Director of Development (Domestic)

Babson College • Wellesley, MA

2d • $124,149 - $197,772 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Development (Domestic) is a key member of the Babson Development team, responsible for advancing major gift strategy and outcomes across a U.S.-based portfolio. This role focuses on engaging, cultivating, and soliciting high-capacity alumni, parents, and friends of the College to secure significant philanthropic investments in support of Babson’s strategic priorities. The Director will manage a portfolio of approximately 350+ prospects and is expected to build strong, trust-based relationships that result in gifts of $100,000 and above.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 10–15 years of progressive experience in major gift fundraising, preferably within higher education or a similarly complex environment.
• Demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in working with a diverse student body, faculty, staff, and other constituents
• Ability to establish creditability and confidence with stakeholders
• Must have exceptional collaboration and interpersonal skills, and the ability to be effective engaging with all levels within the college
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with our talented business alumni.
• Ability to work independently and particularly to formulate creative strategies for major gifts advancement.
• Must have exceptional organizational, verbal, and written communication skills
• Must be flexible and willing to assume new tasks and special projects
• Must have strong technology skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint)
• Ability to envision and propose new methods to perform tasks that support Entrepreneurial Thought & Action; take thoughtful risks; and accept new and ongoing initiatives, objectives, and solutions to gain sought-after results
• Ability to anticipate and embrace change; demonstrate willingness to achieve, acquire, and utilize new skills and challenging tasks; and is flexible in changing conditions
• Ability to successfully contribute to the Advancement team
• Ability to operate with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment in all interactions.
• Must possess the integrity, intellectual depth, and confidence to effectively engage and partner with key internal and external stakeholders
• Must have a deep appreciation for Babson’s mission, goals, and culture and the proven ability to create engagement and fundraising strategies tied to the mission and strategic priorities
• Flexibility and willingness to travel as a representative of Babson.
• Must have had a valid unrestricted U.S. Driver’s License for one year, and maintain throughout employment an insurable (as determined by the College’s insurer’s criteria) or a satisfactory driving record; must successfully complete and pass the College’s vehicle training program within the first 60 days of employment; annual or more frequent review of employee’s driving record based on the College insurer’s criteria; and safety training as required by management.

Nice To Haves

• Prior fundraising experience in an academic environment preferred

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 350+ high net-worth individuals, primarily based in the United States, building deep philanthropic relationships and soliciting gifts of $100,000 and above.
• Develop and implement strategies for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects, successfully moving them through the qualification and cultivation processes to solicitation.
• Conduct a minimum of 18-20 face-to-face meetings per month.
• Prepare proposals for gift solicitations based on annual fundraising goals.
• Partner with College leadership, development colleagues, faculty, trustees, and other volunteers to identify opportunities for prospect engagement within the college.
• Prepare written briefings and solicitation strategies for senior leadership and faculty visits with prospective donors, as well as follow-up documentation and correspondence.
• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues to engage and expand the pool of volunteers and prospective donors and in coordinating solicitation strategies and campaign activities to increase Alumni participation in annual giving.
• Attend advancement events, including student orientation, commencement, reunion and regional/local cultivation events.
• Assume additional responsibilities as required.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, group life and long-term disability insurance, business travel accident insurance, and mental health benefits.
• Starting at 3 weeks of vacation annually, 2 weeks of sick time, 1 week of paid family illness time, 6 weeks of paid parental leave, and 12 paid holidays per year.
• Participation in a 403(b) retirement plan with mandatory employee contributions and a 4:1 employer match.
• Wellbeing programs, virtual fitness platform, and employee assistance program.

What This Job Offers

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