Director, Leadership Gifts

Manhattan College; Northern, New York (KY, NY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Manhattan University is seeking a Director of Leadership Gifts to provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management for its Major Gift Officers within the Advancement Department. You will secure philanthropic support from new and existing donors, guide portfolio strategy, and collaborate with capital campaigns to align annual, capital, planned, and event giving.

You will work to build a strong donor pipeline, analyze data to set goals, and steward long-term relationships with alumni,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 7+ years of fundraising or development experience in a complex organization.
• Experience managing fundraising staff and driving results.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Major Gift Officers to achieve fundraising and donor engagement goals; establish team and individual performance metrics focused on revenue growth, retention, and donor pipeline development.
• Personally manage a focused portfolio of leadership giving prospects and secure philanthropic support from new and existing donors through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Oversee portfolio management across the Major Gifts team, ensuring strong data integrity, disciplined prospect strategy, and consistent movement of donors through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with the Director, Capital Campaign and Advancement colleagues to execute major gift strategies that support annual, capital, planned, and event giving objectives.
• Provide strategic guidance to Major Gift Officers, identify opportunities for collaboration across fundraising programs, and contribute to Advancement Department planning and management.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture aligned with Manhattan University's values, and strengthen relationships with donors, alumni, University officials, faculty, and staff.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Portfolio management

Donor strategy

Data analysis

Relationship-building

Team leadership

Collaboration

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Director, Leadership Gifts provides strategic leadership and day-to-day management for Manhattan University's Major Gift Officers within the Advancement Department; secures philanthropic support from new and existing donors; serves as a member of the Advancement Department's management team; and plays a key role in sustaining and expanding the University's community of supporters. In collaboration with the Director, Capital Campaign, this role is responsible for executing a major gift fundraising strategy that supports both annual and capital fundraising objectives, while integrating planned and event giving strategies as required.

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Major Gift Officers to achieve fundraising and donor engagement goals; establish team and individual performance metrics focused on revenue growth, retention, and donor pipeline development.
• Personally manage a focused portfolio of leadership giving prospects and secure philanthropic support from new and existing donors through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Oversee portfolio management across the Major Gifts team, ensuring strong data integrity, disciplined prospect strategy, and consistent movement of donors through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with the Director, Capital Campaign and Advancement colleagues to execute major gift strategies that support annual, capital, planned, and event giving objectives.
• Provide strategic guidance to Major Gift Officers, identify opportunities for collaboration across fundraising programs, and contribute to Advancement Department planning and management.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture aligned with Manhattan University's values, and strengthen relationships with donors, alumni, University officials, faculty, and staff.

Education

Bachelor's degree required.

Experience

7+ years of fundraising or development experience in a complex organization, including demonstrated success managing fundraising staff and driving results.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong knowledge of major gift fundraising, portfolio and pipeline management, donor strategy, performance metrics, data analysis, and relationship-based philanthropy.
• Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to analyze data, set goals, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with donors, alumni, University officials, faculty, and staff or similar constituencies.