Associate Director, Major Gifts

Job ID: 54480

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/10

Please note: The target budgeted salary for this position is $88,000 - $94,000 annually. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as equity within Northwestern University.

Job Summary:

The Associate Director of Major Gifts will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gift support from a prospect pool of alumni, friends, and family members. This frontline fundraiser will develop and manage a fluid portfolio of prospects through qualification visits, cultivation efforts and customized solicitations that align with prospect interests and financial capacity. This position collaborates with colleagues across Alumni Relations and Development and the greater University, including deans, faculty, program directors, and other University volunteers to plan and execute compelling prospect meetings and solicitations of donors.

The candidate must be a self-starter who is highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize multiple tasks. This is an ideal position for someone who is proactive, motivated, able to incorporate feedback, and demonstrates resilience in uncovering prospects to become loyal donors.

Our office operates in a hybrid model and offers the option of working three days in the office and two days remote. Requires travel.

For full consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume.

This role includes structured professional development through Plus Delta’s Discipline of Frontline Fundraising program, which provides high quality training to strengthen fundamental skills in donor cultivation, solicitation, portfolio management, and strategic relationship building. Additional ARD resources further connect Northwestern policies and processes with the best practices introduced in Plus Delta’s curriculum.

 

 Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Gathers data, assesses leads, and develops strategies designed to realize the current and lifetime giving potential of individual prospects.
• Maintains consistent and appropriate contact.
• Facilitates or makes direct solicitations.
• Ensures effective stewardship.

 

Collaboration

• Involves moderate- to-high-level of collaboration with both internal department partners and moderate level of collaboration with broader University partners to identify & integrate resources in order to accomplish strategic goals & objectives.
• Collaborates with areas of alumni relations and development, including Schools & Programs and Planned Gifts, to coordinate donor strategies.

 

Prospects & Gifts

• Develops, plans, and implements strategies and approaches to identify, personally solicit, and steadily close major gifts of six-figures or more.
• Builds a portfolio through discovery and qualification with a target of 40 prospects at a time. Manages portfolio by strategically moving them through the major gift pipeline.
• Secures visits with prospects and effectively articulates University fundraising priorities to gauge donor interest and capacity.
• Collects and synthesizes information from a wide array of sources to prepare compelling donor proposals that strategically align with donor interests and their full philanthropic capacity.
• Oversees and completes associated stewardship activities, maintains up-to-date best practices, and evaluates closed projects.
• Gathers, records, and retrieves information about prospects and donors utilizing University’s donor and alumni database, internet, meetings with development staff, faculty, etc.
• Prepares contact reports on meetings and interactions with alumni.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS  (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.

• 4 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

 

MINIMUM COMPETENCIES (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Analytical Thinker: Able to analyze a broad set of data and synthesize information into compelling and succinct points.

• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, in addition to being an active listener. Strong interpersonal skills with a diverse group of internal and external constituencies.

• Teamwork and Collaboration: Effective team player who understands individual performance drives overall team success and organizational outcomes.

• Strategic and Critical Thinking: Organized in planning both short-and long-term goals. Uses logic and reasoning to assess alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems and ambiguity.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS  

• Experience in development frontline fundraising at a higher education institution or complex nonprofit organization.

• Experience with CRM databases.

• Proven ability to personally solicit and close major gifts and pledges of six-figures or more/and or sales experience

 

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook) or relevant tools.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://hr.northwestern.edu/benefits/ to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://hr.northwestern.edu/well-being/ to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://hr.northwestern.edu/talent-development/ to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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