Philanthropic Advisor

Harvey Mudd College; Claremont (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, is seeking a Philanthropic Advisor to build and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy. You will manage a portfolio of 100–125 major gift prospects and work with alumni, parents, and friends to advance priority campaigns.

The role emphasizes donor-centric cultivation, collaboration across campus, and achieving annual fundraising goals, including six- and seven-figure gifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; five+ years in leadership and major gifts fundraising.
• Experience in academia and campaigns is strongly preferred.
• Ability to solicit and close six- and seven-figure gifts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies to manage a portfolio of 100-125 high-capacity donors and prospects.
• Foster relationships through in-person meetings, written communications, and digital channels.
• Set fundraising goals and craft proposals; prioritize solicitations.
• Advise faculty and chairs to align fundraising priorities with campus needs; maintain knowledge of programs.
• Build cross-campus partnerships to maximize engagement and giving opportunities.
• Travel as needed and stay current with philanthropy trends.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Donor relationship building

Campaign experience

High-net-worth engagement

Team collaboration

Independent worker

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Development, the Philanthropic Advisor (PA) will develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to secure support from a portfolio of approximately 100-125 major gift prospects. They will support the college’s top priorities and fundraising initiatives, focusing on regional fundraising through a donor-centric model for sustained success. The advisor will encourage new ideas, foster interaction and teamwork, and promote integration across HMC’s community in preparing for the college’s most aspirational and fundraising trajectory.

The ideal candidate will excel at building productive relationships with diverse constituents, including alumni, parents, and friends of the college. Proven experience in cultivating and soliciting major gifts is essential, with campaign experience being highly desirable. The philanthropic advisor should be well-versed in all fundraising concepts and demonstrate a strong command of industry standards and procedures. This role requires sound judgment and the ability to work independently to achieve annual goals while developing a sustainable donor pipeline.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential Functions

• Develop and execute strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and manage a select portfolio of 100-125 high-capacity donors and prospects capable of outright and deferred gifts of $100,000 or more, setting a personal example of success and teamwork in frontline fundraising.
• Foster relationships with assigned prospects through in-person meetings, written communications, and digital channels while employing a donor-centric approach.
• Set sights and achieve annual fundraising goals and performance metrics. Craft proposals and prioritize solicitations.
• Serve as philanthropic liaisons and counsel to Harvey Mudd College’s academic faculty and chairs to help identify, establish, and execute fundraising priorities that tie into broader advancement initiatives; proactively work to understand and maintain an in-depth knowledge of HMC programs.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with the Harvey Mudd College community, including alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, and volunteers, to enhance fundraising efforts. Formulate creative cultivation plans, successful solicitation strategies, and effective stewardship efforts to maximize lifetime engagement and support for the college’s mission.
• Rely on past experience in the field and remain current with evolving trends in philanthropy.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across all functional areas within the Advancement division. Seek opportunities to partner with Alumni and Parent Relations staff to strengthen alumni giving opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with all college fundraising policies, goals, and procedures, including following all protocols for prospect and donor management established and implemented by Harvey Mudd College Advancement.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.

Culture of Philanthropy:

• As a key campus leader and leader within OCA, support OCA's objective to cultivate and sustain a robust culture of philanthropy that reflects belief and confidence in HMC’s leadership and mission. Reinforce that every gift supports people and programs across campus, inspiring shared pride and a collective commitment to the College’s future. Promote a sense of hospitality, giving and generosity, ensuring that individuals understand the vital role of philanthropy in contributing to the College’s success.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with key offices and partners across campus, including the President’s Office, the Dean of Faculty Office, Admission, Financial Aid, Student Affairs, Financial Affairs, Communications & Marketing, academic departments and centers, and Career Services, to coordinate and amplify engagement opportunities.

Core Competencies:

• An ability to be an effective advocate for the value of a liberal arts and STEM education with all constituents.
• At least five years of demonstrable experience in leadership and major gifts fundraising in a medium-to-large development operation. Experience in an academic setting, in a campaign environment, and planned giving is strongly preferred.
• A record of successfully soliciting and closing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Demonstrable knowledge of fundraising best practices in higher education.
• Success in personally qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts with significant institutional impact.
• A high degree of comfort and effectiveness working with high-net-worth individuals, domestically and internationally.
• Experience working within or alongside the entrepreneurial space (startups, VC, or tech innovation hubs) preferred.
• An ability to monitor performance to achieve personal fundraising and metric goals.
• An ability to work effectively in a complex institutional setting and maintain effective relationships with donors, volunteers, faculty, staff, colleagues, and senior management.
• Self-confidence, optimism, personal resilience, and the ability to function at peak levels in a high-expectation environment.
• Excellent critical thinking and listening skills; excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• An ability to handle highly confidential information with patience, discretion, good judgment, courtesy, and tact while working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• An ability and willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends, as needed, to meet philanthropic partners or otherwise represent HMC at fundraising events.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Education: A bachelor’s degree is required.

Experience: At least five years of demonstrable experience in leadership and major gifts fundraising in a medium-to-large development operation. Experience in an academic setting and in a campaign environment is strongly preferred.

A record of successfully soliciting and closing six- and seven-figure gifts.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrable knowledge of fundraising best practices in higher education.
• Success in personally qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts with significant institutional impact.
• A high degree of comfort and effectiveness working with high-net-worth individuals, domestically and internationally.
• An ability to monitor performance to achieve personal fundraising and metric goals.
• An ability to work effectively in a complex institutional setting and maintain effective relationships with donors, volunteers, faculty, staff, colleagues, and senior management.
• Self-confidence, optimism, personal resilience, and the ability to function at peak levels in a high-expectation environment.
• Excellent critical thinking and listening skills; excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• An ability to handle highly confidential information with patience, discretion, good judgment, courtesy, and tact while working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• An ability and willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends, as needed, to meet philanthropic partners or otherwise represent HMC at fundraising events.

Category C:

All staff positions, regardless of remote work eligibility, require an initial 30-calendar-day on-campus work period. Based on an evaluation by the supervisor and area Vice President, this position is classified as Category C as defined in the College’s Remote Work Policy, with occasional ad-hoc remote work flexibility (as needed). Your approved remote work arrangements under Category C allow for up to two remote work days per week during the academic year and up to two remote work days during the non-academic year. Please note these days may vary depending on departmental and College needs.

Your standard working hours will generally be from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, though these hours may vary depending on departmental and College needs. All remote work arrangements, including ad-hoc remote work, must be approved by the direct supervisor, area Cabinet member, and Human Resources, and are subject to periodic review based on institutional needs. These arrangements are neither guaranteed nor considered entitlements and may change due to factors such as employee performance, evolving business needs, or changes to the position.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the staff member is regularly required to sit; stand, use hands and fingers and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The individual must regularly lift and/or carry up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Hours:

Regular office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., though specific days and hours may vary to meet the needs of the department or College. The role also requires the ability and willingness to travel for up to 40% per month as needed, as well as to work evenings and weekends as needed, to meet philanthropic partners or represent HMC at engagement and fundraising events.

Classification:

This is an exempt, full-time, regular, benefits eligible, position.

$135,000-$150,000 per year

Reports To:

This position reports to the Assistant Vice President for Development

Additional Information:

This job description defines the essential job duties of the position. Harvey Mudd College expects that employees hired for this position can perform the essential functions of the job without imposing risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others. It may also include marginal functions, generally defined within Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Regular employment at the College is for no specified period; conditions and status of employment (hours, pay, title, duties, etc.) are subject to change at any time. Employment is at-will and employees, and likewise the College, are free to end the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without notice or cause, unless otherwise prohibited by law.