Associate Director Major Gifts - College of Engineering

Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 86,490 - 122,163; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution in Boston seeks an Associate Director of Major Gifts to develop and manage a portfolio of major gift-rated individuals. The role requires strong fundraising skills, relationship building, and collaboration with faculty. The position involves soliciting donations of $25K to $1M and creating meaningful engagement initiatives. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years of experience in fundraising, with exceptional communication skills.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of progressive fundraising experience.
• Track record of soliciting and closing major gifts at 5-, 6-, and 7-figure levels.
• Ability to travel including nights and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of ~125 major gift prospects.
• Identify and solicit prospects for gifts between $25K-$1M.
• Collaborate with colleagues on donor engagement strategies.

Skills

Relationship building

Fundraising tactics

Communication skills

Detail-oriented

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

About The Opportunity

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Job Summary

Reporting into the Director of Development for the College of Engineering, the new Associate Director, Major Gifts (ADMG) will build and develop a national portfolio of major gift-rated individual donors. The role requires cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects and donors at major gift levels ($100K-$1M), in addition to launching a systematic initiative to acquire new donors that meet institutional fundraising goals. The ADMG will work to uplift the philanthropic commitment of all constituents and elevate the portfolio over time to more significantly reflect donors capable of giving at seven-figure levels. The ADMG will leverage programming for the College of Engineering, collaborating closely with world renowned faculty across the Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical and Industrial Engineering departments. Interdisciplinary programming and research are areas of continued focus for the College of Engineering, in addition to professorships, scholarships, graduate fellowships particularly at the Ph.D. level, and creating unique research and instructional space such as next generation makerspace. This position is Boston-based and is not available for remote work.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of development practices to expand and cultivate existing donor relationships over time.

Natural relationship builder who takes a solutions-focused approach to development and believes there are no dead-ends, only other roads to pursue. Enthusiasm for pipeline building and discovery meetings.

Interpersonal skills for building authentic relationships with external (donors, prospects, trustees, volunteers) and internal (deans, faculty, staff, colleagues) constituents.

Exceptional verbal communication skills, active listening skills, and demonstrated ability to write clearly and persuasively.

Detail orientation and accountability to performance measures. An appreciation for lifelong learning and the value of skills gained through a structured education as well as through hands‑on work experience.

Contributes to a sense of belonging among all community constituents. High energy, positive 'can-do' attitude, flexibility, teamwork, high degree of initiative and good sense of humor.

Knowledge and skills typically acquired through a bachelor's degree or equivalent and 3-5 years of progressive fundraising experience. Track record of soliciting and closing major gifts at the 5-, 6-, and 7-figure levels.

Ability to travel including nights and weekends, as global health conditions allow.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of ~125 leadership and major gift prospects that span alumni, friends, parents, and university leaders.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit prospects; develop relationships, assess interest in the College of Engineering and capacity to make gifts at the $25K-$1M levels through a mix of in‑person and virtual meetings.
• Employ innovative approaches to engagement, cultivation, and solicitation strategies; enhance donor relationships with Northeastern by strategically involving them in special programs and events, and by connecting them to other university leaders and supporters.
• Partner with directors and department heads across the College of Engineering to identify fundraising opportunities and create new initiatives that resonate with donors and provide meaningful, substantive engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues, particularly with the departments of Corporate & Foundation Relations, Family Philanthropy, and Planned Giving, on donor engagement strategies and to successfully meet donor interests and leverage their full philanthropic potential.
• Use Salesforce to log activity, create call reports and progress reports, and maintain data integrity of prospect portfolio.

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.

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

$86,490.00 - $122,163.75

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.