[Hiring] Director of Development @UMass Amherst Foundation

Role Description

Reporting to the Senior Executive Director of Development and Chief Development Officer for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS), the Director of Development is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and foundations capable of making major gifts in support of SBS priorities. The position plays a critical role in advancing philanthropic support for student success, faculty excellence, research, experiential learning, civic engagement, and other college initiatives.

The Director of Development is expected to build and maintain meaningful relationships with donors and prospects, conduct strategic discovery and solicitation activities, and contribute to the achievement of annual fundraising goals. The successful candidate will be a collaborative, results-oriented fundraiser with strong communication and relationship-building skills, sound judgment, and a commitment to donor-centered philanthropy.

Location: This is a full-time remote position based in Boston, Massachusetts.

What you'll do

• Major Gift Fundraising & Donor Engagement (55%)
  • Manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors and develops strategies that advance relationships and philanthropic support.
  • Cultivates, solicits, and stewards donors through meaningful and sustained engagement aligned with institutional priorities.
  • Identifies and qualifies new prospects capable of making significant philanthropic investments.
  • Secures major, blended, and multi-year commitments in support of strategic fundraising objectives.
  • Represents the institution in meetings, events, and other engagement opportunities that strengthen donor relationships and expand philanthropic support.
• Proposal Development & Advancement Partnerships (20%)
  • Aligns donor interests with institutional priorities and develops compelling funding opportunities that inspire philanthropic investment.
  • Creates and presents written proposals, case statements, stewardship communications, and other donor-facing materials.
  • Partners with academic and administrative leaders to understand funding needs and articulate philanthropic opportunities.
  • Facilitates meaningful donor connections with institutional leaders, faculty, students, and programs.
  • Contributes to campaign initiatives, fundraising priorities, and strategic advancement planning efforts.
• Portfolio Strategy & Moves Management (15%)
  • Develops and executes comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for assigned prospects and donors.
  • Maintains accurate and timely constituent records, engagement strategies, and activity reports within the constituent relationship management system.
  • Evaluates prospect readiness and philanthropic capacity to inform engagement and solicitation strategies.
  • Monitors portfolio activity and performance metrics and adjusts strategies to maximize fundraising results.
  • Collaborates with colleagues across advancement and academic units to coordinate donor engagement and advance shared fundraising goals.
• Other Duties as Assigned (10%)
  • Participates in professional development opportunities that enhance fundraising knowledge and effectiveness.
  • Supports special projects, initiatives, and events that advance organizational goals.
  • Maintains compliance with institutional policies, ethical fundraising standards, and donor confidentiality requirements.
  • Promotes a culture of collaboration, inclusion, accountability, and service.
  • Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Required:
  • Bachelor's degree.
  • Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, business development, sales, relationship management, higher education advancement, or a closely related field.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
  • High degree of integrity, demonstrating respect for individuals at every level of an organization.
  • Ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team.
• Preferred:
  • Experience in higher education, nonprofit fundraising, or an institutionally related foundation.
  • Knowledge of philanthropic principles, donor engagement strategies, and moves management.
  • Experience preparing fundraising proposals, donor communications, and stewardship materials.
  • Familiarity with fundraising databases such as Blackbaud CRM or similar constituent management systems.

Benefits

• 20 vacation days, 12 holidays, 12 sick days, 5 personal days, and 2 office closure days.
• 4-day summer work week.
• 401(k) plan. You contribute 5% and receive a 10% match.
• Health insurance packages for medical, dental, and vision.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave to use within 1 year of childbirth. An additional 6 weeks available for the birthing parent. Part-time work for full-time pay for the first 4 weeks post parental leave.

Company Description

At the UMass Amherst Foundation, we understand the value that diversity, equity, and inclusion bring to our workplace, our constituents, and our community. We welcome and value diversity in all its forms and recognize that a diverse and inclusive team strengthens our work and advances our mission.