Assistant Director of Development, Harvard College Fund, Women’s Philanthropy Initiative

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Alumni Affairs and Development is a dedicated team supporting Harvard’s advancement activity through front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, prospect management and research, business process, events, communications, and many other areas.

Our goal is to create an environment of respect that leverages the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees; to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work; and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. We strive to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation; and open communication and effective information sharing in our daily interactions and our work.

AA&D is comprised of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, Advancement Communications, Events & Donor Relations (ACEDR), University Development and Advancement Solutions (UDAS), the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and Office of Talent, Administration and Policy (OTAP).

Job Description

Job Summary:

This newly created, full-time exempt position reports to the Senior Associate Director of Development, Harvard College Fund (HCF), and is responsible for planning and executing fundraising efforts on behalf of the Women’s Philanthropy Initiative (WPI). The Assistant Director is a key member of the Harvard College Fund team and works in close partnership with colleagues across Harvard Alumni Affairs and Development to secure leadership-level support of $25,000 or more annually from alumnae for the Harvard College Fund. The role combines extensive internal collaboration with staff and institutional partners and direct external engagement with alumnae volunteers, prospects, and donors.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Executes annual fundraising plan and strategy for the Harvard Women’s Philanthropy Initiative (WPI) in alignment with FAS development goals.  

• Responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumnae in the WPI prospect pool capable of making annual leadership gifts through the Harvard College Fund to join the WPI at the Members’ Circle level ($25K+).
• Works closely with Senior Associate Director of Development to recruit, train, and manage alumnae volunteers in the WPI Founders and Members Circles as they cultivate and solicit peers to join them.
• In coordination with School Prospect Managers, assign alumnae to be solicited by WPI volunteers through the Give Campus portal and provide volunteers with ongoing support and resources to enable them to successfully close gifts.   
• Serve as WPI Officer contact for unassigned alumnae prospects who express interest in, or have made, a qualifying gift to join the WPI at the membership level.
• In partnership with the Senior Associate Director, develop and maintain the annual pipeline of WPI prospects.  
• Plan and execute a portfolio of WPI events in partnership with Advancement Programs and Events team; provide additional support for the annual Women’s Philanthropy Summit and other HCF events throughout the year.
• Collaborate with the HCF Management Team, Major Gifts, Gift Planning, Principal Gifts, Harvard Alumni Association (College Alumni Programs), FAS Research and Prospect Management, Alumni & Development Services, Operations, Advancement Communications, Events and Donor Relations, volunteers, and donors to further the cause of Harvard engagement and fundraising efforts. 
• Direct work for and mentor a shared, full-time Development Assistant. 
• Collaborate periodically on special projects with the HCF Management Team and the FAS and UDO fundraising staff broadly to further overall fundraising objectives. 
• The above covers the most significant responsibilities of the position. It does not, however, exclude other duties, the inclusion of which would be in conformity with the level of the position.  

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications: