Leadership Giving Officer

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Leadership Giving Officer (LGO) is a frontline fundraiser for the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD), supporting the School’s priorities through annual, current-use philanthropy. Reporting to the Senior Director of Annual and Leadership Giving, the LGO manages a portfolio of approximately 300 annual leadership giving donors and prospects, with an actively managed segment of approximately 125–175 individuals. The officer develops and executes personalized, data-informed, multi-channel strategies to acquire, renew, and retain annual and multi-year commitments of $10,000 or more and to build a pipeline of future leadership donors.

The position is responsible for approximately 125 substantive donor and prospect visits annually and aims to secure approximately 20–30 new or renewed commitments of $10,000 or more, with that goal increasing over time. The LGO oversees the annual giving pipeline for assigned prospects, collaborates with other gift officers on annual giving strategies, and contributes to revenue and retention goals. The role also oversees the Leadership, Loyalty, and Legacy Giving Circles and collaborates on Term Fellowship fundraising and donor experiences.

The LGO serves as an ambassador for the GSD, works closely with faculty, School leadership, University partners, and Development and Alumni Relations colleagues, and attends approximately 5–10 GSD receptions associated with industry or professional conferences. The position requires regular donor contact, primarily domestic travel, occasional evening and weekend work, and strong organization and collaboration. It is a full-time, exempt hybrid position, generally requiring one to two days per week on the GSD campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 8 years of frontline fundraising experience, or equivalent experience in a directly transferable development or institutional advancement area.
• Demonstrated track record of securing four- and five-figure gifts.
• Ability to manage the full donor cycle: identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively to varied audiences.
• General computer literacy, including proficiency with standard office software such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.
• Experience with at least one Development CRM, such as Advance, Salesforce, or Raiser’s Edge.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, primarily domestically, and work occasional evenings and weekends as donor and event schedules require.
• Commitment to working in person on campus in Cambridge at least one day per week as part of the hybrid arrangement.
• Employment authorization to work in the United States; the employer cannot sponsor a visa.
• Ability to perform typical office tasks, including sitting for extended periods, using standard office equipment, and occasionally lifting up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to work independently and develop and execute tailored strategies for a diverse prospect portfolio.
• Strong relationship-building, interpersonal, strategic thinking, planning, analytical, organizational, and follow-through skills.
• Professional judgment, discretion, and integrity when handling confidential information and donor relationships.
• Ability to work collaboratively, communicate openly, operate with autonomy, adapt to change, manage ambiguity, and sustain focus on long-term goals.
• A cover letter and resume are required with the application.

Nice To Haves

• Interest in design and the built environment, with the ability to represent the GSD’s work and vision compellingly and credibly.
• Ability to connect design education and issues such as climate, housing, and social equity to persuasive cases for philanthropic investment.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 300 leadership giving prospects, including an actively managed segment of approximately 125–175 donors and prospects, with emphasis on annual commitments of $10,000 or more and multi-year current-use pledges.
• Develop and execute personalized, data-informed strategies to acquire, renew, and retain annual leadership donors and build a sustainable pipeline of future leadership donors.
• Move prospects toward solicitation and complete assigned solicitations on agreed timelines; aim to secure approximately 20–30 new or renewed gifts of $10,000 or more annually, with the goal increasing each year.
• Oversee the annual giving pipeline for assigned prospects and collaborate with other gift officers on annual giving strategies.
• Promote and manage Term Fellowship giving opportunities for GSD prospects.
• Identify and qualify annual giving prospects and strengthen the pipeline for current-use gifts.
• Conduct at least 125 one-on-one donor and prospect visits annually, in person, by Zoom, or by phone.
• Partner with the Assistant Director of the Annual Fund on the annual giving calendar, targets, themes, and engagement strategy.
• Coordinate with Development and Alumni Relations colleagues and University partners to share intelligence and align engagement strategies.
• Use data, research, and performance metrics to prioritize activity and drive annual revenue and activity goals.
• Represent the GSD as an informed ambassador, communicating its mission, vision, priorities, and the role of design in addressing global challenges.
• Attend and staff approximately 5–10 GSD receptions associated with annual industry or professional conferences and use these events to arrange meaningful visits and meetings.
• Partner with faculty, School leadership and staff, and University partners to advance annual giving at the GSD.
• Contribute to a collaborative team culture and participate actively in the GSD campus community.
• Manage the Leadership, Loyalty, and Legacy Giving Circles and develop stewardship strategies for these donors.
• Provide tailored impact reporting, recognition, and ongoing engagement for leadership donors.
• Collaborate on donor engagement opportunities, including managing the Term Fellowship donor cohort.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor and prospect activity records in the Development CRM.
• Meet or exceed annual goals for visits, solicitations, dollars raised, and other performance indicators.
• Review portfolio performance, pipeline health, and progress against goals with the Senior Director of Annual and Leadership Giving.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision 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: Senior