Our Mission

We in Boston University Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) harness the power of philanthropy to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance BU’s global leadership in research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice.  To support our work, we have built—and are continuing to build—an outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs.  Where it’s not just about a job, but a career and a community.

Now, our Annual Giving team is looking for a Leadership Annual Giving Officer who will responsible for the discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects capable of making annual gifts of $1,000 and up.

Annual Giving at Boston University

Each year, alumni, students, parents, and friends choose to support everything from softballs to software at BU. These gifts are then deployed to fund research, provide emergency student assistance, pay for travel to academic conferences, and lots more throughout the year.

Leadership Annual Giving Officer

Reporting to the Director of Leadership Annual Giving and in collaboration with the Executive Director, the Leadership Annual Giving Officer will be responsible for the discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects capable of making annual gifts of $1,000 and up. This individual will build and maintain a portfolio of up to 200 prospects and schedule visits (in-person and virtual) with them and other “discovery” prospects. They will work with team members on messaging and outreach around the 1839 Society to engage, develop, retain leadership donors. This position will work to engage prospects in and around greater Boston, with a focus on alumni from Boston University’s undergraduate programs. The Leadership Annual Giving Officer joins a vibrant, high-performing, and growing Annual Giving team and will play in a key role in growing the base of support for BU’s future campaigns.

Responsibilities:

Portfolio Management:

• Identify, cultivate, and personally solicit a portfolio of 1839 Society level ($1,000 – $25,000/annually) donors, prospects, and future volunteers with a goal of at least 12 personal scheduled visits per month.
• Leverage face-to-face and virtual meetings, phone calls, emails, alumni events, and other contacts to build relationships and increase support from prospects.
• Meet agreed upon fundraising metrics as defined by supervisor, including donor meetings, proposals, contact reports, and donor retention.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with colleagues in Alumni Engagement to identify prospects and future volunteer leaders within regional networks.
• Effectively move leadership annual donors through the pipeline, working with major gifts and unit (school, college, Athletics, etc.) development teams, as appropriate.
• Participate in phone banking and complete reminder calls during key campaigns including BU Giving Day, Giving Tuesday, calendar-year end, and fiscal-year end.
• Utilize dashboard tools, data analytics and partnership with Annual Giving team as well as other internal colleagues to identify donors for targeted outreach.

Other Duties

• Perform other duties as assigned, and implement new ideas as approved, that will enhance the mission and goals of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations.
• Participate in the continued programmatic development of the 1839 Society, BU’s recognition program for $1,000+ donors.
• Some evening, weekends, and out-of-town travel required, depending on external conditions.

Required Skills

A cover letter is required for consideration.

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) and 5-8 years of relevant work experience
• Organized, motivated, enthusiastic, and strategic outreach of leadership annual giving prospects. Proven track record of soliciting annual leadership donors and engaging volunteers preferred.
• Experience in frontline fundraising or sales, with expertise managing a portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects preferred, collaborating with internal and external colleagues as needed.
• The ability to manage up to unit leadership, and direct supervisor, meeting and exceeding expectations in a thoughtful, and timely manner with a high degree of quality in a metrics driven environment.
• Expertise growing revenue and participation in an annual giving program preferred.
• Outstanding oral and written communication are required as well as a high level of attention to detail.
• A valid driver’s license is required as driving may be required for donor visits.

But that’s not all we’re looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect, because we value every member’s contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere.
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.
• Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.
• Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results.
• