Major Gift Director - Higher Ed. jobs in New Britain, CT

110 Woodbury Road
Watertown, Connecticut

POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Director of Major and Planned Giving

DEPARTMENT: Advancement

REPORTS TO: Associate Director of Advancement

SALARY RANGE: Salary Commensurate with Experience

POSITION / FTE: 1.00 (Full Time Exempt)

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Associate Director of Advancement, this person will be specifically responsible
for building, leading, managing, and providing motivation, accountability, and structure for a team
focused on major and planned giving. She/he will be responsible for major/principal/planned gifts
program; creating and managing a comprehensive donor engagement strategy for their portfolio
along with managing direct reports; working collaboratively with a wide array of professionals and
leaders to help build a robust portfolio of current and future donors in support of The Taft School;
and participating in strategic planning cultivation and solicitation of an assigned portfolio of key
prospects.

Position Requirements:

The duties and responsibilities of the Director of Major and Planned Giving include, but are not
limited to:

Provide leadership and guidance for the Major and Planned Giving team to ensure donor
engagement and revenue targets are achieved for both annual and long-term
fundraising initiatives; oversee comprehensive team with a focus on strategy to cultivate,
solicit, and steward donors to support School priorities.

Create and manage a comprehensive donor development strategy for own portfolio and
direct staff members’ portfolios; provide motivation, strategy, accountability, and
structure for staff to engage in ambitious major gift fundraising campaigns.

Manage individual major gift portfolio to cultivate, solicit, and close gifts from key
prospects at $100,000 and above through multiple contacts and face-to-face visits, to
average 10 visits per month.

Work with colleagues to develop effective proposals and presentations for prospects to
achieve the goals and objectives of the fundraising plans.

Work closely with Advancement leadership to develop fundraising strategies for top
School prospects.

Support annual giving through solicitations and engagement.

5/2023 / 06/2023

110 Woodbury Road
Watertown, Connecticut

Minimum Desired Qualifications:

Requires a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five to eight years of senior-level
fundraising and campaign experience, preferably in higher education.

Must have strong leadership and management experience, as well as the ability to serve
as a mentor.

Ability to envision and propose new methods to perform tasks that support revenue
generation; take thoughtful risks; and accept new and ongoing initiatives, objectives, and
solutions to gain sought-after results.

Ability to anticipate and embrace change; demonstrated willingness to achieve, acquire,
and utilize new skills and challenging tasks; flexibility in changing conditions.

Must have an entrepreneurial approach to fundraising, combined with professional
integrity and a commitment to the collaborative process.

Must have strategic planning, organizational, and communication skills to articulate the
mission of the School and fundraising goals of fiscal year and multi-year campaigns.

Demonstrated effectiveness in working with a diverse student body, faculty, staff, and
other constituents.

Ability to create an environment where direct reports have the freedom and security to
take initiative; deal with complexities with resilience, resourcefulness, and optimism; and
appreciate open-mindedness, creativity, and agility in thought and tactics.

Ability to establish credibility and confidence with stakeholders.

Must have exceptional collaboration and interpersonal skills and the ability to be
effective when engaging with all levels within the School.

Must be conversant in planned giving opportunities and engage donors in conversations
about planned giving.

Flexibility and willingness to travel as a representative of The Taft School.

The Taft School is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer in accordance with regulations adopted by the
Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. It is the policy of The Taft School to provide equal employment
opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to age, gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion,
actual or perceived disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran's status, genetic
predisposition or any other class protected by law.

5/2023 / 06/2023