Associate Director, Principal Gifts
Summary
The Associate Director, Principal Gifts, is an integral part of the Principal Gifts and Leadership Giving teams, cultivating mutually beneficial relationships with alumni and parents to secure leadership and ultimately transformational support for The Hotchkiss School.
Essential Functions
Supports and helps to develop personalized cultivations and solicitations of principal gifts, aligned with the overall donor strategy.
Develops tailored stewardship plans for principal gift donors that illuminate the impact of their gifts and ensure a high-quality donor experience.
Mets with the Senior Advisor, Principal gifts and other internal stakeholders as needed to discuss and strategize cultivation and stewardship opportunities for the entire pool of principal gift prospects.
Supports the strategic engagement plan for identified principal gift prospects.
Writes and submits contact reports and compiles other pertinent information following donor contacts.
Provides high-level, personalized support for the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of Hotchkiss alumni and parents.
Drafts, edits, and tracks pledge agreements, gift agreements, and endowment terms.
Maintains awareness of the movement of donors through the gift pipeline, ensuring cultivation and stewardship strategies set by leadership are implemented.
Collaborates with Research to identify high-net-worth individuals and prepare background dossiers for upcoming meetings.
Travels as needed to support the principal gift program at various events and engagement opportunities.
Skills and Experience Required
Bachelor's or equivalent combination of education and experience.
7–10 years of experience in fundraising; or equivalent professional experience in high-net-worth relationship management, wealth management, institutional insurance, or client relations.
Understanding of and appreciation for the philanthropic process and individual giving behaviors, combined with relationship management experience.
Preferred experience with Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM, as well as the suites of Office and Google products.
Writing and communications experience in higher education or a non-profit environment preferred.
Demonstrated writing experience, preferably in the creation of donor communications.
Exemplary written and verbal communication and negotiation skills.
Strong customer service orientation and interpersonal skills.
Exceptional planning, administrative, and organizational skills, ability to take initiative, manage time efficiently, meet deadlines, and manage competing priorities.
Exceptional customer service skills. Demonstrated ability to work in a consistently positive and productive manner – including donors, alumni, and colleagues.
Flexibility and creativity.
Ability to work both independently and in a collaborative team environment.
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and to manage internal conflict in ways that lead to enhanced teamwork.
Bridges joy and a sense of humor to work.