Feb 27th, 2024
UMass Amherst Foundation
Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving
( Massachusetts | Hybrid )
About the Organization
Established in 2003, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation (UMAF), a private 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization, exists to raise philanthropic funds in support of the University of Massachusetts
Amherst’s mission and highest aspirations. Located on the Amherst campus and wholly dedicated to
supporting the University’s mission, UMAF is a separately governed nonprofit organization with its own health, wellness, and retirement benefits.
Job Description
Position reports to: Director of Leadership Annual Giving and Pipeline Development
Position salary range: $62,000 - $72,000
This is a hybrid role that requires bi-monthly or quarterly visits to Amherst, Massachusetts. Candidates from the following states are invited to apply: MA, NH, VT, CT, and NY.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation (UMAF) seeks a proactive, creative, and solutions-focused professional to serve as an Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving (AD) and raise support for UMass Amherst, the flagship public research university in the Commonwealth and one of the fastest rising top-tier public research universities in the country.
An exceptional opportunity for someone interested in advancing in the development sector, the AD will play a critical role in building the structure for a new fundraising program that will help ensure the continued long-term philanthropic success of this highly regarded institution.
The AD will join UMAF at a time of transformation and growth as it prepares for the public launch of Accelerate: The Campaign for UMass Amherst, which has a working goal of $600 million. This is a chance to join a high-performing, donor-centered team responsible for assisting UMAF to create deeper connections with its donors and achieve its leadership annual giving goals as it builds momentum through the upcoming campaign.
Reporting to the Director of Leadership Annual Giving and Pipeline Development, and working in close partnership with the central UMAF Annual Giving Team, the AD will play a pivotal role in identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and engaging leadership annual giving donors to support UMAF. Using a variety of channels (email, social, video conferencing, text, phone) and prospect engagement technologies, the AD will cultivate and steward an assigned portfolio of prospects by providing outreach and information that increases their engagement with UMass Amherst and regularly solicits them for leadership annual gifts.
The AD will assume and expand a portfolio of alumni, parents, and friends rated at the leadership annual gift level ($1K-$25K). As they engage leadership annual giving donors, they will need to be fluent in the University’s fundraising priorities as well as School/College giving priorities, and closely collaborate with UMAF colleagues and School/College-based staff. Through their work, the AD will positively impact the institution by increasing the number of donors annually, improving donor retention rates, and coordinating upgrade strategies to impact a growing philanthropic pipeline.
The ideal candidate will be a true team player with a mission-first attitude, desire for personal and collective success, collaborative instincts, an inclination to integrate efforts, and the tolerance for ambiguity in a complex, interdisciplinary environment. They will demonstrate cultural fluency, empathy, and high emotional intelligence along with the skill needed to project manage a variety of tasks. An entrepreneurial mindset and a willingness to explore new pathways is necessary.
SELECT RESPONSIBILITIES
•Create and implement successful strategies for leadership annual gift solicitations that retain current and re-engage lapsed donors and grow giving levels of current donors.
•Manage a portfolio between 500-1,000 prospects comprised of alumni, parents, and friends, with the giving potential of $1,000-$24,999 (over five years). Qualify new prospects, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors via email, phone, social media, video conferencing, texting, and prospect engagement technologies. Develop prospect relationships around donor interests and UMAF priorities.
•Assist with the operation of the UMAF Annual Giving Programs, especially regarding the programs and outreach that overlap with, or include, Leadership Annual Giving prospects.
•Form collaborative partnerships with development officers and develop a network of contacts throughout the university to access additional information to share with constituents and create opportunities for increased philanthropic support.
•Develop and prepare briefing materials and assist in writing and editing of reports, gift agreements, and donor proposals.
•Submit appropriate prospect pool fundraising reports, metrics, and results. Responsible for timely entry of visits, proposals, event attendance and other appropriate fundraising activity.
SELECT QUALIFICATIONS
•Minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience in development, and external relations, preferably within an educational institution. Equivalent experience in private sector sales, marketing, financial services, or a related field will be considered.
•Strategic, hardworking, and able to work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment.
•Demonstrated understanding of the principles and practices of philanthropy, particularly in higher education and/or institutionally related foundations.
•Ability to work effectively as a member of a team, particularly multiple organizational teams, while also taking initiative and working independently.
•High-level computer skills including familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, and Word).
•Ability to create operational efficiencies and optimize the use of resources.
•Comfort working in a hybrid/remote environment; local travel as well as evening and weekend work may be required on occasion.
To view the full job description, visit https://www.pearlstreetcollective.com/positions/umaf-lag
To express interest in the position, please submit your confidential resume to