Director of Leadership Giving

Job no:

R-0000002537

Position Title:

Director of Leadership Giving

Faculty or Staff:

Staff

Full Time or Part Time:

Full time

In-Person, Hybrid, or Remote:

Hybrid

Minimum Starting Rate of Pay:

$156,647.00

Rate of pay commensurate with experience

Start Date:

09/02/2025

Job Description:

I. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Director of Leadership Giving is an experienced, high-level, frontline major gifts professional and a key member of Mount Holyoke College’s Development Team. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development (AVP), the Director is responsible for the overall management of the major gifts program, charged with managing relationships and securing support from donors who are capable of making gifts of $100,000 to $1,000,000+. 

The Director of Leadership Giving partners closely with Gift Planning, Principal Gifts, Donor Relations, Annual Fund and other Development colleagues to maximize donor engagement and philanthropic impact. Success in this role requires strong management, relationship-building skills, strategic thinking, and a commitment to inclusive donor engagement.

II. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervise a team of 6 (5 Gift Officers and 1 Coordinator) providing thoughtful management and coaching to ensure strategic goals are met that align with the college’s academic plan.

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 75-100 Mount Holyoke College prospects and donors, guiding individuals through the full donor cycle: identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Conduct 75+ substantive donor interactions annually, including 20+ gift solicitations, with domestic travel required.

• Build meaningful relationships with alums, donors, parents, and friends of MHC leading to impactful philanthropic commitments.

• Ensure strong collaboration with colleagues across annual giving, gift planning, principal gifts, and donor relations to develop and implement integrated donor strategies.

• Assist in supporting high-level fund raising volunteers, including but not limited to trustees.

• Secure cash, pledges, and planned gifts that aligned with departmental and campaign fundraising goals.

• Contribute to a team culture centered on collaboration, transparency, and data-informed decision-making.

• Participate in and lead the team in professional development activities.

• Actively support Mount Holyoke College’s commitment to creating a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

• Remote work flexibility is available, as determined by the AVP and VP for College Relations.

III. SKILLS/ KNOWLEDGE/ CERTIFICATIONS:

1. Required

• Bachelor’s degree

• Minimum of 7 years of development/fundraising experience denoting increasing complexity, and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ability to build, lead, and motivate a team.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

• Proven success closing five-figure or larger gifts, or comparable high-stakes client engagements.

• Strong interpersonal, organizational and written/verbal communication.

• Demonstrated ability to explain complex financial or legal concepts in a donor-friendly way.

• High level of discretion and integrity in managing confidential information.

• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful engagement with a diverse donor base. 

• Availability for frequent domestic travel and occasional evening/weekend work.

• Ability to serve as a proactive, strategic and creative manager/leader with a strong orientation to being a team player.

• Must be able to staff occasional night and weekend events, on and off campus.

• Must demonstrate excellent judgment and be able to represent the college appropriately.

2. Preferred

• Experience closing major and principal gifts ($1M+).

• 5 years of supervisory experience.

• Experience using fundraising CRMs and proposal software (Salesforce, PGCalc, TIAA Kaspick tools).

• Knowledge of fundraising best practices