Assistant Director of Development, Major Gifts, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
26-Nov-2024
Assistant Director of Development, Major Gifts, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Alumni Affairs and Development
67515BR
Job Summary
Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D)
Alumni Affairs and Development is a dedicated team supporting Harvard’s advancement activity through front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, prospect management and research, business process, events, communications, and many other areas.
Our goal is to create an environment of respect that leverages the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees; to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work; and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. We strive to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation; and open communication and effective information sharing in our daily interactions and our work.
AA&D is comprised of the University Development Office (UDO), Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, AA&D Resources, the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
This full-time, exempt position is a member of the FAS Major Gifts team and reports to the Managing Director of Development, FAS Major Gifts. The incumbent will be charged with developing and executing qualification, cultivation and solicitation strategies leading to the realization of four, five, and six figure major gifts from an assigned portfolio of approximately 400+ alumni and parent prospect households. The Assistant Director will partner with colleagues in Donor Development team, Gift Planning, Harvard College Fund colleagues and volunteers, and others throughout AA&D to encourage major gift level support (beginning at $5,000 annually or in the form of $25,000+ multi-year pledges) across the FAS. At maturity, this role will generate $1 million+ per year.
Position Description
- Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 400+ prospects on an annual basis.
- Complete a minimum of 130 personal meetings annually with prospective donors and secure new commitments towards Flexible Current Use and other priorities at FAS.
- Through the development of thoughtful strategies and intentional prioritization of prospects, ensure revenue goals are met by focusing on upgrading donors and through maintaining an active regional/territory presence.
- Through qualification meetings, identify a minimum of 2 John Harvard Society households. Actively seek new prospects for addition to the FAS leadership and major gift pipeline through referrals from prospects, list reviews, and other methods.
- Adhere to all prospect management processes and policies around contact reports, proposals, etc. to ensure cross-departmental transparency and effectiveness.
- Serve as a partner to the Harvard College Fund team, Gift Planning, and Major Gift colleagues by identifying new prospects, volunteers, and supporting the goals of elevating unrestricted and flexibly restricted support at FAS.
- Actively seek to improve professional skills, knowledge, and understanding of Harvard by developing relationships with colleagues across campus, attending campus events and activities, and participating in training activities.
- Utilize knowledge of prospects’ interests, to develop and execute robust, multi-step prospect strategies. Strategically leverage academic leadership, faculty, and other members of the Harvard community, as needed, leading to successful solicitation and closure of five and six-figure gifts.
- Support the formation of unrestricted and flexibly restricted cases for support by providing feedback and insight garnered from interacting with assigned prospects.
- Serve as a member of the AA&D team by participating in group strategy discussions, providing project leadership when requested by management, sharing information with colleagues, and contributing to the achievement of the overall goals of Harvard University.
Basic Qualifications
- BA/BS required.
- Minimum of 4 years’ experience in development or directly related transferable experience. Experience received while in college may contribute to the required work experience minimum for this position, if the role was within the development field.
- Travel expectations of roughly 35% of working days spent on the road in specified territory/region.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
- Successful track record as a fundraiser or transferable experience, with a preference of 4+ years of direct solicitation/sales/relationship management experience.
- Knowledge of complex academic institutions and experience staffing academic leaders in development work is preferred.
- Strong active listening skills, including an ability to ask sensitive questions with tact. Demonstrated ability to uncover interests, motivations, and objections from prospective donors, clients, or others strongly preferred. Someone who is pleasantly persistent while exhibiting sound judgment.
- Comfortable making solicitations with a bias to asking during each initial prospect meeting.
- Ability to function at a high level within a complex organization, with prior university experience preferred.
- Experience working with fundraising volunteers preferred.
- Demonstrated experience of qualifying prospects during initial visits to determine inclination and capacity to make significant gifts to aid in the identification of new donors at the major gift level.
- Excellent interpersonal skills required to relate to donors, volunteers, and colleagues. Must be able to consistently display tact, diplomacy, discretion, and maintain confidentiality inside and outside of the organization.
- Must be a team player who understands individual success as part of a larger team’s success.
- Demonstrated ability to persuasively communicate the case for unrestricted and current use support strongly preferred.
- Must be a self-starter who is organized, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize and balance multiple tasks in a fast-paced complex environment.
- Must have a natural affinity for collaboration, leading through influence, and a high level of emotional intelligence. Must be drawn to a challenge and exhibit the patience necessary to advance solutions in a complex and collaborative organization. Demonstrates a personal commitment to excellence as well as an ability to admit mistakes and forgive faults in others.
- Experience with Advance or other fundraising systems or other relational CRM databases.
- Must be able to comfortably utilize Microsoft Office and other computer applications.
Additional Information
- This position requires a 6 month orientation and review period.
- Please include a cover letter with your application.
To learn more about how Harvard supports diversity and inclusion throughout the University please visit the Office for Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at https://dib.harvard.edu/.
Accommodations: Harvard University welcomes individuals with disabilities to apply for positions and participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please let your recruiter know.
COVID 19 Vaccination Information: The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up to date on CDC-recommended vaccines.
Work Format Details
This position is eligible for 100% remote work. Employees may work from any of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Although the position is remote, the schedule may be subject to change due to any operational adjustments in the department.
Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:
- Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
- Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
- Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
- Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
- Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
- Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
- Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
- Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
Job Function
Alumni Affairs and Development
Department Office Location
USA - MA - Cambridge
Job Code
300057 Development Professional
Work Format
Remote
Sub-Unit
------------
Salary Grade
057
Department
Alumni Affairs and Development
Union
00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary
Time Status
Full-time
Pre-Employment Screening
Education, Identity
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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