Executive Director of Annual Giving
About the role
The Executive Director of Annual Giving reports to the CEO of the MIT Alumni Association and serves as a critical member of the senior management team. This visionary advancement leader is responsible for architecting and executing a high‑impact, data‑driven annual giving program that secures foundational and leadership‑level support from alumni, students, parents, and friends of the Institute. By driving an innovative, multi‑channel strategy, the director will cultivate, solicit, and steward more than 30,000 annual donors and 250,000 prospects. The role serves as the primary bridge between foundational participation and major‑gift pipelines, partnering closely with Resource Development, school and institution leadership, and the Annual Giving Board to build a sustainable culture of philanthropy that supports MIT’s broader institutional priorities.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Minimum of ten years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, advancement, or business development, preferably within a complex higher‑education or academic‑research setting.
- Five or more years directing large, diverse teams, managing complex budgets, setting goals, and driving performance and resource optimization.
- Proven success in cultivating high‑net‑worth benefactors and executing data‑driven campaigns that drive donor acquisition, retention, and revenue growth.
- Adept at fostering partnerships across highly matrixed organizations, influencing cross‑functional stakeholders, and empowering high‑level volunteer boards and alumni leaders.
- Expertise in modern advancement tools (CRMs, predictive analytics, digital philanthropy platforms) with the ability to translate complex data into actionable strategies and efficient systems.
- Willingness and ability to travel occasionally domestically and internationally to represent MIT and conduct alumni visits.
- Hybrid work arrangement with a combination of on‑campus and remote work.