Associate Director, Major Gifts

Northwestern University; Evanston (IL); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

Paid vacation and holidays

Tuition benefits

Pre-tax and flex spending accounts

Generous retirement savings options

Wellness programs

Job summary

Northwestern University in Evanston, IL is seeking an Associate Director of Major Gifts to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gifts from alumni, friends, and family. This frontline fundraiser will manage a fluid portfolio through qualification visits, cultivation, and customized solicitations aligned with donor interests and capacity.

The role requires a self-starter, highly organized professional who can prioritize multiple tasks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher; 4 years development, marketing, or equivalent experience.
• 4 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience.
• Experience with donor management and qualification of prospects.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, and solicit major gifts from a prospect pool.
• Manage a portfolio of about 40 prospects through the major gifts pipeline.
• Schedule visits and craft donor proposals aligned with University priorities.
• Collaborate with colleges/programs and gifts teams to plan donor strategies.
• Maintain accurate donor records and prepare contact reports.

Skills

Analytical Thinker

Communication

Teamwork

Strategic Thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM databases

Microsoft Office

Job description

Department: Alumni Relations & Development

Salary/Grade: EXS/10

Job Summary

Please note: The target budgeted salary for this position is $88,000 - $94,000 annually. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as equity within Northwestern University.

The Associate Director of Major Gifts will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gift support from a prospect pool of alumni, friends, and family members. This frontline fundraiser will develop and manage a fluid portfolio of prospects through qualification visits, cultivation efforts and customized solicitations that align with prospect interests and financial capacity. This position collaborates with colleagues across Alumni Relations and Development and the greater University, including deans, faculty, program directors, and other University volunteers to plan and execute compelling prospect meetings and solicitations of donors.

The candidate must be a self-starter who is highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize multiple tasks. This is an ideal position for someone who is proactive, motivated, able to incorporate feedback, and demonstrates resilience in uncovering prospects to become loyal donors.

Our office operates in a hybrid model and offers the option of working three days in the office and two days remote. Requires travel.

This role includes structured professional development through Plus Delta's Discipline of Frontline Fundraising program, which provides high quality training to strengthen fundamental skills in donor cultivation, solicitation, portfolio management, and strategic relationship building. Additional ARD resources further connect Northwestern policies and processes with the best practices introduced in Plus Delta's curriculum.

Specific Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

• Gathers data, assesses leads, and develops strategies designed to realize the current and lifetime giving potential of individual prospects.
• Maintains consistent and appropriate contact.
• Facilitates or makes direct solicitations.
• Ensures effective stewardship.

Collaboration

• Involves moderate- to-high-level of collaboration with both internal department partners and moderate level of collaboration with broader University partners to identify & integrate resources in order to accomplish strategic goals & objectives.
• Collaborates with areas of alumni relations and development, including Schools & Programs and Planned Gifts, to coordinate donor strategies.

Prospects & Gifts

• Develops, plans, and implements strategies and approaches to identify, personally solicit, and steadily close major gifts of six-figures or more.
• Builds a portfolio through discovery and qualification with a target of 40 prospects at a time. Manages portfolio by strategically moving them through the major gift pipeline.
• Secures visits with prospects and effectively articulates University fundraising priorities to gauge donor interest and capacity.
• Collects and synthesizes information from a wide array of sources to prepare compelling donor proposals that strategically align with donor interests and their full philanthropic capacity.
• Oversees and completes associated stewardship activities, maintains up-to-date best practices, and evaluates closed projects.
• Gathers, records, and retrieves information about prospects and donors utilizing University's donor and alumni database, internet, meetings with development staff, faculty, etc.
• Prepares contact reports on meetings and interactions with alumni.

Events

• Supports strategy for donor engagement events.
• Staff alumni and donor engagement events to advance prospect pool and giving.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 4 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Analytical Thinker: Able to analyze a broad set of data and synthesize information into compelling and succinct points.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, in addition to being an active listener. Strong interpersonal skills with a diverse group of internal and external constituencies.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Effective team player who understands individual performance drives overall team success and organizational outcomes.
• Strategic and Critical Thinking: Organized in planning both short-and long-term goals. Uses logic and reasoning to assess alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems and ambiguity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in development frontline fundraising at a higher education institution or complex nonprofit organization.
• Experience with CRM databases.
• Proven ability to personally solicit and close major gifts and pledges of six-figures or more/and or sales experience

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook) or relevant tools.

Benefits

• health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• paid vacation and holidays
• paid medical/sick and parentalleave
• tuition benefits for the employee and dependents
• pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care
• generous retirement savings options
• and wellness programs

For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.