Director of Development, Brain Health Institute

RUF Careers Page; New Brunswick (NJ); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 139,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental and vision insurance

403(b) plan with employer match

Paid time off + holidays

Cell phone reimbursement

Job summary

Rutgers University Foundation is seeking a Director of Development for the Brain Health Institute to raise philanthropic support and advance its programs and research centers. Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, you will partner with BHI leadership and Rutgers Foundation colleagues while also working with autonomy to achieve annual fundraising goals.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree and 6+ years in fundraising or related fields, with a track record of major gifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 6+ years of fundraising experience.
• Experience in alumni relations, non-profit fundraising, event planning, higher education, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement engagement and solicitation strategies for each donor and prospect.
• Meet with donors capable of $100,000+ gifts; conduct 75-100 meetings and raise $1M in new gifts annually.
• Collaborate with Rutgers Foundation, BHI leadership, and alumni associations to drive donor events and programs.
• Develop funding proposals for corporations and foundations; advise leadership on donor relations and stewardship.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor meetings

Non-profit

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Director of Development, Brain Health Institute

Job Category: Development

Requisition Number: DIREC001458

• Posted : August 4, 2026
• Full-Time
• Hybrid
• Salary : $121,000 USD per year

Locations

Showing 1 location

New Brunswick, NJ

Description

Reporting to the Executive Director of Development (EDOD) for the Rutgers School of Medicine and working in close collaboration with the Director of the Rutgers Brain Health Institute (BHI), the Director of Development (DOD) will raise significant philanthropic funds to support the BHI’s mission, programs, and research centers. The DOD will partner effectively with the EDOD, BHI Director, and Rutgers Foundation colleagues while also working with a high level of autonomy. They will utilize all Foundation resources, tools, technology, policies, and procedures to achieve annual fundraising goals and performance metrics.

Learn more about BHI by visiting its website.

Essential Functions

• Work with EDOD, BHI Director, and Foundation colleagues to develop and implement well-thought-out engagement and solicitation strategies for every assigned donor and prospect in the current portfolio.
• Meet with current and prospective donors with the capacity to make philanthropic gifts of $100,000+; hold 75-100 unique and substantive meetings with prospects/donors and raise a minimum of $1M in new gifts and commitments annually.
• Work with the BHI communications team, Rutgers Foundation, and Rutgers Alumni associations to identify and drive prospective donors to BHI events and programs.
• Work with BHI and the Rutgers Foundation Corporate and Foundation Relations team to develop funding proposals for Corporations and Foundations
• Advise and coach BHI leadership on best practices for donor relations and stewardship.
• Other development-related duties as assigned by the EDOD and BHI Director

Leadership

• Demonstrate ability to successfully manage and lead a team (and/or staff volunteers) in a way that maximizes the potential of each team member
• Lead a comprehensive unit or central development department/program

Autonomy

• Manage an implementation team and projects/programs with moderate supervision from leadership
• Set goals, manage budgets, and meet deadlines for themselves and the team
• Manage a personal major gift donor/prospect portfolio with a primary focus on securing gifts at or above the $100,000 level and a personal fundraising goal of $1M

Complexity

• Partner with other peer directors and department leads across the organization
• Effectively engage and manage relationships with your supervisor and University partners across the enterprise
• Able to devise and execute increasingly complex projects
• Set direction and approach in partnership with assigned RU leader’s vision
• Able to adapt to changing situations and different fundraising partners
• Demonstrate an ability to set priorities and determine strategy for unit, including staffing and budgets
• Develop and submit written proposals, budgets and other collateral materials as needed for securing philanthropic investments

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree and/or 6+ years of professional experience in fundraising, alumni relations, non-profit organizations, event planning, higher education, or related fields.

Working Conditions

This position requires clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines with little physical effort. Will work evenings, weekends, or odd hours to meet resource-raising commitments. Typical working conditions with an absence of disagreeable elements. This position requires some early mornings and late evenings to accommodate meetings, travel, events, and external constituents’ schedules.

Workplace Arrangements

This is classified as an office-centric hybrid position. Colleagues working under an office-centric hybrid arrangement have a primary workstation in a university or foundation location and are in the office between one and five days a week. The frequency with which they are present in the office depends on their role and function and the interdependency of other functions.

Compensation and Benefits

The position is budgeted for an annual salary of $121,000. In addition to salary, Rutgers University Foundation offers:

• Comprehensive no cost dental, and no cost vision insurance for employee and dependents
• 403(b) plan with matching employer contribution
• Accrual of three weeks of annual vacation time, in addition to five wellness days and fifteen sick days per year
• Nine holidays, as well as four floating holidays
• Professional development is highly valued at the Rutgers University Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization to develop new skills and abilities for professional career progression.
• $40 monthly cell phone reimbursement

It is Foundation policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants. The Foundation prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and/or local laws. Equal employment opportunity applies to hiring, placement, transfer, promotion, demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, layoff, or termination.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.