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Sr. Director of Major Gifts

Dallas, TX; Scottsdale, AZ; Lansdowne, VA

Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our Statement of Faith to ensure we’re a fit for you.

Locations: Scottsdale, AZ / Lansdowne, VA  / Dallas, TX

Team Overview: You will report to the VP of Transformational Partnerships, and oversee a focused portfolio of operations including: (1) Strategy and Execution lead on all Major Ministry Friend (Donor) relationships, (2) multi-year Campaign and shorter project-based fundraising; events (both ADF-sponsored and partner-sponsored), along with public speaking engagements. (3) Leading the major gift relationship fundraising team of 10+ Directors of Transformational Partnerships.

Key Responsibilities: 

Management

  • Lead and develop a team of 10+ major gift officers to meet or exceed annual revenue goals, focusing on closing six- and seven-figure gifts and multi-year commitments.
  • Create and execute a multi-year Ministry Friend engagement plan aligned with organizational revenue growth strategies and the CEO’s vision, in collaboration with the SVP of Development.
  • Establish KPIs for major fundraisers and ensure accountability to defined metrics, including securing 15+ six-figure gifts annually and contributing to a $60M+ goal for lead and principal gifts.
  • Build and manage a high-net-worth prospect program, including mining, screening, rating, and qualifying prospective Ministry Friends to maintain a robust pipeline of lead gifts.
  • Engage Ministry Friends, Cabinet/Committee members, allies, and senior staff in the development process to maximize donor relationships and support for campaigns.
  • Equip the team with resources, tools, and training to effectively present the campaign case, track activity, and forecast revenue.
  • Develop and document departmental goals, policies, and processes; implement collaborative project management protocols and customize development tools and systems to support multi-year initiatives.
  • Foster strong partnerships with alliance organizations and coach emerging fundraising talent within ADF staff and team.
  • Provide spiritual encouragement and mentoring to team members, supporting their professional and personal growth.

Fundraising

  • Systematically identify, qualify, and manage a pipeline of six- and seven-figure gifts, networking with Fortune 500 C-level executives, high-net-worth individuals, and organizational leaders in major metropolitan areas.
  • Engage executives, current donors, and peer prospects in identification, cultivation visits, and closing of transformational gifts.
  • Define and execute prospect development (moves management) strategies, tailoring approaches to donor interests and motivations by asking the right questions and adapting as needed.
  • Align partner and donor interests with ADF’s strategic priorities; develop and oversee compelling proposals, presentations, and reports to secure major commitments.
  • Collaborate with Legacy and Planned Giving teams to close complex gifts, including international, endowment, and planned gifts, as well as with Foundation Partnerships to coordinate transformational giving and stewardship strategies.

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • 7+ years in major gifts development within a large, multi-national or nationwide organization; 5+ years leading and managing fundraising teams.
  • Willingness to travel up to 75 nights per year.
  • Proven track record closing seven-figure gifts and successfully fundraising in environments of similar complexity.
  • Ability to lead, inspire, and hold teams accountable to defined metrics and goals; demonstrated success in building systems with long-term impact.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the presence to engage, inspire, and persuade diverse constituencies including principal donors and senior leadership.
  • Skilled at navigating complex situations, capitalizing on emerging opportunities, and aligning partner interests with organizational strategy.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

Pay & Benefits

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to support your well-being and growth. While we do not disclose specific salary ranges, our compensation is competitive with top non-profit law firms. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.

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Statement of Faith

Based on our adherence to the inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God in Scripture, we profess with the Christian Church throughout time and around the world the faith expressed in the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Doctrinal Distinctives

Also, based on this confession, we are committed to honoring God by obeying the two Greatest Commandments, loving God and loving neighbor, and based on that commitment and derived from the inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God in Scripture, we profess the following as necessary for living the gospel:

  • We believe in the spiritual unity and equality of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • We believe that the Lordship of Christ requires us as disciples to seek to conform our actions, thoughts, and desires in obedience to Him.
  • We believe God creates each person with an immutable biological sex — male or female — that reflects the image and likeness of God.
  • We believe God designed marriage as a unique conjugal relationship joining one man and one woman in a single, exclusive, life-long union, and God intends sexual intimacy only to occur within that relationship.
  • We believe God endows all human life with inherent dignity, and it must be respected and protected from conception to natural death.
  • We believe that God has endowed all humans with the natural, and inalienable right of religious freedom to believe, pursue truth, and live within ordered liberty such that no civil government may justly infringe upon it.
  • We believe that God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, calls all of us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him, knowing that He promises us abundant and eternal life.
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