Principal Gifts Senior Director — Major Donor Leader

Harvard Central Administration (CADM) Talent Acquisition; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement plans with university'}, {

Job summary

Harvard University Central Administration (CADM) seeks a Senior Director of Principal Gifts to lead a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, with the potential to secure 8- and 9-figure gifts. The role partners with university leaders and fundraisers across Harvard to advance priorities and strategy.

The position requires extensive travel, strong leadership, and the ability to translate academic priorities into donor opportunities, with a hybrid office presence in Cambridge, MA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 12 years related experience.
• Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends and travel as necessary for donor and colleague meetings and events.
• Proven experience engaging high-net-worth individuals and a successful track record of developing strategies for multimillion-dollar, complex solicitations and raising principal-level gifts.
• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, verbal, and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of prospects with the capacity to give $10 million or more with the goal of securing gifts of 8- to 9- figures.
• Build professional relationships with prospects or their philanthropic representatives and facilitate a network of relationships between prospects and university leaders.
• Match interests with institutional needs and opportunities; and work to focus on raising the highest quality dollars that directly impact the teaching, research, and education mission.
• Work closely with fundraisers and fundraising service teams across Harvard to develop and implement engagement strategies, conceptualize gift opportunities, develop gift proposals, and produce timely and meaningful stewardship.

Skills

High-net-worth fundraising

Relationship management

Strategic thinking

Donor engagement

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Windows-based PCs

Prospect databases

Videoconferencing platforms

Job description

Harvard University Central Administration (CADM) seeks a Senior Director of Principal Gifts to lead a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, with the potential to secure 8- and 9-figure gifts. The role partners with university leaders and fundraisers across Harvard to advance priorities and strategy.

The position requires extensive travel, strong leadership, and the ability to translate academic priorities into donor opportunities, with a hybrid office presence in Cambridge, MA.