About Bard College
Building on a 150-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard College’s mission has expanded across the country, around the world, and to meet broader student needs. Now, approximately 2,000 undergraduates study in Annandale, NY and more than 200 graduate students study in Bard programs, plus nearly 1,000 students in our early colleges. Total enrollment for Bard College and its global affiliates is approximately 5,000 students. The undergraduate program at our main campus in the Hudson River Valley of upstate New York retains a reputation for scholarly excellence and civic engagement. We are committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders.

Position Summary
The Director of Leadership and Planned Giving is responsible for raising significant funds through major gift prospect cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship with a special focus on gifts of $50,000 and above to support Bard’s ongoing annual capital and endowment fundraising efforts. This role will manage a team of fundraisers and support staff and will be responsible for fundraising specifically for performing and fine arts opportunities across Bard’s campuses. The position reports to the Vice President of Development and Alumni/ae Affairs and works closely with the Bard College Fund and Alumni/ae Affairs teams as well as with the Assistant Director of Development for Family Programs. Key to success in this role will be identifying and building relationships with new high net worth and ultra-high net worth prospects, as well as strengthening relationships with existing major donors to maximize philanthropic support.

Essential Duties

• Provide clear vision, supervisory leadership and management, and strategic direction for Major Gifts and Stewardship team.
• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects and create a comprehensive strategy for donor cultivation, solicitation, and retention based on the donor’s giving history and capacity, managing a portfolio size of approximately 125 prospective donors and current donors.
• Directly solicit major gifts and partner with senior staff and/or volunteers on solicitations by providing prospect briefings, strategic guidance, and assistance with donor communications.
• Develop, plan and participate in strategic donor engagement opportunities, such as small events for select prospects in the portfolio and larger donor stewardship events.
• Develop a high-quality donor experience through regular personalized correspondence, professional proposals, and timely acknowledgments.
• Track prospect activity by maintaining regular reports that accurately reflect progress toward building relationships and increasing donor support.
• Other tasks and duties reasonably related to job responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Proven track record of experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donor relationships with a wide variety of donors
• Ability to build a team and motivate and manage people while also acting as a professional mentor and coach to build the strengths of direct reports
• Leadership experience at a nonprofit organization, preferably in the higher education sector

To Apply
Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of three professional references to Interfolio at: http://apply.interfolio.com/121883

Applications will be reviewed as received.