Associate Director of Major Gifts

Job Summary

The Associate Director, Major Gifts (ADMG) will qualify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects ($250K–$1M+) in a designated geographic region. Operating within the One Northeastern model, the ADMG maintains a university-wide perspective, raising support for a broad range of institutional priorities spanning individual colleges, multidisciplinary programs, and strategic initiatives.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Portfolio Management and Prospect Strategy
  Build, manage, and engage a portfolio of approximately 120 or more high-capacity major gift prospects, with an emphasis on raising gifts in the $250,000–$1M+ range, in concert with One Northeastern fundraising colleagues.
  Develop prospects using a geographic and subject matter overlay, working in partnership with other One Northeastern colleagues as needed.
  Develop and implement tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies for each prospect, leveraging programmatic leadership where appropriate.
  Discover new prospects and build pipeline to feed gifts at the major gift level, leveraging a data-driven mindset and sophisticated prospect management systems.

• Cultivation, Solicitation, and Relationship Management
  Cultivate, solicit, and build relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of the University.
  Strategize with faculty and other colleagues on next steps with prospects.
  Travel as needed to designated regions to build relationships with existing volunteers, prospects, and donors, and to solicit gifts in the $250K–$1M+ range.
  Partner with One Northeastern colleagues in athletics, gift planning, family philanthropy, leadership giving, annual giving, and alumni relations to develop and support interdisciplinary gift opportunities within the regional structure, as needed.

• Regional Planning and Reporting
  Work with regional leadership, including the Assistant Vice President for Advancement, to create a strategic development plan to advance the portfolio.
  Establish region-based plans for cultivating and soliciting alumni and current parents in targeted regions.
  Engage faculty strategically with prospects and maintain ongoing correspondence.
  Keep the Assistant Vice President, faculty, and appropriate University administrators apprised of funding opportunities and trends.
  Prepare monthly progress prospect reports for the Assistant Vice President.

• Data Management and Stewardship
  Maintain a high-quality development process for active alumni, parent, and friend prospects and donors, including creating call reports.
  Maintain the data integrity of the prospect portfolio using the Development Office's data management system (Ascend).
  Work with Advancement's Stewardship team to ensure that past, present, and future donors are appropriately recognized, including their administration and accounting.

• Goal Achievement
  Achieve annual fundraising goals and activity metrics (visits, video meetings, calls, proposals, etc.) as set by the Associate Vice President.

Minimum Qualifications

• Required
  Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in securing six-figure gifts.
  Experience managing complex projects, strategic volunteer engagement, and donor relationships requiring interdisciplinary collaboration.
  Comfort working in an entrepreneurial environment with high levels of autonomy and responsibility.

• PREFERRED
  Background in higher education, cultural institutions, healthcare, or other complex nonprofits.

Additional Information

Northwestern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northwestern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. 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. Expected Hiring Range: $87,785.00 - $123,998.75 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 a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.