Appalachian Mountain Club
Director of Major Gifts
10 City Sq, Boston, MA 02129-3740
On-site · Full-time
First seen by offpeak October 5, 2026
See your drive time Apply on Appalachian Mountain Club's site
About AMC: Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is America's oldest conservation and recreation organization. We promote the enjoyment and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of America’s Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions from Maine to Washington, D.C. We believe these resources have intrinsic worth and also provide recreational opportunities, spiritual renewal, and ecological and economic health for the region. Because successful conservation depends on active engagement with the outdoors, we encourage people to experience, learn about, and appreciate the natural world.
With a nearly $30 million annual budget and more than 275,000 members, advocates, and program participants in the Northeast and beyond, AMC is a complex nonprofit organization. Revenue streams include a $3 million (and growing) annual fund, major gifts, membership, lodging, programs, publications, carbon credits from sustainable forestry operations, and endowment. AMC has a vibrant network of 12 regional chapters, whose commitment to the outdoors extends from more than 16,000 volunteers who lead trips and teach enthusiasts of all skill levels how to safely explore nature in a range of environments and outdoor activities. This is an exciting period to become part of the leadership of the AMC development team. Recently, AMC has:
- Advanced its historic trail maintenance and policy work into urban areas including the Boston Metro-area Bay Circuit Trail, the New England Scenic Trail, and the Pennsylvania Highlands Trail Network;
- Achieved the highest occupancy rate in history within its lodges, high mountain huts, and other facilities;
- Grown its presence in Greater New York including a beautifully refurbished Outdoor Program Center in New York’s Harriman State Park;
- Launched a partnership with healthcare professionals for Outdoors Rx, a unique “prescription” for outdoor physical activity;
- Engaged in a comprehensive Diversity Strategic Action Plan; and
- Purchased and permanently protected 75,000 acres of forestland in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness region.
- Successfully close-out our multi-year $24.25 million Leadership Giving Initiative, which is slated for completion by the end of 2018 (and of which $21 million has already been secured).
- Build a robust pipeline of donors to support AMC’s long-term strategic initiatives and expand annual fundraising significantly, especially at the highest levels.
- Grow AMC's visibility and fundraising in the greater New York area.
- Steward campaign donors and lay the ground work for focused fundraising drives to advance AMC’s historic and ongoing commitment to getting people active outdoors and in conservation stewardship.
- Improve the understanding of the full breadth of AMC’s charitable work among the organization’s many constituents and potential donors, in concert with leaders throughout the organization.
Position Overview: Reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), the Director of Major Gifts is responsible for the oversight, strategy development, and implementation of a strong major gifts program. The Director of Major Gifts leads the major gifts team, currently comprising two Boston-based Major Gifts Officers, one NYC-based Development Officer, and a Development Researcher. This position guides the team to meet all capital campaign, special initiative and annual fund revenue goals at the major gift ($10,000+) level.
The Director works in partnership with the President & CEO, CDO, Major Gifts Officers, and other development team members to ensure that major gift prospects at various stages of relationship with AMC are properly connected, solicited, and stewarded. This includes working with the President & CEO, CDO, Director of Development Operations, and volunteers to leverage major donor/prospect participation on the Board of Directors, Board of Advisors, Development Committee, and other relevant volunteer bodies.
The Director of Major Gifts is responsible for a high-level prospect portfolio of his/her own. S/he also provides direction to the gift officers in developing, implementing, and monitoring their own prospect portfolio plans. S/he partners with the Development Researcher in developing a robust prospect pipeline for the long-term health of the major gift program. Finally, s/he works directly with the President & CEO, senior AMC staff, members of the Board of Directors and volunteers in planning and executing major and planned giving solicitations.
This position serves as a senior member of the development staff and is a year-round, exempt salaried position based in Boston, MA.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Under the direction of the CDO, the Director of Major Gifts has primary responsibility for advancing the major gifts program, including the successful identification, cultivation and solicitation of major gift prospects.
- With the CDO, creates and implements strategies related to capital campaign, specific endowment and facility projects.
- Responsible for developing an annual work plan for the major gifts team, monitoring and reporting on team’s progress against plan, and leading team to achieve budget and activity goals.
- Manages a portfolio of high-level major gift prospects and donors. Meets or exceeds annual dollar and activity goals for this group of donors.
- Identifies, recruits and trains volunteer leaders who can extend the reach of professional staff in the cultivation and solicitation of prospective donors.
