Director of Development, Harvard College Fund, Leadership Giving

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Alumni Affairs & 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 Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, Communications, Events & Donor Relations, University Development and Advancement Solutions, the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and AA&D Administration.

This full-time exempt position reporting to the Executive Director, Harvard College Fund (HCF) will work in partnership with the HCF Management team, Donor Development, Prospect Management, Operations and other colleagues to build a new Leadership Giving team within the HCF. The Leadership Giving team will play an essential role in the development and growth of the FAS prospect and volunteer pipeline by qualifying new major and leadership gift prospects and identifying new volunteers, as well as engendering a habit of high-level, annual giving among alumni, parents, and friends. 

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Manage a group of Leadership Giving Officers, who will work as part of the Harvard College Fund team to qualify, solicit, and steward College, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences alumni, parents, and friends in specified geographic regions for gifts of $25,000-$500,000+ with an emphasis on unrestricted and lightly restricted, current-use funds. 

• Responsible for the hiring and onboarding of 3-5 Leadership Giving Officers, and establishing clearly defined goals, objectives, and metrics by which to measure and celebrate successes and opportunities.

• Oversee all day-to-day aspects for the Leadership Giving Officers, including weekly 1:1 meetings and ensuring gift officers are tracking towards their goals. Provide consistent, timely feedback and positive reinforcement to foster a culture of learning and development. Leverage fundraising experience to strategize with the Leadership Giving Officers on prospect and regional strategies and join them on prospect meetings periodically.  

• Collaborate with Prospect Management, Research, and Operations to utilize the qualification pool, build prospect portfolios, and develop systems, reporting tools, and strategies to support and measure the team’s work and its partnership with the other frontline teams.

• Work closely with the HCF Management Team, as well as colleagues in Academic & Development Planning and Donor Development, to assess training needs and provide education and professional development opportunities for Leadership Giving Officers.

• Collaborate with colleagues in the Harvard College Fund and Planned Giving to ensure the Leadership Giving Officers are leveraging reunion and annual programs and gift planning opportunities in their conversations with prospects.  

• Partner with Donor Development management and officers on prospect transfers when moving prospects between leadership giving and donor development portfolios. 

• Work with the HCF Management Team and Development Communications to help inform the most effective case for current-use support. Contribute to the strategy for Leadership Giving volunteer engagement, donor stewardship and events. 

• Collaborate with regional leads to strategically leverage existing events and engagement opportunities for Leadership Giving Officers to cultivate and advance their prospect work. 

• In concert with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ needs, works periodically on special projects in collaboration with the FAS Leadership Team and/or the FAS fundraising staff overall, above and beyond strict adherence to the needs of the Fund, to create team spirit and for the betterment of the overall office fundraising objectives.  

• Directs work for and mentors a shared, full-time staff assistant.  

• The above covers the most significant responsibilities of the position. It does not, however, exclude other duties, the inclusion of which would be in conformity with the level of the position.  

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of experience in university fundraising and administration or related transferable experience.  

• Excellent track record of managing and leading a professional staff. Ability to motivate, inspire, and develop staff with an emphasis on building a strong team culture.  

• Proven ability to manage data and translate it into clear progress-to-goal reporting.

• Demonstrated success in annual or major giving or applicable ability.

• Knowledge of complex academic institutions and ability to work with alumni, University officials, faculty, and staff or similar constituencies. 

• You will be expected to work certain events/campus activities, such as reunions each Spring, and participate in department retreats that are taking place on campus in Cambridge, MA.

• Some night and weekend work required. Frequent domestic travel (25%) required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience working with fundraising volunteers. 

• Ability to think strategically and innovatively, to develop new ideas, and to gain stakeholder buy-in, which results in the successful execution of plans and programs.  

• Highly sophisticated and comprehensive understanding of fundraising best practices including outreach, solicitation, and stewardship approaches and is comfortable making the ask.  

• Willingness to learn and embrace new ideas and be ¿exible and open to change. Must be a professional, con¿dential, honest and trustworthy person. Must have an even disposition and be able to deal e¿ectively with people from all types of backgrounds.

• Ability to evaluate problems accurately and display good, sound judgment.  

• Models a positive and calm response to challenges and change. Committed to continuous improvement and growth, personally, and for their team.  

• Experience with QlikView and Advance preferred.

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week
• Orientation and Review Period: 6 months 
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information: To learn more about AA&D and our team, please visit us here!

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. 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, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, 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.