Director, Philanthropy & Major Gifts

Job Details: Job Location: Infectious Diseases Society of America - Arlington, VA, Salary Range: Undisclosed, About the Infectious Diseases Society of America

IDSA is a community of over 13,000 physicians, scientists, and public health experts who specialize in infectious diseases. Our mission is to improve the health of individuals, communities, and Society by promoting excellence in patient care, education, research, public health, and prevention relating to infectious diseases.

As the primary fundraising partner for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the IDSA Foundation supports a global community of clinicians, scientists, and public health experts working to solve the world’s most pressing infectious disease challenges, from global pandemics to antimicrobial resistance. As Director of Philanthropy and Major Gifts, you will build and lead the next phase of the Foundation’s fundraising strategy across individual and major giving, planned and legacy giving, and family foundations. By growing the portfolio, you will secure the philanthropic support needed for IDSA to remain a leader in preparedness, research, and public health response.

IDSA members played an essential role in safeguarding public health throughout COVID-19 and continue that work today, protecting communities from urgent threats like the rise of drug-resistant infections. The Foundation has only begun to use the story of that impact to build sustained support; there is significant potential to grow the program. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development and supervising one direct report, you will craft the fundraising narrative, build the systems and workflows needed to develop and manage a robust pipeline, and deepen donor and funder engagement to help increase overall philanthropic revenue from $2MM to $4MM by the end of 2027.

Working closely with Foundation leadership, physician leaders, Foundation Board members, and volunteers, you will leverage existing relationships and expand into new networks to identify prospects and guide them through cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and long-term engagement. We are looking for a fundraising leader who brings an innovative and adaptable approach, anticipates shifts in donor interests and institutional priorities, and knows when to change course and which message will move a relationship forward.

How You’ll Make an Impact

You will help build a sustainable culture of giving across the Foundation so that every team member understands the strategy and the purpose behind it and shares accountability for its success. In your first 1-2 years, you will:

Achieve annual fundraising goals across major gifts, individual giving, and planned giving while strengthening a culture of philanthropy among IDSA members and non-member supporters.
Build and grow a pipeline of major gift, planned giving, and physician prospects, nurturing opportunities for long-term philanthropic support.
Expand relationships with family foundations, donor-advised fund holders, and other philanthropic partners whose interests align with the Foundation’s priorities.
Increase Foundation Board engagement by encouraging personal giving, leveraging networks, and supporting strategic relationship development.
Strengthen donor stewardship and recognition practices to deepen relationships, demonstrate impact, and increase retention.
Lead pipeline strategy, performance tracking, and revenue forecasting to inform decision-making and strengthen accountability.

Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits

This position offers a remote working environment, with core working hours between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm ET. Candidates may reside anywhere in the continental U.S. except California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. Travel of up to 20% is required for donor engagement, IDWeek, and internal retreats and meetings.
This position offers a competitive total compensation package. Benefits include generous PTO; medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending account; 401(k); short- and long-term disability; life and AD&D insurance; and more.
The Society is a great place to work! We are an innovative and dynamic professional association committed to the principles of inclusion, diversity, access, and equity. Our team embodies the following core values: Member-Centric, Excellence, Respect, Innovation, Teamwork, and Trust.

Responsibilities

Major Gifts & Individual Giving

Manage a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects.
Develop and implement individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Conduct donor visits and engagement activities.
Secure philanthropic support aligned with Foundation priorities.

Planned Giving & Legacy Giving

Lead planned giving and legacy giving efforts.
Identify and cultivate planned giving prospects.
Develop communications and engagement strategies supporting legacy gifts.

Physician, Member & Board Philanthropy

Develop physician philanthropy strategies.
Engage members, Foundation Board members, alumni, volunteers, and physician leaders in philanthropic activities.
Expand donor participation and giving opportunities.

Foundation Board Engagement & Staff Leadership

Partner with Foundation Board members to support fundraising activities and donor engagement.
Prepare donor briefings, cultivation plans, and fundraising materials.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Grants Manager, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Model a coaching style for feedback and learning to support staff in contributing at the highest levels.
Support annual planning, forecasting, and departmental initiatives.

Family Foundations & Donor-Advised Funds

Develop cultivation strategies for family foundations and donor-advised funds.
Partner with the Grants Manager to identify and advance philanthropic funding opportunities.
Support engagement and stewardship activities for family foundation donors.

Donor Stewardship & Recognition

Oversee donor stewardship and recognition programs.
Develop donor impact communications and engagement opportunities.
Ensure consistent stewardship practices across the Foundation.
Qualifications: Qualifications

10+ years of progressive fundraising experience, with demonstrated success securing major gifts and cultivating high-value donor relationships.
Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. CFRE credential is preferred.  
Experience developing donor strategies, managing prospect pipelines, and using moves management to advance relationships and achieve revenue goals.
Strong relationship-building and communication skills, including developing compelling donor messaging and engaging senior leaders, board members, volunteers, and other stakeholders in fundraising efforts.
Experience with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, or donor-advised funds is preferred.
Experience supervising and developing staff and collaborating effectively across departments.
Proficiency with donor databases and CRM systems, preferably Salesforce.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, socioeconomic status, marital or veteran status. We also welcome those of all abilities and make reasonable accommodations to support successful outcomes for our team members.