Associate Director of Major Gifts, Family Philanthropy Program

About the OpportunityJOB SUMMARYNortheastern University seeks a thoughtful, strategic, and entrepreneurial development professional to serve as an Associate Director of Major Gifts, Family Philanthropy Program (ADMG). Assuming a frontline fundraising role and advancing meaningful relationships with current parents, grandparents, and parents of alumni, the Associate Director of Major Gifts will help increase the University’s fundraising capacity by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding family prospects with the capacity to make a major gift.Through participation and philanthropic support, Northeastern parents are creating life-changing opportunities for students on campus and around the world – deepening their academic, cultural, athletic, and professional experiences. The Family Philanthropy Program helps to facilitate communications within the parent community; serves as a resource for domestic and international parents; and supports and participates in fundraising efforts to help advance the mission of the university.Reporting into the Executive Director of the Family Philanthropy Program, the ADMG is responsible for maintaining a portfolio of parent prospects for major gift cultivation and solicitation and assist in the creation and implementation of strategic fundraising initiatives that successfully meet donor interests and leverage their full philanthropic potential. A highly visible representative of the University, the ADMG will establish effective relationships with family prospects and donors while demonstrating an appreciation for Northeastern as a global university system enabling lifelong learning and discovery.In addition to the support of colleagues within the Family Philanthropy Program, the ADMG will leverage available resources including the Family Fellows Program—targeted to current and past parents who have the capacity to make significant gifts to the institution in support of a wide range of priorities across the university, and the Parents Leadership Council—an active, diverse volunteer group of Northeastern parent ambassadors. The ADMG will also serve as an active partner to colleagues in Northeastern’s Office of Advancement and across the University’s nine colleges and schools to foster strategic, effective, and collaborative advancement practices.The ideal candidate will demonstrate a track record of success in major gift fundraising at the six-figure level, an entrepreneurial approach to fundraising that encourages innovation and transparency when building relationships, and a deep sense of respect coupled with superb attention to detail as philanthropic conversations with parents and family members progress.QUALIFICATIONSA highly entrepreneurial, energetic and collaborative individual with at least three to five (3-5) years of progressive individual giving experience, preferably in higher education.Proven track record in soliciting and closing leadership and major gifts, and able to demonstrate successful relationship building.Strong interpersonal skills necessary for building relationships with external (donors, prospects, trustees) and internal (deans, faculty, staff, colleagues) constituents.Must possess high degree of independent initiative and innovation, negotiation, interpersonal and networking skills, and ability to build trust with keen communication skills.Demonstrated ability in strategic thinking to assist in devising a comprehensive, sustained operation to carry out the vision, goals and fundraising aspirations of the university.Tested ability to work closely and diplomatically with all constituencies.Superior verbal and written communication and presentation skills.Excellent attention to detail.Ability to travel frequently including overnights and weekends.An appreciation for lifelong learning and the value of skills gained through a structured education as well as through hands-on work experience.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIESManage a portfolio of 125 family prospects and donors with a focus on raising major gifts of $100k+.Make discovery and qualification calls, establish cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.Perform a minimum of 120+ visits per year, maintaining a regular travel schedule to visit identified parent prospects, and meet or exceed annual strategic goals.Work with Executive Director and Development Research to identify and assign new parent prospects.Create and coordinate fundraising activities related to key programming and initiatives, recruit and steward volunteer leaders, and enhance program visibility.Communicate efforts and collaborate with central- and college-based Development staff, as well as affinity-based colleagues.Recommend and implement new initiatives that will provide meaningful and substantive engagement opportunities for family prospects.Support the Family Fellows fundraising program.Position TypeAdvancement