
- Embraces technology and understands how CRM and AI-enabled tools can be leveraged to enhance fundraising effectiveness and donor engagement.
- Demonstrated experience managing mass digital marketing campaigns, including email strategy, paid ads management, and other online marketing collateral.
Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate
- Familiarity with donors and philanthropic networks in the New York region and within the human rights, humanitarian, or health sectors is strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of Salesforce, account-based management (ABM) and personal based advertising (PBA) preferred.
- Team-oriented leader with sound judgment, professionalism, adaptability, creativity, and a genuine commitment to human rights.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling donor communications and represent the organization effectively in donor settings.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred; advanced training or certification in fundraising or nonprofit management preferred.
Salary and Benefits
This is a full-time position located in New York, New York, with a hybrid work model. Salary range is $110,000-$120,000 and is commensurate with experience. PHR offers comprehensive employer-paid benefits, including medical, dental, disability, and life insurance, a retirement savings plan, and generous vacation.
How to Apply
Please email cover letter and resume to resumes@phr.org. Please include the job title of the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email and where you saw this job posting in the email body.
Physicians for Human Rights is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit and hire without regard to race, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, prior conviction, arrest history, disability, marital status, veteran status, or age.