Senior Leadership Officer

Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is seeking a Senior Leadership Giving Officer to advance SHASS fundraising priorities and build strong donor relationships.

Reporting to the SHASS Assistant Dean for Development, you will design solicitation plans for gifts ranging from $1 million to $5 million, manage a strategic development plan, and collaborate with campus partners to raise awareness and financial support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 5+ years fundraising experience.
• Experience with major gifts and donor cultivation.
• Strong written and oral communication, organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with discretion.
• Proficiency in MS Office and donor databases.

Responsibilities

• Develop fundraising strategies for SHASS and a portfolio of donors.
• Create individualized solicitation plans for gifts from $1M to $5M.
• Lead development plans, maintain relationships with prospects.
• Travel ~20% of the time.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor cultivation

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Communication

Time management

Strategic planning

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

CRM software

Job description

Working at MIT

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.

Posting Description

SENIOR LEADERSHIP GIVING OFFICER (SLGO), School of Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences (SHASS), reporting to the SHASS Assistant Dean for Development, builds and executes successful fundraising strategies for a portfolio of prospects and donors (including as a Core Team member on prospects managed by Central Development). The SLGO creates individualized solicitation plans (with a focus on gift cultivations ranging from $1 million to $5 million) in support of SHASS fundraising priorities. The SLGO will help create and execute a comprehensive, strategic development plan, designed to raise financial support and awareness for SHASS priorities, taking the lead on one or more School priorities. The role requires developing positive relationships and a deep understanding of the broad range of research and educational activities conducted within the School for the purpose of matching this work to potential donors.

The full job description is available here: https://shass.mit.edu/about-the-school/deans-office-and-leadership/#job-opportunities

Job Requirements

REQUIRED: Bachelor\u2019s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience; a minimum of five years of direct fundraising experience, preferably with a higher education organization; exceptional interpersonal, organizational, project management, and communication skills–both written and oral–as well as time management skills; ability to manage multiple projects with confidentiality and discretion; and a high level of computer competency, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. PREFERRED: Proven record of successful cultivation and solicitation of 7-figure+ gifts and an entrepreneurial approach to developing a prospect pool.

Travel is required for ~20% of time.

10/15/2026

Equal Employment Opportunity

MIT is an equal employment opportunity employer. We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive equitable consideration for employment based on their experience and qualifications, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or national or ethnic origin. See MIT\'s full policy on nondiscrimination. Know your rights.

MIT considers equivalent combinations of experience and education for certain jobs. All candidates who believe they possess equivalent experience and education are encouraged to apply.

Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check.