Executive Director of Annual Giving

MIT • Cambridge, MA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director of Annual Giving, reporting to the CEO of the MIT Alumni Association and serving as a critical member of the senior management team, is a visionary advancement leader responsible for architecting and executing a high-impact, data-driven annual giving program. This leader is charged with securing foundational and leadership-level support from alumni, students, parents, and friends of the Institute. By driving an innovative, multi-channel strategy, they will cultivate, solicit, and steward more than 30,000 annual donors and 250,000 prospects. Serving as the primary bridge between foundational participation and major gift pipelines, the Executive Director works in seamless partnership with Resource Development (RD), School and Institution leadership, and the Annual Giving Board to build a sustainable culture of philanthropy that ensures campaign readiness and supports MIT’s broader institutional priorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum of ten years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, advancement, or business development, preferably within a complex higher education or academic research setting
• 5+ years of experience directing large, diverse teams, managing complex budgets, setting goals, and driving performance and resource optimization
• Proven success in cultivating high-net-worth benefactors and executing data-driven campaigns that drive donor acquisition, retention, and revenue growth
• Adept at fostering partnerships across highly matrixed organizations, influencing cross-functional stakeholders, and empowering high-level volunteer boards and alumni leaders
• Expertise in modern advancement tools (CRMs, predictive analytics, digital philanthropy platforms)
• Ability to translate complex data into actionable strategies and efficient systems

Responsibilities

• Architecting and executing a high-impact, data-driven annual giving program.
• Securing foundational and leadership-level support from alumni, students, parents, and friends of the Institute.
• Driving an innovative, multi-channel strategy to cultivate, solicit, and steward annual donors and prospects.
• Serving as the primary bridge between foundational participation and major gift pipelines.
• Building a sustainable culture of philanthropy in partnership with Resource Development (RD), School and Institution leadership, and the Annual Giving Board.
• Ensuring campaign readiness and supporting MIT’s broader institutional priorities.

What This Job Offers

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