Major Gifts Specialist

Position Summary SAPA is seeking a relationship-driven and results-oriented Major Gifts Specialist to cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors who are passionate about supporting humanitarian healthcare initiatives in Sudan. This role is responsible for building meaningful relationships with individual donors, identifying major gift opportunities, and helping secure transformational philanthropic investments that advance SAPA's mission. The ideal candidate has experience in major gifts fundraising, donor stewardship, and relationship management, with a proven ability to engage donors and move prospects through the giving cycle. This individual will work closely with organizational leadership, board members, and key volunteers to grow SAPA's major donor program. Key Responsibilities Major Donor Cultivation & Stewardship Manage a portfolio of major donor prospects and existing major gift donors. Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies. Build strong relationships through virtual and in-person meetings, calls, and donor engagement activities. Identify donor interests and align giving opportunities with SAPA's programs and priorities. Ensure timely and meaningful donor recognition and stewardship Prospect Research & Pipeline Development Identify, qualify, and research prospective major donors. Develop and maintain a robust major gifts pipeline. Track donor engagement and movement through the donor lifecycle. Partner with leadership and board members to identify potential donor introductions. Maintain accurate prospect profiles and donor records. Solicitation & Revenue Generation Prepare major gift proposals, presentations, and donor materials. Support the solicitation of major gifts and multi-year commitments. Assist leadership and volunteer fundraisers in donor meetings and asks. Develop strategies to increase donor giving levels and long-term engagement. Support planned giving and legacy giving initiatives when appropriate. Salesforce & Donor Management Utilize Salesforce to manage donor relationships, track interactions, and monitor fundraising activity. Maintain accurate donor records and engagement history. Develop reports and dashboards to track major gifts performance. Ensure data integrity and compliance with organizational policies. Collaboration & Leadership Support Work closely with the Head of Fundraising, Donor Care Manager, and Executive Leadership to coordinate donor engagement strategies. Prepare donor briefings and meeting materials for leadership and board members. Support fundraising campaigns and special events that engage major donors. Represent SAPA professionally at donor and community events. Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. 3–5 years of experience in major gifts fundraising, donor relations, sales, business development, or nonprofit development. Demonstrated success cultivating and stewarding high-value relationships. Experience managing donor portfolios and fundraising pipelines. Strong interpersonal, presentation, and relationship-building skills. Experience using Salesforce or another donor CRM platform. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work independently in a remote environment. Ability to travel to meet and network with major gift donors Preferred Experience securing five-figure and six-figure gifts. Experience working with healthcare, humanitarian, or international development organizations. Familiarity with wealth screening and prospect research AI tools. Experience supporting board-led fundraising efforts. Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) or Nonprofit Cloud experience. Organization Background The Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) is a nonprofit, professional, and humanitarian organization established in January 2019. SAPA is registered in the State of Texas as a 501(c)(3) organization and operates with a U.S.-based headquarters. SAPA has grown into the leading Sudanese medical humanitarian organization, supporting hospitals, health facilities, and emergency medical services in conflict-affected and displacement settings across Sudan and neighboring countries. Its work spans emergency response, health system strengthening, advocacy, and institutional partnerships with multilateral and international donors.