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Posted: 07-Feb-24
Location: Wellesley , Massachusetts
Type: Full-time
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Required Education:
The Director of Major Gifts and Leadership Annual Giving is a new position created to provide deeper and broader coverage of Wellesley’s robust alumnae and donor pool. This position is an excellent blend of leadership, management, and fundraising. The Director of Major Gifts and Leadership Annual Giving will be able to manage their own prospects and grow their own fundraising skills and experience, while simultaneously creating and overseeing a new fundraising unit.
The Director of Major Gifts and Leadership Annual Giving reports to the Associate Vice President for Development and works as part of the development unit (principal gifts, gift planning, corporate and foundations relations, major gifts, and leadership annual gifts). The Director of Major Gifts and Leadership Annual Giving is responsible for building and launching two teams, the Major Gifts (MG) team and the Leadership Annual Giving (LAG) team, while also maintaining their own pool of prospects. The Director of Major Gifts and Leadership Annual Giving will identify and use AI programs and other digital and technological resources to complement and supplement officer assignment and to ensure coverage of many donors in anticipation of a campaign and for the long-term future.
The MG team will be anchored by a seasoned gift officer and will ultimately have up to 5 additional gift officers to cover a portfolio of 2200 prospects and donors rated $250K up to $5M. The LAG team will start with 2 officers to cover a portion of the 6500 prospects and donors rated between $10K up to $250K, with the potential to grow as the success of the team increases.
Primary Position Responsibilities:
Create and oversee a new fundraising unit focused on qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors at the capacity $10K-$5M, with goals to (1) maximize philanthropic support from a segment of the donor population with outstanding potential; (2) build and enhance alumnae connections to and engagement with their alma mater; 3) ensure coverage of a deep pool of dedicated donors through officer assignment and use of technology, (4) develop a collaborative relationship to ensure a fluid pipeline to Gift Planning and Principal Gifts, when appropriate.
Manage a portfolio of < 25 major and principal gift prospects.
Provide leadership, supervision, and talent management for 7-10 direct reports including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, professional development, training, performance management, feedback, recognition, and retention.
Set performance metrics for individual fundraisers; work in conjunction with staff to conduct annual strategy and goal setting, including setting measurable, meaningful, and appropriate targets for individual staff members.
Travel as appropriate to fulfill duties and maintain and submit timely reports on meetings with prospects and donors.
Partner with Information Strategy & Operations to develop process, procedures, and analytics to identify new prospects and ensure a strong pipeline of potential support.
Create and cultivate a work environment that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion.
Embrace and model the values of respect, collegiality, excellence, curiosity, and humility.
Focus team activity on strategic impact and the success of short and long-term fundraising results.
Performance Profile:
Achieve fiscal year fundraising goals, both on an individual level as well as programmatic level.
Inspire a motivated and effective staff.
Grow a fully integrated development program.
Supervises:
7-10 gift officers, one Development Associate, and one administrative assistant
Education Required:
Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree a plus
Other Required:
Valid driver’s license
Experience Required:
8+ years of front-line fundraising or comparable experience, including conducting successful solicitations, closing gifts, and familiarity with reunion giving or alumni/ae development experience, preferably in an academic setting.
5 years of management experience, with a strong coaching-oriented approach.
Skills and Abilities Required:
Proven ability to motivate, engage, and work with staff, donors, and volunteers
Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with donors and successfully close gifts
Able to innovate, think strategically and conceptually, manage multiple projects simultaneously, collaborate, and handle difficult situations with a sense of humor
Highly organized and needing minimal direction to complete complex tasks
Energy, enthusiasm, and the ability to work both independently and productively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
Excellent judgment, and interpersonal, organizational, analytical, verbal, and written communication skills
Able to listen carefully as well as influence and persuade others
Commitment to the mission and goals of Wellesley College
Knowledge of Salesforce or comparable fundraising database
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