Executive Director of Annual Giving

CASE; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

The MIT Alumni Association seeks an Executive Director of Annual Giving to lead a high-impact, data-driven program. You will architect strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward a broad base of alumni, students, parents, and friends while collaborating with university leadership.

Reporting to the CEO of the MIT Alumni Association, you will drive cross-functional initiatives, manage large budgets, and guide a multi-channel fundraising approach to sustain MIT’s priorities and campaigns.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with at least ten years in fundraising or advancement.
• Experience directing large, diverse teams and managing budgets.
• Proven success cultivating high-net-worth donors and data-driven campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead the annual giving program and align it with MIT’s strategic priorities.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward 30,000+ annual donors and 250,000 prospects.
• Partner with RD, school and institute leadership, and the Annual Giving Board.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed to represent MIT.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CRM systems

Predictive analytics

Digital philanthropy platforms

Job description

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING, Alumni Association CEO, reporting to the CEO of the MIT Alumni Association and serving as a critical member of the senior management team, the Executive Director of Annual Giving is a visionary advancement leader responsible for architecting and executing a high-impact, data-driven annual giving program. This leader is charged with securing foundational and leadership-level support from alumni, students, parents, and friends of the Institute. By driving an innovative, multi-channel strategy, they will cultivate, solicit, and steward more than 30,000 annual donors and 250,000 prospects. Serving as the primary bridge between foundational participation and major gift pipelines, the Executive Director works in seamless partnership with Resource Development (RD), School and Institution leadership, and the Annual Giving Board to build a sustainable culture of philanthropy that ensures campaign readiness and supports MIT’s broader institutional priorities.

The full job description is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9cwvamqin9ridwm78gdn4/Executive-Director-of-Annual-Giving-MIT-Alumni-Association.pdf?rlkey=mthwctblhmvnpsfk2ozj9z17j&st=zha06tjx&dl=0

Job Requirements

REQUIRED: Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of ten years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, advancement, or business development, preferably within a complex higher education or academic research setting; 5+ years of experience directing large, diverse teams, managing complex budgets, setting goals, and driving performance and resource optimization; proven success in cultivating high-net-worth benefactors and executing data-driven campaigns that drive donor acquisition, retention, and revenue growth; adept at fostering partnerships across highly matrixed organizations, influencing cross-functional stakeholders, and empowering high-level volunteer boards and alumni leaders; expertise in modern advancement tools (CRMs, predictive analytics, digital philanthropy platforms) with the ability to translate complex data into actionable strategies and efficient systems.

This is a hybrid position with a combination of on-campus and remote work.

Must be willing and able to travel occasionally domestically and internationally to represent MIT and conduct alumni visits.

Working at MIT offers opportunities that just aren’t found anywhere else, including generous and unique benefits that help to ensure that MIT employees are healthy, supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work/life balance. Discover more about what it's like to work at MIT.

We welcome people from all walks of life to bring their talent, ideas, and experience to our community. We strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds – like yours. If you want to be part of our exceptional, multicultural, collaborative, and inclusive community, then take a look at this opportunity.

MIT provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the Institute reasonably expects to pay for a full time position at the time of posting (if you are applying for a part time salaried job, you will need to prorate the posted pay range). The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, internal peer equity, and applicable legal requirements. This pay range represents base pay only and does not include any other benefits or compensation.c