Reporting directly to the Executive Director, Development, the Associate Director, Leadership Giving will join the newly formed Leadership Giving team with the goal of advancing the leadership giving program at Northeastern University. The Associate Director, Leadership Giving will work in close collaboration with University Advancement and college and unit staff to:
Identify and build relationships with prospective donors who have the potential to give at the $10,000 - $100,000 level
Develop strategies for cultivation of these leadership level donors and prospects
Prepare for and make solicitations to these leadership level donors and prospects
Determine the trajectory of these leadership level donors and prospects.
By working collaboratively across the university, the Associate Director, Leadership Giving will play an active role in the success of the leadership giving program in terms of both development activity and philanthropic giving to all colleges, units, and programs.
The Associate Director, Leadership Giving will execute the strategy established by the Executive Director, Development to ensure the success and growth of the leadership giving program. The Associate Director, Leadership Giving will work to engage mid-level donors ($10,000 - $100,000) who exhibit considerable promise (capacity and inclination) to elevate to the major gift level to ensure greater long-term success for the major gift and principal gift programs. The Associate Director will hold face-to-face and virtual meetings with donors/prospects as needed to move the constituent closer to a leadership level gift. The Associate Director will quickly but thoughtfully make decisions on the trajectory of the donor/prospects based upon the leadership giving activities, conversations, and research. The Associate Director will be a highly effective collaborator and partner who is able to work across both University Advancement and the greater university to ensure the fundraising success of the program. They will acquire and articulate an understanding of Northeastern University and its various colleges and units to be able to have informed and educated conversations with donors/prospects. The Associate Director, Leadership Giving will manage a portfolio of a select group of major gift level alumni, parents, and friends, with a focus on raising gifts at the leadership giving level. The Associate Director will close gifts and cultivate qualified donors/prospects for larger gifts.
Minimum Qualifications
The university is seeking a highly entrepreneurial, energetic individual who has 3-5 years of progressive development experience.
Proven success in fundraising. Higher education fundraising experience is not required but is a plus.
Strong interpersonal skills necessary for building both internal and external relationships with donors/prospects, deans, faculty, staff, and colleagues.
Collaborative in approach
Able to take direction
Flexibility to adapt as the leadership giving program evolves
Build and manage a portfolio of prospective donor/prospects at the leadership level who exhibit considerable promise for evolving to major gift level capacity over time.
Acquire and articulate an understanding of Northeastern University's various colleges and units to be able to have informed and educated conversations with donors and prospects.
Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward this portfolio of donor/prospects to strategically enhance their giving potential and likelihood
Work to connect with donors/prospects at the leadership giving level who exhibit the potential to give at the major and principal giving levels
Achieve a high level of engagement and financial support from these constituents
Work across University Advancement and the greater university to build relationships that will enhance active solicitations of leadership giving donor/prospects to help move these prospects to higher giving levels
Meet and exceed established metrics and benchmarks
Utilize Advancement data management system, Salesforce, to log activity, create call and progress reports and maintain data integrity of leadership giving donors and prospects
Execute an effective stewardship plan for this portfolio of donors/prospects
Collaborate with University Advancement colleagues and staff along with college colleagues and staff to enhance cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship as necessary
MANAGEMENT & SUPERVISION (15%)
Manage and supervise at least one Leadership Giving frontline fundraiser to: (1) increase overall Leadership Giving fundraising results; (2) benefit the respective college, program or unit; and (3) to help enhance their development and fundraising skill set.
Work in close collaboration with the Executive Director, Leadership Giving to maximize Leadership Giving program results and growth, and to hire, onboard, train, and develop Leadership Giving staff.
Hold weekly/bi-weekly fundraising activity meetings, monthly progress meetings, and quarterly portfolio reviews with direct reports.
Prepare and present quarterly and yearly performance appraisals for direct reports in conjunction with the Executive Director.
Operate as a flexible and nimble fundraiser and manager as the Leadership Giving program evolves.
Acquire and articulate an understanding of Northeastern University's various colleges and units to be able to have informed and educated conversations with donors and prospects
This understanding and knowledge will come from conversations with stakeholders in University Advancement and across the Northeastern University ecosystem
Position Type
Advancement
Additional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
To learn more about Northeastern University's commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.
Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research university located in the heart of Boston. Northeastern is a leader in worldwide experiential learning, urban engagement, and interdisciplinary research that meets global and societal needs. Our broad mix of experience-based education programs?our signature cooperative education program, as well as student research, service learning, and global learning?build the connections that enable students to transform their lives. The University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools.