Associate Director, Major Gifts

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston seeks an Associate Director, Major Gifts to qualify, cultivate, and solicit high-capacity prospects in multiple regions. You will manage a data-driven portfolio, develop strategic opportunities, and collaborate with university partners to advance interdisciplinary fundraising initiatives.

The role emphasizes front-line fundraising and content strategy, with responsibilities across engineering, computer science, science, and other disciplines, reporting to the

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience with six-figure gifts.
• Experience managing complex projects, strategic volunteer engagement, and donor relationships.
• Autonomy and initiative in an entrepreneurial environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and develop tailored cultivation strategies.
• Solicit gifts in the $250K–$1M+ range and collaborate with One Northeastern colleagues.
• Develop region-based plans and report progress to senior leadership.
• Maintain data integrity in the prospect portfolio using Ascend.
• Achieve annual fundraising goals and activity metrics.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Prospect strategy

Donor relations

Data-driven mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel readiness

Tools

Ascend system

Job description

About the Opportunity

Job Summary: The Associate Director, Major Gifts (ADMG) will qualify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects ($250K–$1M+) in a designated geographic region. Operating within the One Northeastern model, the ADMG maintains a university-wide perspective, raising support for a broad range of institutional priorities spanning individual colleges, multidisciplinary programs, and strategic initiatives. While possessing a solid understanding of Northeastern University's overall academic enterprise, the ADMG may also build deeper expertise in a college, program, or campus in order to serve as a content resource to other development colleagues and to strengthen collaborative fundraising efforts. In keeping with the One Northeastern Advancement structure, this position serves as both a front-line fundraiser and content strategist for Northeastern University in related subject areas, including engineering, computer science, science, and other disciplines, working in close partnership with the One Northeastern advancement team, faculty, and programmatic leaders. The role focuses on securing major gifts within at least two regions and developing interdisciplinary strategic opportunities for funding that elevate Northeastern's philanthropic profile and align with its priorities. This position is Boston-based and reports to an Associate Vice President of Advancement.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Portfolio Management and Prospect Strategy Build, manage, and engage a portfolio of approximately 120 or more high-capacity major gift prospects, with an emphasis on raising gifts in the $250,000–$1M+ range, in concert with One Northeastern fundraising colleagues. Develop prospects using a geographic and subject matter overlay, working in partnership with other One Northeastern colleagues as needed. Develop and implement tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies for each prospect, leveraging programmatic leadership where appropriate. Discover new prospects and build pipeline to feed gifts at the major gift level, leveraging a data-driven mindset and sophisticated prospect management systems.

Cultivation, Solicitation, and Relationship Management

Cultivate, solicit, and build relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of the University. Strategize with faculty and other colleagues on next steps with prospects. Travel as needed to designated regions to build relationships with existing volunteers, prospects, and donors, and to solicit gifts in the $250K–$1M+ range. Partner with One Northeastern colleagues in athletics, gift planning, family philanthropy, leadership giving, annual giving, and alumni relations to develop and support interdisciplinary gift opportunities within the regional structure, as needed.

Regional Planning and Reporting

Work with regional leadership, including the Assistant Vice President for Advancement, to create a strategic development plan to advance the portfolio. Establish region-based plans for cultivating and soliciting alumni and current parents in targeted regions. Engage faculty strategically with prospects and maintain ongoing correspondence. Keep the Assistant Vice President, faculty, and appropriate University administrators apprised of funding opportunities and trends. Prepare monthly progress prospect reports for the Assistant Vice President.

Data Management and Stewardship

Maintain a high-quality development process for active alumni, parent, and friend prospects and donors, including creating call reports. Maintain the data integrity of the prospect portfolio using the Development Office's data management system (Ascend). Work with Advancement's Stewardship team to ensure that past, present, and future donors are appropriately recognized, including their administration and accounting.

Goal Achievement

Achieve annual fundraising goals and activity metrics (visits, video meetings, calls, proposals, etc.) as set by the Associate Vice President.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in securing six-figure gifts

Experience managing complex projects, strategic volunteer engagement, and donor relationships requiring interdisciplinary collaboration

Comfort working in an entrepreneurial environment with high levels of autonomy and responsibility

Preferred

Background in higher education, cultural institutions, healthcare, or other complex nonprofits

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.

• medical
• vision
• dental
• paid time off
• tuition assistance
• wellness & life
• retirement-
• commuting & transportation

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 111S Expected Hiring Range: $87,785.00 - $123,998.75 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. 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.