Assistant Director, Leadership Giving

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston is seeking an Assistant Director, Leadership Giving to join the Leadership Giving team. You will identify and cultivate prospective donors at $10k-$100k, develop strategies, and collaborate with University Advancement and college staff to move donors toward major gifts.

The role requires 1-3 years in development, exceptional communication, and the ability to travel; you will manage a portfolio and execute stewardship plans, with a focus on engagement and

Qualifications

• 1-3 years in a development-related environment is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills for donor engagement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities required.

Responsibilities

• Lead donor/prospect activities at the leadership level to grow major gifts.
• Manage a portfolio and cultivate, solicit, and steward donors.
• Collaborate with University Advancement and college staff to coordinate solicitations.
• Log activity and maintain data in Salesforce; report progress and outcomes.
• Develop strategies to elevate donors toward higher giving levels.

Skills

1-3 years in development

Strong interpersonal skills

Collaborative in approach

Able to take direction

Flexibility to adapt

Excellent verbal & written comms

Ability to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

About the Opportunity

About the Opportunity Job Summary Reporting directly to the Executive Director, Development, the Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will join the newly formed Leadership Giving team with the goal of advancing the leadership giving program at Northeastern University. The Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will work in close collaboration with University Advancement and college and unit staff to: Identify and build relationships with prospective donors who have the potential to give at the $10,000 - $100,000 level Develop strategies for cultivation of these leadership level donors and prospects Prepare for and make solicitations to these leadership level donors and prospects Determine the trajectory of these leadership level donors and prospects. By working collaboratively across the university, the Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will play an active role in the success of the leadership giving program in terms of both development activity and philanthropic giving to all colleges, units, and programs. The Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will execute the strategy established by the Executive Director, Development to ensure the success and growth of the leadership giving program. The Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will work to engage mid-level donors ($10,000 - $100,000) who exhibit considerable promise (capacity and inclination) to elevate to the major gift level to ensure greater long-term success for the major gift and principal gift programs. The Assistant Director will hold face-to-face and virtual meetings with donors/prospects as needed to move the constituent closer to a leadership level gift. The Assistant Director will quickly but thoughtfully make decisions on the trajectory of the donor/prospects based upon the leadership giving activities, conversations, and research. The Assistant Director will be a highly effective collaborator and partner who is able to work across both University Advancement and the greater university to ensure the fundraising success of the program. They will acquire and articulate an understanding of Northeastern University and its various colleges and units to be able to have informed and educated conversations with donors/prospects. The Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will manage a portfolio of a select group of major gift level alumni, parents, and friends, with a focus on raising gifts at the leadership giving level. The Assistant Director will close gifts and cultivate qualified donors/prospects for larger gifts.

Minimum Qualifications

• The university is seeking a highly entrepreneurial, energetic individual who has 1-3 years in a development-related environment
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary for building both internal and external relationships with donors/prospects, deans, faculty, staff, and colleagues.
• Collaborative in approach
• Able to take direction
• Flexibility to adapt as the leadership giving program evolves
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to travel as necessary
• Bachelor's degree is required

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Leadership Giving donor/prospect activities – (75%) Build and manage a portfolio of prospective donor/prospects at the leadership level who exhibit considerable promise for evolving to major gift level capacity over time Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward this portfolio of donor/prospects to strategically enhance their giving potential and likelihood Work to connect with donors/prospects at the leadership giving level who exhibit the potential to give at the major and principal giving levels Achieve a high level of engagement and financial support from these constituents Work across University Advancement and the greater university to build relationships that will enhance active solicitations of leadership giving donor/prospects to help move these prospects to higher giving levels Meet and exceed established metrics and benchmarks Utilize Advancement data management system, Salesforce, to log activity, create call and progress reports and maintain data integrity of leadership giving donors and prospects Execute an effective stewardship plan for this portfolio of donors/prospects Collaborate with University Advancement colleagues and staff along with college colleagues and staff to enhance cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship as necessary Acquire and articulate an understanding of Northeastern University's various colleges and units to be able to have informed and educated conversations with donors and prospects – (15%) This understanding and knowledge will come from conversations with stakeholders in University Advancement and across the Northeastern University ecosystem Frontline fundraising learning and experience – (10%) Learn, experience, and enhance appropriate strategies to grow and improve as a frontline fundraising, including but not limited to: Telephone call strategies and best practices Email strategies and best practices Face-to-face meeting and execution Follow-up timing and cadence Portfolio management Salesforce usage to enhance fundraising Collaboration within and across Advancement

Position Type

Advancement

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 108S Expected Hiring Range: $60,315.00 - $85,192.50 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change. Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide— serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.