Northwestern University

Department: Alumni Relations & Development

Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Job Summary:

The Assistant 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 in the New York tri-state area. This frontline major gift fundraiser will develop and manage a fluid portfolio of prospects through qualification visits, cultivation and 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 excited to fundraise for a tier 1 University in a regional setting. The role will be based in Northwestern University’s New York Regional Office and will report to the Senior Director of Major Gifts, New York.

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

Please Note: Occasional work outside of standard business hours to attend evening donor events.

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 solicitations.
• Ensures effective stewardship.

Collaboration

• Involves moderate level of collaboration with internal department partners and broader University partners in implementing strategies to accomplish fundraising goals. 

Prospects & Gifts

• Develops, plans, and implements strategies and approaches to identify, personally solicit, and steadily close major gifts of six-figures or more.
• Partners with other areas of development, specifically Schools & Programs and Planned Gifts, to coordinate donor strategies.
• Builds and manages a fluid portfolio of approximately 75 prospects by strategically moving them through the major gift pipeline. 
• 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.
• Tracks & documents progress and associated notes.
• Prepares contact reports on meetings and interactions with alumni. 

Events

• Supports strategy of annual donor engagement events.
• Staff alumni and donor engagement events to advance prospect pool and giving. 

Administration

• Proactive, productive team contributor with a positive attitude and commitment to an inclusive workplace. Offers recommendations to enhance innovation, objectives, and goals.
• Demonstrated ability to follow through and take responsibility for outcomes.
• Driven by challenging individual and team fundraising goals. 
• Requires travel throughout the New York tri-state region and periodic travel to the Evanston campus. 

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• At least 2 years of experience in development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Organization; analytical thinking; big-picture thinking; curiosity; independent; inclusive teamwork/collaboration

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education or other nonprofit setting is preferred

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Highly motivated, organized, and detail oriented.
• Able to analyze a broad set of data and synthesize information into compelling and succinct points.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a diverse group of internal and external constituencies.
• Team player who understands individual success as part of a larger team's success. 
• Ability to function at a high-level within a complex organization.
• Understanding of New York philanthropic landscape or experience learning a regional philanthropic landscape. 

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://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html 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://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html 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://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $75,000-$80,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Read Full Description