Senior Director of Development, Major and Leadership Gifts

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Why join the Harvard Radcliffe Institute?

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, known colloquially as Harvard Radcliffe Institute, is one of the world’s leading centers for interdisciplinary exploration. We bring together students, scholars, artists, and practitioners to pursue curiosity-driven research, expand human understanding, and grapple with questions that demand insight from across disciplines. 

The Fellowship Program annually supports the work of 50 leading artists and scholars. Academic Ventures fosters collaborative research projects and sponsors lectures and conferences that engage scholars with the public. The Schlesinger Library documents the lives of American women of the past and present for the future, furthering the Institute's commitment to women, gender, and society. The Emerging Leaders Program is a youth leadership development program partnering local high school sophomores with Harvard undergraduates in a mentoring relationship.

The Institute’s work is shaped by its history as the former Radcliffe College—a school founded to ensure that the standard of education embodied in Harvard was accessible to women, who were then excluded from the University. But the legacy of Radcliffe College is not simply coeducation at Harvard; it is the recognition that universities will always be greater when they draw wisdom and talent from the widest possible pool.

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Reporting to the Associate Dean for External Relations, the Senior Director of Development, Major and Leadership Gifts provides strategic leadership and direction to a team of frontline fundraisers for the Harvard Radcliffe Institute (HRI); secures philanthropic support from new and existing donors; serves as a member of the External Relations (ER) department’s management team; and plays a key role in sustaining and expanding the Institute’s individual giving program. 

The Senior Director is responsible for executing a major gift fundraising strategy that supports both current-use and endowment fundraising objectives, while integrating planned, leadership and annual giving strategies as required. The position requires a leadership style that will motivate team members and coordinate effectively with key stakeholders across HRI to achieve the shared programmatic and philanthropic objectives of the Institute. 

In addition, the Senior Director will be responsible for driving a critical set of internal activities on behalf of the Major Gifts team, including staff onboarding and training, fundraiser goal setting, solicitation pipeline management, prospect assignment, annual engagement plans for major gift pipeline, and other activities assigned by the Associate Dean for External Relations. 

As a senior leader within the Institute, this role informs decision making and is responsible for carrying out policies and strategies and modeling best practices as a fundraiser and colleague.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Directs the Institute’s major gifts and planned giving program and manages a team of fundraisers responsible for raising gifts in the 5-7 figure range. Oversight includes leadership gifts ($5K+), major gifts ($100K+) and planned giving. Responsibilities include management, supporting professional development, onboarding, fundraiser training and education in industry best practices, developing, deploying, and monitoring performance metrics for all team members, and providing formal feedback to staff in annual performance reviews.
• Actively manages a portfolio of approximately 50 major gifts prospects and consistently secures philanthropic support at the mid-six and seven-figure levels. Conducts 50+ donor visits per year.
• Leads regular prospect strategy sessions to drive major gift closures, ensuring that philanthropic potential is optimized through the development of appropriate cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Effectively manages involvement of the Dean, Associate Dean, and senior leaders with donor cultivation; including preparation of annual pipelines, strategic briefings prior to visits and arranging for appropriate follow up from visits and events.
• Coordinates closely with the Director of Donor Engagement to set strategy on the following:
  • Leadership giving program and solicitation strategy for donors in fundraiser portfolios
  • Regional cultivation events 
  • Fundraiser resources (talking points, external communications pieces etc.)
• Serves as the liaison to University Development Office (UDO) as well as Alumni Development Services (ADS) prospect management and research teams.  Oversees the prospect assignment process and makes recommendations with regard to allocation of frontline resources, in consultation with the Associate Dean.
• Data integrity: Manages to University guidelines for the department with regard to proposal management, prospect tracking, strategy notes and stage codes.
• Engages regularly with Institute programming, identifying opportunities to highlight content and disseminating information to team members and donors. 
• Working with the Dean, program directors and colleagues in ER, helps identify and articulate fundraising HRI needs and priorities. Participates in the development of case statements, proposals, and other materials.
• Prepares and drives detailed annual and multi-year plans for all areas of major, leadership and planned giving; including but not limited to prospect management and research goals; timelines, budgets, and strategic and tactical approaches.
• Provides regular reports to Associate Dean on fundraising progress against goals as well as staff performance.
• Evening and weekend work, and extensive travel are required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

• This role is offered as a hybrid where the incumbent is required to be onsite at our Cambridge, MA location. Specific days and schedule will be determined between the incumbent and manager.
• Must be able to travel frequently to meet with prospects and donors.
• Able to work nights and weekends as required.

Physical Requirements:

The demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This position operates in a hybrid work environment, with duties performed both remotely and on-site as required.
• Prolonged periods of working at a computer, whether in an office setting or from a remote location.
• Ability to participate in in-person meetings, donor visits, and special events, which may require standing or walking for extended periods on occasion.
• Ability to travel locally or regionally for donor cultivation and stewardship, including occasional national travel as needed.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move materials and event supplies up to 20 pounds.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in person, virtually, by telephone, and via written correspondence.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree 
• 8-10 progressively responsible experience in fundraising and development administration. This experience should include: supervisory experience, event management, volunteer management, development and implementation of donor strategies; major gifts success, and proven ability to work collaboratively with  donors, alumni, university officials, faculty, and staff or similar constituencies.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Accomplished communications skills, both written and oral.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills
• Commitment to the mission of the Radcliffe Institute
• Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office software applications and prospect tracking systems
• Knowledge of planned giving (bequests, trusts, gift annuities, etc.).
• Goal-oriented and ability to thrive in an environment of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Successful experience managing, mentoring, and motivating diverse teams.
• Knowledge of prospect management and research best practices.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a fast paced environment.

Please note that cover letters are required for every application for a position at the Radcliffe Institute.

• Interviews: We will be conducting interviews virtually and in-person for selected candidates. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility with our interview process.
  Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Employment, Credit

Work Format Details

This is a position that is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options available. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one 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. 

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 060. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes. 

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non-discrimination policy. Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.