Details

Posted: 05-Feb-25

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Type: Full-time

Categories:

Operations Operations - Development

Sector:

Collegiate Sports Northeastern University seeks a high-energy and experienced fundraiser to serve as Assistant Director of Major Gifts and contribute to the rising success of its Athletics development program. The Assistant Director of Major Gifts for Athletics will cultivate donors who will include alumni, parents, and friends of Northeastern University Athletics to raise philanthropic support at major gift levels.

Reporting directly to the Director of Development, the Assistant Director of Major Gifts for Athletics (AD) will have the support of colleagues across the Office of University Advancement and the Athletics program as they work to raise philanthropic support from major gift-rated prospects and help implement a refreshed strategic fundraising plan for Athletics.

The AD will leverage the past success of this established major gifts program that has grown over the last five years. Fundraising has been particularly successful with Men’s Ice Hockey and the Circle of Champions Fund, Men’s Rowing and the NURA Legacy Endowment Fund, along with Track & Field and the Irwin Cohen Track & Field Coach Fund. The Northeastern Athletics program offers a range of giving opportunities including its Howlin’ Huskies Athletic Director’s Fund, an annual fund that supports all student-athletes and allows for strategic investment across all programs, which enhances the University’s ability to compete for and win national championships.

In their capacity as a frontline fundraiser, the AD will personally manage a portfolio of select major gift prospects, including alumni, friends, parents, and university leaders, with a focus on raising gifts at the $100K level while also ensuring a strong pipeline. This will require the identification of new prospects, discovery and qualification calls, designing cultivation and solicitation strategies, and making solicitations with an eye towards a high level of engagement from this constituent group.

The AD will identify new prospective donors and direct the engagement of those capable of making major gifts to the range of Northeastern Athletics programs, as well as broader University education, research, and global initiatives. This person will create meaningful and substantive engagement opportunities that deepen and enhance the donor experience with Northeastern, strategically involving constituents in special programs and events and connecting them to other university leaders and supporters.

Select Responsibilities 

Develop and manage a portfolio of 120 major gift prospects with a focus on raising gifts of five and six-figures. Make strategic use of the Director of Development, Executive Director of Development, Athletic Director, and Coaches to advance key relationships and gift discussions; provide them with data and information that will maximize fundraising efforts. Travel both individually and as part of a university team to qualify new prospects, and to build relationships with alumni, parents, and friends who possess major and principal gift capacity. This will include traveling to attend athletic events and games both at home and away. Coordinate donor cultivation efforts with central Development staff, such as Planned Giving and Family Philanthropy, to successfully meet donor interests and leverage their full philanthropic potential. 

Select Qualifications 

1-3 years of progressive fundraising experience including success at the five-figure gift level. Tested ability to work closely with high-level decision makers, trustees and other top-level volunteers. Strong interpersonal skills necessary for building relationships with external (donors, prospects, trustees) and internal (deans, faculty, staff, colleagues) constituents. Maturity to navigate complex relationships. Highly entrepreneurial, energetic, and collaborative style. 

Application Details 

Pearl Street Collective, the search firm with purpose, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. To apply or view full position description, visit https://www.pearlstreetcollective.com/positions/nu-athl 

 

Create a Job Alert for Similar Jobs About Northeastern University Northeastern University seeks a high-energy and experienced fundraiser to serve as Assistant Director of Major Gifts and contribute to the rising success of its Athletics development program. The Assistant Director of Major Gifts for Athletics will cultivate donors who will include alumni, parents, and friends of Northeastern University Athletics to raise philanthropic support at major gift levels. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a high-quality and growing athletics program that provides a distinctive student experience and a striving for competitive excellence that unleashes and energizes networks of engagement and pride. It is a unique moment to join a growing global university system during a historic $1.3B campaign and be part of planning for a series of capital campaigns that will launch projects to positively impact Northeastern’s athletic teams. Connections working at Northeastern University More Jobs from This Employer https://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/21043767/assistant-director-major-gifts-northeastern-athletics Return to Search Results