Associate Director of Principal Gifts

About the role

The Associate Director of Principal Gifts operates in a highly relationship-driven and complex fundraising environment requiring independent judgment, strategic thinking, discretion, and exceptional interpersonal skills. The position develops customized strategies for sophisticated donors, balancing donor interests with institutional priorities while exercising considerable discretion in cultivation, solicitation timing, campus and leadership engagement, and the management of sensitive donor information. Working closely with Advancement leadership, colleagues, faculty, senior administrators, donors, volunteers, Trustees, and external advisors, the Associate Director manages a significant fundraising portfolio and coordinates institutional resources to cultivate, solicit, and steward principal gift prospects. While the position does not have direct supervisory responsibility, it frequently leads cross-functional teams and collaborative fundraising strategies, consulting with Advancement leadership on complex decisions as appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of principal and leadership gift prospects and donors, typically emphasizing solicitations of $100,000 and above, with a focus on gifts of $500,000 or more.
• Achieve annual performance benchmarks of at least 75 unique donor/prospect visits and a minimum of $1,000,000 in accepted proposals during the first year while building toward multi-million-dollar fundraising results.
• Develop and execute individualized qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for high-capacity alumni, parents, and friends, including current, deferred, blended, and planned gift opportunities.
• Partner with the Senior Director of Principal and Major Gifts to develop fundraising strategies for the College's most significant prospects, coordinating donor engagement with senior leadership, Trustees, faculty, and volunteers when appropriate.
• Prepare prospect strategies, briefing materials, visit plans, solicitation proposals, and follow-up communications for presidential, vice presidential, and volunteer-assisted donor engagement.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director in identifying and advancing prospects for presidential engagement, campaign priorities, and Trustee relationships while maintaining accurate prospect strategies and documentation within the College's CRM.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Advancement—including Major Gifts, Leadership Giving, Planned Giving, Alumni Engagement, Annual Giving, Prospect Research, and Advancement Services—to maximize donor engagement and philanthropic outcomes.
• Maintain accurate documentation of prospect activity, strategies, proposals, and next steps in the College's constituent database while ensuring timely follow-up and adherence to portfolio management standards.
• Serve as a mentor and strategic resource to members of the Major Gifts team by sharing principal gift fundraising strategies, participating in prospect strategy discussions, providing guidance on donor cultivation and solicitation approaches, and fostering the professional growth of frontline fundraisers through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Remain knowledgeable about institutional priorities, campaign initiatives, and charitable giving strategies in order to identify opportunities that align donor interests with College needs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of Advancement strategy, campaign priorities, and institutional fundraising goals.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Experience: Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in major gifts, principal gifts, planned giving, or related fundraising work. Experience in higher education fundraising is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing leadership-level and major and principal gift commitments, including complex and planned gift arrangements.