Associate Director, Major Gifts

About the role

The Associate Director, Major Gifts will qualify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects ranging from $250K to over $1M within a designated geographic region. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Advancement, this Boston‑based role operates under the One Northeastern model, supporting university‑wide priorities across colleges, programs, and strategic initiatives.

Key responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of ~120 high‑capacity prospects, developing tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Travel to target regions to engage alumni, parents, and friends, and secure gifts in the $250K–$1M+ range.
• Collaborate with faculty, athletics, gift planning, and other advancement teams to create interdisciplinary funding opportunities.
• Maintain data integrity in the Ascend development system and prepare monthly progress reports for leadership.
• Achieve annual fundraising goals and activity metrics as set by the Associate Vice President.

Required profile

• 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience with a proven record of securing six‑figure gifts.
• Experience managing complex projects, strategic volunteer engagement, and interdisciplinary donor relationships.
• Comfort working in an entrepreneurial environment with high autonomy.
• Preferred background in higher education, cultural institutions, healthcare, or similar nonprofit sectors.