Regional Director of Major & Planned Gifts — High Impact

Harvard Radcliffe Institute; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement plans with universityConrib

Tuition assistance and reimbursement

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard Radcliffe Institute seeks a Regional Director of Major and Planned Gifts to expand a portfolio of 150–175 major gift prospects in the Greater Boston and NYC areas and to grow a 75–100-person planned giving portfolio through proactive national outreach. The role emphasizes high-volume proactive outreach, relationship-building, and strategic engagement with donors and volunteers.

The ideal candidate will lead fundraising strategy, qualify new prospects, and work closely with Harvard’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• At least five years of progressive development experience with donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Experience moving complex cases forward and designing donor engagement strategies.
• Experience translating institutional priorities into compelling gift opportunities and working with volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 150-175 prospects capable of 6- to 7-figure gifts.
• Identify, qualify, and cultivate major and planned giving prospects, building a national pipeline.
• Meet or exceed annual fundraising goals through donor visits, solicitations, and closures.
• Engage donors through email, phone, and virtual meetings; collaborate with prospect research.
• Develop and execute a proactive planned giving strategy and nurture qualified prospects.
• Prepare briefing materials and coordinate with volunteers for donor interactions and events.
• Plan 1–2 donor cultivation events annually; collaborate with events team.
• Maintain accurate donor records in Harvard’s Advance fundraising database.
• Foster collaboration across External Relations and Harvard community; support senior leadership in donor activities.
• Represent Harvard Radcliffe Institute to donors; advance mission through strategic fundraising.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Gift solicitation

Planned giving

Strategic planning

Relationship management

Communication

Travel readiness

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Advance fundraising database

Job description

Harvard Radcliffe Institute seeks a Regional Director of Major and Planned Gifts to expand a portfolio of 150–175 major gift prospects in the Greater Boston and NYC areas and to grow a 75–100-person planned giving portfolio through proactive national outreach. The role emphasizes high-volume proactive outreach, relationship-building, and strategic engagement with donors and volunteers.

The ideal candidate will lead fundraising strategy, qualify new prospects, and work closely with Harvard’s