Executive Director of Development (Commonwealth Honors College)

About University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation

Established in 2003, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation (UMAF), a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, exists to raise philanthropic funds in support of the University of Massachusetts Amherst's mission and highest aspirations. Located on the Amherst campus and wholly dedicated to supporting the University's mission, UMAF is a separately governed nonprofit organization with its own health, wellness, and retirement benefits.

About the Role

Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) will assume and build out a national portfolio of individuals, corporations, and foundations rated at the major and principal gift levels ($50K-$1M+) with likely geographic emphasis on prospects and donors in the Northeast and Florida. In addition to frontline fundraising responsibilities, the CDO will hire and manage a team member focused on donor engagement and annual giving, partner with and guide an active and engaged Advisory Board, and actively pursue collaborations with colleagues across UMAF.

The CDO will be expected to create a compelling case for support, create strategic plans, proposals, and marketing materials to advance the development agenda for this College; stretch to close gifts and meet established goals; and initiate joint solicitations with the Vice President of Development and UMAF colleagues, as well as College faculty, staff, and volunteers as appropriate.

Location: This is a full-time hybrid position and is open to employees in select US states: Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

What You'll Do

Fundraising (60%)

• Actively maintain a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and cultivate, solicit and steward them on behalf of the Commonwealth Honors College.
• Craft and present proposals for major/principal gift solicitations and prepare other fundraising materials.
• Ensure continuous progress in moving assigned donors through donor cycle. Document all quality contacts and moves management strategies through the use of the prospect tracking system (Advance).
• Collaborate with central advancement such as planned giving, principal gifts, corporate and foundation relations on major gift proposals.
• Create and update strategic plans for donors you plan on soliciting.
• Maintain a high degree of confidentiality and adhere to the policies and procedures for accepting, recording, and acknowledging gifts.

Development Leadership (30%)

• In partnership with the Vice President of Development and Dean, plan, implement, and execute the College's campaign goals.
• In partnership with the Dean, manage the College's Advisory Board.
• Play primary role in managing and tracking specific fundraising initiatives.
• Provide excellent briefing, follow-up, and other support materials to the Dean and other university leaders.
• Provides strategic direction on annual giving and stewardship activities.
• Commit to growth on the topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• In collaboration with the Dean, administer the budget for the College's development activities.

Other Duties as Assigned (10%)

UMAF is building and growing, and this position will support those efforts with other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
• Minimum eight (8) years of prior experience with face-to-face fundraising in higher education or a similarly complex nonprofit organization with proven success closing 6- and ideally 7-figure gifts.
• Ability to quickly gain substantive knowledge of the College's programs and initiatives.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time, including overnight and occasional weekends.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal skills, presentation skills, and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse constituencies.
• Ability to problem solve, adapt to change, and successfully manage multiple projects.
• Must have a valid driver's license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.

Benefits

• 20 vacation days, 12 holidays, 12 sick days, 5 personal days, and 2 office closure days.
• 4-day summer work week.
• 401(k) plan: You contribute 5% and receive a 10% match.
• Health insurance packages for medical, dental, and vision.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave.

Proposed Annual Salary Range: $144,000 - $161,000