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Director of Major Gifts

About Westfield State University:

In 1839, Westfield State University was founded on the ideals of Horace Mann who sought to improve society through education. We were the first public higher education institution in the US without barriers of race, gender or economic class. The spirit of innovative thinking and social responsibility is forged in a curriculum of liberal arts and professional studies contributing to the development of knowledge, skills, and character essential for students to become responsible leaders and engaged citizens.

Westfield State is a highly residential campus with approximately 57% of our 3,200 full-time undergraduate students living on campus. Including continuing education and graduate students the total student population exceeds 4,700. The campus is ideally situated on the edge of the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts, just 30 minutes from the thriving cultural centers of Springfield, Northampton, and Amherst, with a selection of museums, theaters, collegiate and minor league sports, hiking trails, and restaurants. The University is within 1.5 hours of Boston and Albany and within 3 hours of New York City and the Green Mountain range of Vermont.

 

Job Description:

Campus Title: Director of Major Gifts
State Job Title: Director
Department: Institutional Advancement
Job Code: HA6000
FLSA Status: Exempt
Funding: 7115-0100
Bargaining Unit: APA
Job Type: Professional/Executive
Timeframe: 52 Weeks
Shift: Monday-Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm / some nights and weekends required
Regular Days Off: Saturday and Sunday
Supervision Received: From the Executive Director, Campaign
Supervision Exercised: Campaign Gift Officer and Student/Graduate Interns
Salary: $95,000 to $106,000 Annually (salary commensurate with education and experience)

This is a fully in-person position at Westfield State University, with all duties performed on campus during the employees' regularly scheduled work hours to support direct engagement with students, colleagues, and the campus community, unless your position requires travel to perform said duties.

General Statement of Duties:

The Director of Major Gifts (DMG) works to build and enhance relationships with all constituents for the purpose of increasing financial support to Westfield State University. The DMG is responsible for managing a portfolio of up to 150 constituents and delivering meaningful engagement that culminates in commitments of financial support to the University. The DMG will work with prospective donors to determine their philanthropic interests and thoughtfully direct donor support through the University's philanthropic initiatives including the Annual Fund, Endowment, Capital, and/or Major and Planned Giving. The DMG is directly responsible for developing, implementing, and executing all donor/prospect management activities including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

In addition, the DMG will serve as the key strategist and primary manager of donor/prospect constituents with connections to Westfield State University's Athletics Department. Involve and engage staff and coaches in building a strong community of Athletics supporters through meaningful relationship building, donor engagement experiences, and strategic general athletics and team fundraising.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Duties include but not limited to:
Essential:

  • Manage a personal portfolio of 150 leadership alumni and friend prospects and donors to ensure that timely steps are taken toward cultivation, solicitation, and closure.
  • Make assessment calls, cultivate, solicit, provide recognition and steward appropriate leadership and major gifts, with an emphasis on gifts at the $10,000 level and above. Work with donors on multiple giving methods, including current and deferred giving, non-cash gifts, and related tax implications.
  • Build relationships with donors and coordinate solicitation as appropriate with Institutional Advancement leadership staff.
  • Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major gift and planned giving donors and prospects with a particular focus on individual outright major gifts.
  • Develop, recruit and engage appropriate members of the campus and alumni communities to assist in major and planned giving cultivation and solicitation activities.
  • Collaborate with Institutional Advancement colleagues on identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for major and planned giving prospects.
  • Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of Westfield State University's academic and strategic programs in order to effectively articulate the University's priorities and fundraising objectives to donors.
  • Serve as the liaison between the Athletics Department and Institutional Advancement. Help staff and coaches maintain key athletics relationships and help coordinate general athletics/team fundraising.
  • Prepare and submit goals that contain specific timelines, projected results and outcomes.
  • Document all activity in the Raiser's Edge database.
  • Maintain a schedule of 8-10 prospect meetings each month.
  • Attend all appropriate Institutional Advancement meetings, as well as other University-related events.
  • Work closely with the Institutional Advancement staff to ensure appropriate coordination and communication.
  • Meet regularly with the Executive Director, Campaign on prospects and strategic plans.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director, Campaign.

Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree.
  • Five plus years of front-line fundraising experience, preferably in a university advancement office.
  • Significant major gift and planned giving experience with a track record of successful solicitations at the $5,000-$100,000, ideally within a higher education institution.
  • Superior organizational and time-management skills.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Experience working with Raiser's Edge fundraising database.
  • Demonstrated success in personally cultivating, soliciting, closing and stewarding major gifts from individuals. Proven ability to bring creativity and effective strategies to the major gift pipeline.
  • The ability to build bridges and strong collaborative relationships across a complex organization, political astuteness and agility.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work autonomously under the significant pressure of multiple and sequential deadlines.
  • Willingness to work some nights and weekends on an as-needed basis.
  • Willingness to travel within the Commonwealth and throughout the United States when deemed necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master's Degree.

Additional Information:

Salary:

Salaries for current Westfield State University employees and individuals currently working for the state of Massachusetts must be calculated individually in accordance with collective bargaining agreements as well as state policies. State job specifications may be found on the Department of Higher Education's webpage.

Employee Benefits:

Benefits are an important component of an employee's total compensation package.

  • Health Insurance: Westfield State offers a variety of HMO, POS, and PPO-type health insurance plans for eligible employees. Coverage is effective on the 1st of the month following the date of hire. Exceptions to employees hired on the 1st of the month, coverage is effective immediately.
  • Retirement: the MA State Employee Retirement System provides eligible employees with a retirement pension following a 10-year vesting period. In lieu of the retirement pension, eligible employees may select the Optional Retirement Plan with a maximum 5% employer matching contribution.
  • Tuition Waivers & Discounts: eligible employees, including spouses and dependent children, receive reduced tuition at MA state colleges, community colleges, and universities.
  • Paid Time Off: employees receive 12 paid holidays and generous vacation, personal, and sick leave benefits.
  • Additional information regarding employee benefits is available on the University's Benefits & Wellness webpage.

Disability Accommodations

Westfield State University is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and will ensure the availability of reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at (413) 572-8809 or visit us in the Horace Mann Building, 1st floor.

Background Check

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion and review of a background check. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration.

Application Instructions:

An on-line application is required. The successful candidate must submit an official transcript at the time of hire. Interested candidates should electronically attach the following documents: 

  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
  • Contact information for three references *
  • Copy of unofficial transcript of highest degree

* Provide the contact information for reference providers in the reference section of the online application. 

Deadline: The job posting will be open a minimum of ten days and, if needed, will remain open until finalists have been selected. 

NOTE: If you need assistance completing your application please contact our online Help Desk. The link to the help desk can be found at the top of the page via Contact Us.