Associate Director of Development – Leadership Giving

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

6h • $100,000 - $110,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director of Development raises philanthropic gifts in support of the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s mission of preparing leaders in education and generating knowledge to improve student opportunity, achievement, and success. The Associate Director will focus on raising flexible support that enables HGSE to deliver on its mission, managing a portfolio of prospects that includes those who are, or have the potential to become, leadership level donors ($10,000-$25,000 annually or $100,000- $250,000 multiyear pledges). The Associate Director will develop and manage a portfolio of ~200 donors/potential donors through all stages of donor engagement. The Associate Director of Development is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy and limited guidance to develop multi-step prospect strategies to secure gifts. These strategies may require collaboration with colleagues in other Harvard schools to engage donors interested in HGSE’s work. In addition, the Associate Director will be creative in identifying new potential donors beyond the traditional HGSE and Harvard donor base. This position requires a bias for action and making the ask, a high level of organization, professionalism, and mastery of the objectives of leadership gift/flexible use fundraising. Success will be measured by the incumbent’s ability to move donors from qualification to cultivation to solicitation and close leadership gifts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising and/or related field where skills are easily transferable, including direct solicitation.
• Willingness and ability to travel roughly 40% of the time (and conduct effective meetings over video and phone, when necessary. Occasional evening and weekend work required.
• Applicants wishing to be considered must supply a cover letter in addition to their resume and indicate meeting basic qualifications.
• Demonstrated experience and effectiveness in individual donor fundraising and volunteer management.
• Must be an innovative and creative strategic contributor with strong listening skills and the ability to collaborate and persuade.
• Proven interpersonal skills with ability to build and strengthen diverse relationships; motivate, engage and work with donors and volunteers, School and University leaders, faculty, and staff.
• Strong results orientation and proven track record in setting and achieving ambitious goals.
• Superb organizational, prioritization, public speaking, presentation, written and oral communication skills.
• Due to frequent interaction with high level donors, senior administrators and faculty, the candidate must maintain confidential information and use sound judgment.
• Ability to operate both autonomously and in a team, understanding individual success as part of a larger team’s success, with high levels of professionalism, collegiality and self-motivation.
• Computer literacy required; must have experience with Window and databases.

Nice To Haves

• The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of both higher education and philanthropy, and bring a proactive, entrepreneurial approach to fundraising and a genuine passion for HGSE’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies for increasing leadership giving for funding around priority areas.
• Identify and qualify potential donors—in collaboration with our AA&D Research Team colleagues—and work with donors at every stage of engagement.
• Move prospects toward solicitation and completes assigned solicitations on the agreed upon timeline. This includes conducting at least 125 one-on-one visits and building toward securing 20 (twenty) $25,000+ commitments toward HGSE priorities annually.
• Travel with and provide staffing support for the Dean and members of the faculty on behalf of fundraising efforts.
• In collaboration with others, plans and executes select events related to the cultivation, solicitation and/or stewardship of leadership gift prospects and donors.
• Write briefings, proposals, donor correspondence and updates that shape and reflect fundraising strategies, with support and collaboration from colleagues.
• Serve as a member of the Development team by participating in group strategy discussions, providing project leadership when requested by management, sharing information with colleagues and contributing to the achievement of the overall goals of HGSE.
• Through effective sharing of information and building of trust, collaborate with colleagues across the University to identify and engage alumni of other Schools who would be interested in the work of HGSE.
• In concert with the overall fundraising needs for HGSE, works periodically on special projects in collaboration with the development and communications colleagues.
• Achieve annual performance metrics including visit targets and funding goals to be set each year.
• Works with Development Coordinator to keep track of plans and outreach in the AA&D database, to ensure transparency and effective pipeline management. Provide timely follow-up and debriefs after meetings.
• Actively build knowledge of HGSE and relationships with colleagues across the School by attending campus events and activities, reading HGSE publications and pursuing other avenues for professional learning and growth.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level