Regional Director of Major Gifts and Philanthropic Partnerships

Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) is the global organization’s presence in the United States. We engage people in the U.S. to fight injustice all around the world, while we also work to protect people’s human rights here in the U.S. Amnesty International USA has more than one million members and activists in all 50 states, who are part of a larger global movement of 10 million people in 150 countries. We are a democratically governed, grassroots membership organization, which means that our members vote on key policy issues and elect our Board of Directors. Amnesty International USA’s elected Board members, staff, and members work together to lead the organization. 

DEADLINE TO APPLY - January 3, 2025, 5:00pm EST

**SEE SPECIAL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS BELOW** 

Amnesty International USA is seeking an experienced Regional Director of Major Gifts and Philanthropic Partnerships, hereafter referred to as Regional Director, to lead and expand AIUSA’s major giving efforts in the New York City metro region. This senior-level role is vital in shaping the future of human rights advocacy through innovative fundraising strategies and relationship building with high-net-worth donors and will function as an ambassador of AIUSA in the region, bringing greater collaboration, partnerships and visibility to Amnesty. 

The Regional Director will primarily focus on securing six and seven-figure donations from individuals and institutions who align with Amnesty’s principles, while also prospecting and continuing to build the major giving portfolio in the region. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of major gifts and foundations fundraising and philanthropic trends, hold a robust network of contacts within the philanthropic community, and have a passion for human rights advocacy.  

Additionally, the Regional Director is expected to demonstrate and uphold a high standard of leadership and performance for the team, and as such will be expected to play a key role in leading and advancing the teams’ moral, motivation and ambition to achieve significant growth over time. As we continue to grow the team, the Regional Director will provide mentorship, training and guidance as needed to more junior staff and new team members 

This position reports directly to the National Director of Major Gifts and Foundations and does not currently manage direct reports; however, this is subject to change depending on growth achieved in the region.  

Essential Responsibilities  

• Cultivation & Stewardship: Develop and maintain strong relationships with major donors and prospects, ensuring a personalized and engaging experience that deepens their commitment to Amnesty's mission. Oversee portfolio of up to 175 major donors and prospects, utilizing skillsets and strategies that further engage individuals in an ongoing conversation about Amnesty activities 

• Prospect Identification: Research and track donor trends in the region and develop strategic moves management plans for existing and prospective major donors in the existing file, based on their philanthropic interests, past giving, capacity, inclination to give and organizational allegiance. Attend key events within the region to network and increase the visibility and relevance of Amnesty within significant philanthropic communities 

• Strategic Fundraising: Collaborate with senior level staff, including the Executive Director, to create and implement a comprehensive major gifts strategy for high-net worth individuals and institutions, while exploring new high-value giving opportunities that align with organizational goals and targets 

• Donor Engagement: Conduct high-level meetings, presentations, and events to engage and inspire donors, effectively communicating the impact of their contributions. This will also include hosting major donor cultivation and fundraising events, as well as funder briefings, within the region 

• Proposal Development: Prepare compelling funding proposals and reports that clearly articulate the need for support and the tangible impact of donor investments. 

• Data Management: Utilize donor management systems to track interactions, monitor progress, and analyze donor trends to optimize fundraising efforts 

• Collaboration: Work closely with senior leadership, program staff, and volunteers to identify funding needs and opportunities, ensuring alignment between donor interests and organizational priorities 

• Other responsibilities as assigned 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities 

• Ability to articulate complex programmatic work using philanthropic terminology to describe multi-faceted programs, including theory of change, goals, objectives, benchmarks, inputs, outputs, outcomes, and indicators of success 

• Excellent communication and people skills, including the ability to secure in-person visits, engage and inspire new and diverse audiences through storytelling and other interactions, and build lasting relationships that ensure continued financial investment in Amnesty’s critical work 

• Uses strong diplomatic skills to influence others, resolve problems, manage projects, or achieve appropriate solutions 

• Ability to set priorities, work within deadlines, personally motivate oneself to achieve short and long-term objectives, and think strategically and innovatively to find new donor engagement opportunities 

• Commits to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, Board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters 

• Regular travel expected for in person donor visits, attending events and in-person team meetings 

• Passion for human rights and social justice, with a commitment to the values and goals of Amnesty International 

• Strong commitment to making the workplace inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible for all  

Education and Experience 

• BA/BS and at least 10 years relevant experience or MA/MS and 8 years relevant experience and/or sufficient relevant work experience 

• Demonstrated history of successful high-value fundraising, including personally securing 6- and 7- figure donations required 

• Proficiency in donor management software and data analysis 

• Experience with corporate philanthropy is a plus 

Physical Requirements 

• Prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing at a desk and working on a computer 

Travel Requirements, Weeknight or Weekend Work 

• Frequent domestic travel is required to meet in person with funders. Occasional international travel may be required to participate in international forums 

• This position will sometimes require working outside the traditional professional workday, including occasional evenings and weekends 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS/ ACCOMMODATIONS  

DEADLINE TO APPLY: January 3, 2025, 5:00pm EST

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: 

Please include details about your experience cultivating and securing large-scale major donations from individuals and foundations, and high-value successful campaigns or fundraising initiatives you have led. If relevant, please also share any experience with corporate fundraising, including partnerships you’ve cultivated, and strategies used to engage corporate donors. 

All applications must be completed online as a PDF document through our application portal, and we do not accept submissions via email.  Due to a high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We do not sponsor candidates seeking visa support.   

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, or if you require accommodations during the application process, please email talentacquisition@aiusa.org

Please review our Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) section for additional information on our hiring process.  

OUR EEO STATEMENT  

Amnesty International USA is an equal opportunity employer. AIUSA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply. 

We recognize the valuable skills that can be gained through internships, fellowships, volunteer work, and non-traditional work experience. This experience helps build competencies and knowledge that may translate to our job openings. We seek a diversity of experience and skills for our workplace and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our openings. 

OUR COMMITMENT AS AN ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATION AND TO INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY (IDEA)   

Dismantling white supremacy is central to the fight for human rights in the United States and around the world. As we mobilize staff and activists and work with partners to help transform the multiple systems where oppression operates in the world around us as part of our human rights mandate, anti-racism must be integral to our work. To learn more about how we integrate IDEA into our programs and workplace, visit: https://www.amnestyusa.org/about-us/idea/ 

REMOTE AND HYBRID WORKPLACE POLICY 

Because the health and safety of our employees and candidates are a top priority, we are currently conducting our hiring process virtually.   Please review the job description, which will state whether a role is hybrid and remote. Some roles may require travel domestically and/or internationally.