Associate Director - Leadership Giving

About the Opportunity

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, Development, the Associate Director, Leadership Giving will join the Leadership Giving team with the goal of advancing high mid-range donor giving at Northeastern University. This is a highly specialized position, focusing on the top end of leadership gifts to the 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

• Navigate planned giving opportunities among leadership level donors and prospects, to provide additional support and proactive fundraising within the area of gift planning.

• Determine the trajectory of these leadership level donors and prospects.

• Manage and supervise at least one additional Leadership Giving frontline fundraiser to assist in the health and growth of the Leadership Giving program.

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 leadership 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 high-end leadership giving level alumni, parents, and friends, with a focus on raising gifts to the major gift level. The Associate Director will close gifts and cultivate qualified donors/prospects for larger gifts.

The Associate Director will manage and supervise at least one Leadership Giving frontline fundraisers and staff to aid in their growth and development as professional fundraisers.  This management and supervision will include, but not be limited to, weekly/bi-weekly fundraising activity meetings, monthly progress meetings and quarterly portfolio reviews.  Additionally, the Associate Director will prepare and present quarterly and fiscal year-end performance reviews in conjunction with the Executive Director.

 The university is seeking a highly entrepreneurial, energetic individual who has 3-5 years of progressive development experience.

• Proven success in fundraising, including, but not limited to, donor/prospect portfolio management and experience making gift solicitations at the $25,000+ level. Higher education fundraising experience is not required but is a plus.

• Ability to demonstrate a highly sophisticated approach to fundraising, utilizing major and planned giving resources to raise donor sights.

• Ability and desire to manage frontline fundraising staff resulting in increased fundraising results and enhanced fundraising skills.

• Strong working knowledge of development including, but not limited to gift processing, portfolio management, prospect research and donor stewardship.

• 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

Leadership Giving donor/prospect activities

• • Highly sophisticated fundraising approach with the ability to elevate sights within the mid-level giving program but also the planned giving area

  • 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

  • Ability to help build markets specifically in CA and NYC as Northeastern continues to grow in both of these geographic areas

  • 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

Leadership Giving Management and Supervision activities

• Manage and supervise Leadership Giving frontline fundraising staff to increase fundraising results to benefit Leadership Giving and the respective college, program or unit.

• Work in close collaboration with the Executive Director – Leadership Giving to hire, on board, train and develop Leadership Giving staff.

• Hold weekly and bi-weekly fundraising activity meetings with direct reports.

• Hold 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

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

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.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.