- Helps staff the Development Committee of the Board, Capital Campaign committees, and associated volunteer fundraising bodies, including helping develop meeting agendas, presentations, and follow-up.
- Coordinates support to board members, volunteers and non-development staff who participate in donor meetings. Schedules appointments as needed for volunteers and staff. Assists staff and volunteers in cultivation and solicitation activity, including ensuring adequate preparation and briefings. Provides leadership to ensure that timelines and activity plans are met.
- Coordinates and manages the cultivation and solicitation activities of the major gifts program to maximize positive outcomes. Takes lead role in coordinating proper stewardship of major gift donors with other staff within the development team.
- Directly supervises the Major Gifts Officers, Development Officer (NY), and Development Researcher, providing mentorship, clarity on priorities, and motivation. Establishes and leads regular major gifts team and one-on-one supervisory meetings for direct reports.
- Works closely with the CEO & President, CDO, and Director of Development Operations to identify, recruit and develop a robust, philanthropically minded Board of Directors and Board of Advisors that supports the long-term health and growth of AMC. Attends Board of Advisors and committee meetings as required.
- Sets standards for major gifts team usage of CRM (Salesforce), ensuring accurate and timely entry of pertinent prospect information, contacts, and strategies. Coordinates with other development and gift entry staff to ensure record keeping and gift accounting accurately reflect donor intentions and reconciles with accounting.
- Maintains familiarity with planned giving vehicles/best practices. In coordination with planned giving staff led by Director of Development Operations, assists with the development of a planned giving prospect pool and solicitation strategies.
- Facilitates discussions with non-development staff about fund-raising opportunities to support current or potential initiatives and programs.
- Writes gift proposals and stewardship reports as needed.
- Completes other duties as assigned.
Desired Qualifications: The successful candidate will be an accomplished fundraising professional. The Director of Major Gifts will be a self-starter with a strong work ethic who is conscientious, attentive to detail and results-oriented. The ideal person will be a positive, collegial team player with a proven ability to motivate, engage and work collaboratively at all levels with donors, volunteers, senior staff, colleagues and similar constituencies. Also needed is an ability to manage multiple tasks; plan, organize and communicate effectively; work with little direct supervision; excellent oral and written communication skills; and a working knowledge of planned giving. Ability to adapt to a flexible work schedule and work in a team environment is needed. Specific qualifications include:
- Seven to ten years’ development experience.
- Demonstrated success in major gifts work, including the identification, cultivation and solicitation of major gifts.
- Demonstrated successes working with board members or other volunteers on major gift/planned gift activity.
- Demonstrated success managing and prioritizing all tasks associated with major gifts work including writing successful and compelling proposals and stewardship activities.
- Strong manager with ability to motivate others to success. Previous staff supervision experience required.
- Solid organizational, logistical, and CRM skills. Facility in using donor tracking systems.
- Working familiarity with prospect research tools and best practices.
- Ability to work with confidential donor information.
- Familiarity with and willingness to uphold Association of Fundraising Professional’s Code of Ethics and Donor Bill of Rights.
- Ability to communicate AMC’s mission and programs with sincerity, persuasion and passion. Interest in environmental education, conservation issues, and outdoor recreation strongly preferred.
- This position requires 6-8 overnight trips annually, often to backcountry locations requiring ability to ski, snowshoe, or hike comfortably up to 7 miles in difficult terrain in all weather conditions, carrying loads of up to 20 pounds.
- Valid driver’s license.
- Strong interest in outdoor recreation and a willingness to be trained in outdoor leadership skills.
Salary and Benefits: In addition to a competitive salary, AMC offers an exceptional benefits package including generous vacation and holiday leave, health insurance, a retirement plan, free stays at AMC facilities, and free admission to a cultural and environmental venues in the New England area via participation in a consortium of like institutions.
To apply: Please include your resume and a cover letter. You may also submit your salary requirements. No phone calls, please.
The AMC has zero tolerance for child abuse or placing children in danger. The AMC requires all employees who work in a program or facility which serves children, disabled persons or the elderly to have a criminal background record check performed on their name annually with employment contingent upon satisfactory results.
The AMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in the workplace. The AMC encourages the involvement of all people in its mission and activities, through its membership, programs, policies and procedures. Our goal is to be a community that is comfortable, inviting and accessible for people of any age, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. Join us!