Associate Director, Leadership Giving

About the Opportunity

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
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to travel as necessary
• Bachelor’s degree is required

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Leadership Giving donor / prospect activities (85%) 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 timeIdentify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward this portfolio of donor / prospects to strategically enhance their giving potential and likelihoodWork to connect with donors / prospects at the leadership giving level who exhibit the potential to give at the major and principal giving levelsAchieve a high level of engagement and financial support from these constituentsWork 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 levelsMeet and exceed established metrics and benchmarksUtilize Advancement data management system, Salesforce, to log activity, create call and progress reports and maintain data integrity of leadership giving donors and prospectsExecute an effective stewardship plan for this portfolio of donors / prospectsCollaborate with University Advancement colleagues and staff along with college colleagues and staff to enhance cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship as necessary
• 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 (15%) This understanding and knowledge will come from conversations with stakeholders in University Advancement and across the Northeastern University ecosystem

Position Type

Advancement