About the Opportunity

Job Summary

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, Development, the Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will join the newly formed Leadership Giving team with the goal of advancing the leadership giving program at Northeastern University.  The Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will work in close collaboration with University Advancement and college and unit staff to:

• Identify and build relationships with prospective donors who have the potential to give at the $10,000 - $100,000 level
• Develop strategies for cultivation of these leadership level donors and prospects
• Prepare for and make solicitations to these leadership level donors and prospects
• Determine the trajectory of these leadership level donors and prospects.

By working collaboratively across the university, the Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will play an active role in the success of the leadership giving program in terms of both development activity and philanthropic giving to all colleges, units, and programs.

The Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will execute the strategy established by the Executive Director, Development to ensure the success and growth of the leadership giving program. The Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will work to engage mid-level donors ($10,000 - $100,000) who exhibit considerable promise (capacity and inclination) to elevate to the major gift level to ensure greater long-term success for the major gift and principal gift programs. The Assistant Director will hold face-to-face and virtual meetings with donors/prospects as needed to move the constituent closer to a leadership level gift. The Assistant Director will quickly but thoughtfully make decisions on the trajectory of the donor/prospects based upon the leadership giving activities, conversations, and research. The Assistant Director will be a highly effective collaborator and partner who is able to work across both University Advancement and the greater university to ensure the fundraising success of the program. They will acquire and articulate an understanding of Northeastern University and its various colleges and units to be able to have informed and educated conversations with donors/prospects. The Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will manage a portfolio of a select group of major gift level alumni, parents, and friends, with a focus on raising gifts at the leadership giving level. The Assistant Director will close gifts and cultivate qualified donors/prospects for larger gifts.

Minimum Qualifications

• The university is seeking a highly entrepreneurial, energetic individual who has 1-3 years in a development-related environment
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary for building both internal and external relationships with donors/prospects, deans, faculty, staff, and colleagues.
• Collaborative in approach
• Able to take direction
• Flexibility to adapt as the leadership giving program evolves
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to travel as necessary
• Bachelor’s degree is required

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Leadership Giving donor/prospect activities – (75%)
  • Build and manage a portfolio of prospective donor/prospects at the leadership level who exhibit considerable promise for evolving to major gift level capacity over time
  • Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward this portfolio of donor/prospects to strategically enhance their giving potential and likelihood
  • Work to connect with donors/prospects at the leadership giving level who exhibit the potential to give at the major and principal giving levels
  • Achieve a high level of engagement and financial support from these constituents
  • Work across University Advancement and the greater university to build relationships that will enhance active solicitations of leadership giving donor/prospects to help move these prospects to higher giving levels
  • Meet and exceed established metrics and benchmarks
  • Utilize Advancement data management system, Salesforce, to log activity, create call and progress reports and maintain data integrity of leadership giving donors and prospects
  • Execute an effective stewardship plan for this portfolio of donors/prospects
  • Collaborate with University Advancement colleagues and staff along with college colleagues and staff to enhance cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship as necessary

• Acquire and articulate an understanding of Northeastern University’s various colleges and units to be able to have informed and educated conversations with donors and prospects – (15%)
  • This understanding and knowledge will come from conversations with stakeholders in University Advancement and across the Northeastern University ecosystem

• Frontline fundraising learning and experience – (10%)

Learn, experience, and enhance appropriate strategies to grow and improve as a frontline fundraising, including but not limited to:

• Telephone call strategies and best practices
• Email strategies and best practices
• Face-to-face meeting and execution
• Follow-up timing and cadence
• Portfolio management
• Salesforce usage to enhance fundraising
• Collaboration within and across Advancement

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.