Strategic Leader, Gift Planning & Major Gifts

Harvard Medical School; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Wellbeing resources

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard Medical School seeks a Managing Director of Gift Planning to provide strategic leadership for a comprehensive gift planning program. You will oversee staff, manage deferred and blended gifts, and partner across HMS and the University to secure major gifts in support of HMS’s mission.

You will lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, educate colleagues on gift planning, and drive marketing efforts to elevate HMS visibility among donors and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
• Minimum of 10 years of development experience, including significant planned giving experience.
• Expert knowledge of planned giving vehicles, charitable tax law, estate planning and trust administration.
• Ability to explain complex concepts clearly to donors, non-experts, attorneys, and financial professionals.

Responsibilities

• Lead the HMS Gift Planning program and set strategic direction.
• Develop annual and multi-year plans with clear qualitative and quantitative goals.
• Monitor progress, analyze results, and adjust strategies based on data.
• Supervise two direct reports and foster a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Oversee management of the gift planning prospect pool and conduct pipeline reviews.
• Personally manage a portfolio of 80+ prospects and guide cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with University partners to integrate gift planning into broader fundraising.
• Lead the Ezekiel Hersey Council strategy for retention and growth.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising strategy

Portfolio management

Planned giving

Stakeholder engagement

Team mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Harvard Medical School seeks a Managing Director of Gift Planning to provide strategic leadership for a comprehensive gift planning program. You will oversee staff, manage deferred and blended gifts, and partner across HMS and the University to secure major gifts in support of HMS’s mission.

You will lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, educate colleagues on gift planning, and drive marketing efforts to elevate HMS visibility among donors and stakeholders.