Philanthropic Advisor

Harvey Mudd College•Claremont, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Development, the Philanthropic Advisor (PA) will develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to secure support from a portfolio of approximately 100-125 major gift prospects. They will support the college’s top priorities and fundraising initiatives, focusing on regional fundraising through a donor-centric model for sustained success. The advisor will encourage new ideas, foster interaction and teamwork, and promote integration across HMC’s community in preparing for the college’s most aspirational and fundraising trajectory. The ideal candidate will excel at building productive relationships with diverse constituents, including alumni, parents, and friends of the college. Proven experience in cultivating and soliciting major gifts is essential, with campaign experience being highly desirable. The philanthropic advisor should be well-versed in all fundraising concepts and demonstrate a strong command of industry standards and procedures. This role requires sound judgment and the ability to work independently to achieve annual goals while developing a sustainable donor pipeline.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required.
At least five years of demonstrable experience in leadership and major gifts fundraising in a medium-to-large development operation.
A record of successfully soliciting and closing six- and seven-figure gifts.
Demonstrable knowledge of fundraising best practices in higher education.
Success in personally qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts with significant institutional impact.
A high degree of comfort and effectiveness working with high-net-worth individuals, domestically and internationally.
An ability to monitor performance to achieve personal fundraising and metric goals.
An ability to work effectively in a complex institutional setting and maintain effective relationships with donors, volunteers, faculty, staff, colleagues, and senior management.
Self-confidence, optimism, personal resilience, and the ability to function at peak levels in a high-expectation environment.
Excellent critical thinking and listening skills; excellent written and verbal communication skills.
An ability to handle highly confidential information with patience, discretion, good judgment, courtesy, and tact while working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
An ability and willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends, as needed, to meet philanthropic partners or otherwise represent HMC at fundraising events.

Nice To Haves

Experience in an academic setting, in a campaign environment, and planned giving is strongly preferred.
Experience working within or alongside the entrepreneurial space (startups, VC, or tech innovation hubs) preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and manage a select portfolio of 100-125 high-capacity donors and prospects capable of outright and deferred gifts of $100,000 or more, setting a personal example of success and teamwork in frontline fundraising.
Foster relationships with assigned prospects through in-person meetings, written communications, and digital channels while employing a donor-centric approach.
Set sights and achieve annual fundraising goals and performance metrics.
Craft proposals and prioritize solicitations.
Serve as philanthropic liaisons and counsel to Harvey Mudd College’s academic faculty and chairs to help identify, establish, and execute fundraising priorities that tie into broader advancement initiatives; proactively work to understand and maintain an in-depth knowledge of HMC programs.
Build strong collaborative relationships with the Harvey Mudd College community, including alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, and volunteers, to enhance fundraising efforts.
Formulate creative cultivation plans, successful solicitation strategies, and effective stewardship efforts to maximize lifetime engagement and support for the college’s mission.
Rely on past experience in the field and remain current with evolving trends in philanthropy.
Work collaboratively with colleagues across all functional areas within the Advancement division.
Seek opportunities to partner with Alumni and Parent Relations staff to strengthen alumni giving opportunities.
Ensure compliance with all college fundraising policies, goals, and procedures, including following all protocols for prospect and donor management established and implemented by Harvey Mudd College Advancement.
Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.
Support OCA's objective to cultivate and sustain a robust culture of philanthropy that reflects belief and confidence in HMC’s leadership and mission.
Reinforce that every gift supports people and programs across campus, inspiring shared pride and a collective commitment to the College’s future.
Promote a sense of hospitality, giving and generosity, ensuring that individuals understand the vital role of philanthropy in contributing to the College’s success.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with key offices and partners across campus, including the President’s Office, the Dean of Faculty Office, Admission, Financial Aid, Student Affairs, Financial Affairs, Communications & Marketing, academic departments and centers, and Career Services, to coordinate and amplify engagement opportunities.