Senior Director of Major Gifts

Job Description: Senior Director of Major Gifts

Reports to:
Executive Director

Location:
Remote/hybrid with frequent donor visits and presence in Gainesville and throughout the Northeast Georgia region.

Posted: February 24, 2026

Position Summary:

The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia (HSNEGA) seeks a dynamic and revenue-focused Senior Director of Major Gifts. This senior leader will drive the organization's philanthropic engine, with a primary mandate to expand corporate sponsorships, major gifts, and donor stewardship. You will lead the intersection of fundraising and storytelling, managing a team to ensure our mission is funded and our message is heard.

We are looking for an innovator who moves beyond traditional fundraising to build sustainable, data-driven relationships with our community, leveraging modern CRM strategies and high-touch personal engagement.

This is not a "behind-the-desk" fundraising role. The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia (HSNEGA) is in a season of purposeful growth. We aren't just sheltering animals; we are expanding our life-saving programs, strengthening community resources, and deepening our bond with the people who make this work possible. We are looking for a sophisticated "people person"—a Senior Director who thrives on authentic connection, masterfully tells the stories of our rescues, and translates donor passion into measurable impact. If you are a compassionate leader who enjoys being out in the community and understands how to turn a shared love for animals into a lasting legacy, this role was built for you.

Why Join the HSNEGA Team

Your work is the engine behind every second chance. Every gift you secure provides medical care, food, and a path to a forever home for animals across NE Georgia.

 As a Senior Director, you will be a key voice in our strategic growth. You aren’t just following a plan; you are helping us write the next chapter of our mission.

Under compassionate leadership, we prioritize a supportive, grounded environment where your professional growth and well-being are as important as the bottom line. We value high performers and offer the flexibility and trust you need to manage your portfolio and strategy effectively.

Who You Are

You are a natural connector who makes people feel seen and heard. You don’t just "ask for money"—you invite people to join a movement. You likely describe yourself as:

Relationship-Driven: You prioritize the person over the transaction every time.

 You see the "big picture" and know how to map out a multi-year donor journey.

You can articulate the "why" of our mission in a way that resonates with the heart and the head. You take pride in your "follow-through" and manage your time and data with precision. You are comfortable engaging with high-net-worth individuals, business leaders, and foundations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Portfolio Management

Manage a high-level portfolio of 80 to 120 individual donors and prospects with the capacity to give $5,000 and above. Design and execute personalized cultivation and stewardship plans for each donor, ensuring they feel deeply connected to the HSNEGA mission. Utilize our CRM to track engagement, ensuring data integrity and timely follow-up.

Revenue Generation & Major Gifts

Secure major gifts to meet annual targets through face-to-face visits, tours of our Life-Saving Center, and community meetings. Partner with the CEO and Board members on top-tier solicitations and multi-year pledges. Depending on your expertise, lead strategy for either Planned Giving (Legacy Society) or High-Level Corporate Partnerships.

Pipeline & Community Development

Identify "hidden gems" in our current database and qualify new prospects through community events and networking. Develop a robust pipeline of future major donors, tracking retention and upgrade trends. Act as a visible ambassador for HSNEGA throughout Gainesville and the broader Northeast Georgia footprint.

Leadership & Collaboration

Mentor and support the broader development team, sharing best practices in donor engagement. Collaborate with the Marketing team to ensure donor communications are impactful and mission-aligned. Contribute to the annual budgeting and strategic planning process for the development department.

Grounded Mission Work

To keep your storytelling authentic, you will spend regular time alongside our shelter and clinic teams. Seeing the work firsthand ensures you can speak to donors with genuine passion. Support major HSNEGA events as a relationship lead, focusing on donor hospitality and stewardship.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive Base Salary: $90-$100k; Commensurate with senior-level experience and leadership capability.

Comprehensive Benefits: Including health, dental, and retirement options, alongside a culture that respects work-life harmony.

Qualifications

5+ years of experience in major gift fundraising, development leadership, or high-trust relationship management.

Proven track record of closing gifts at the $5,000 - $50,000+ level.

Exceptional interpersonal skills—you are as comfortable in a boardroom as you are in a kennel.

Experience with donor management software (familiarity with Bloomerang or similar platforms is a plus).

A deep, authentic passion for animal welfare and the Northeast Georgia community.

The Bottom Line

We are looking for a leader who knows that fundraising is about building a community of support, not just hitting a number. If you are ready to use your skills to change the lives of thousands of animals and the people who love them, we want to meet you.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training