Pioneer New England Legal Foundation (the Foundation)  is a nonprofit, nonpartisan legal research and litigation entity, organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  The foundation is a public-interest law firm that defends and promotes educational options, accountable government and economic opportunity across the Northeast and around the country. Through legal action and public education, it works to preserve and enhance liberties grounded in the constitutions and civil rights laws of the United States and the individual New England states.

Organized in 2021 by a group of prominent lawyers and business leaders, the Foundation is affiliated with Pioneer Institute, a research foundation based in Boston with a broad public interest mission that embraces reform and innovation in health care, public transit, education, immigration, civil rights and public governance.  Governed by an independent board of directors, Pioneer New England Legal Foundation will pursue high impact, cutting-edge cases that advance educational quality and opportunity for all students, especially those in underserved areas, open and accountable government, and enhanced economic opportunity for all, especially lower income and immigrant communities.

Director of Major Gifts

Pioneer Institute & Pioneer New England Legal Foundation

Boston, MA | Hybrid (3–4 days in office) | $125,000–$155,000

Reports to the Chief Strategy & Development Officer

Build the relationships that drive impact.

Pioneer Institute is an independent, Boston-based public policy think tank that, together with the Pioneer New England Legal Foundation, combines rigorous policy research with strategic litigation to drive real change in states across the country. We focus on four core drivers of human potential: K-12 education, healthcare and life sciences, economic opportunity, and American civic values.

After five record-breaking years of revenue growth, both organizations are entering the next phase of their strategic development. Expansion efforts include a formal research operation in Florida, legal advisory councils throughout New England, and a focused policy agenda driving data-based reforms to help individuals thrive.

To help sustain this growth, we are looking for a self-starting, relationship-driven Director of Major Gifts to build new donor relationships and deepen existing ones.

Who will thrive in this role

• You enjoy meeting new people. First conversations energize you. You’re curious about why people give and what they hope to change.
• You’re a connector. You listen for what a donor cares about, whether that’s educational choice, patient access, housing, or the rule of law, and connect it to specific Pioneer research or Legal Foundation work.
• You’re a self-starter. You don’t wait for a list or a script. You set your own plan, manage your own calendar, and keep moving on your own initiative.
• You’re a builder. You want to grow a portfolio and a network, not just maintain one. You see an expanding organization as a chance to shape something.
• You’re comfortable asking. You solicit with confidence, because you’ve earned the donor’s trust first.

The role

You will own a portfolio of 100 major gift prospects and donors across Pioneer Institute and the Legal Foundation, and you will keep growing it. You will personally lead each relationship from first conversation through solicitation and stewardship, with support from our executive leadership, researchers, attorneys, and board members.

What you’ll do

• Identify, qualify, and cultivate new major gift prospects across New England and nationally who are passionate about our mission.
• Meet new people at Pioneer events and partner with supporters to host smaller gatherings that introduce prospects to our researchers and attorneys.
• Match each donor’s interests to the right Pioneer research area or Legal Foundation priority, and present a compelling case for support.
• Solicit and steward gifts from your portfolio, with an annual plan for each donor directed by sophisticated moves management strategies.
• Recruit new members to the National Leaders Forum, Pioneer’s national high-level donor engagement society.
• Partner with the Legal Foundation’s President and Board of Directors to engage principal and major donors through our State Advisory Councils and support of the Legal Foundation’s Annual Galas.

What you bring

• Alignment with our values: evidence-based solutions, the free exchange of ideas, individual liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise.
• 5+ years of development experience, with a proven record of closing six-figure gifts. Seven-figure experience is a plus, as is experience in the legal sector.
• A record of opening doors: you’ve built a network and brought donors who were new to an organization into its circle.
• Examples of building something from scratch, such as a donor segment, giving society, or event series.
• Skill at managing a portfolio and moving prospects through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Experience working with senior-level volunteers, board members, and committees.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to turn policy research and legal work into a persuasive case for support.
• Strong judgment in prioritizing prospects and balancing competing demands.
• A team-centric approach, recognizing the overall success of the organization is essential to your personal advancement.
• A bachelor’s degree is preferred. Extensive experience will be considered in lieu of one.

What we offer

• Salary of $125,000–$155,000, based on experience
• Medical, dental, and long-term disability insurance from day one
• 401(k) with a 4% automatic employer contribution
• A generous flextime policy
• A hybrid schedule with 3–4 days in our Boston office
• The chance to work alongside researchers and attorneys whose work shapes policy in Massachusetts and beyond

How to apply

Complete the pre-interview questionnaire at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/QDBXt8fycC and send your resume to Andrew Horgan (ahorgan@pioneerinstitute.org) with the subject line “Director of Major Gifts.”

Pioneer Institute is an equal opportunity employer.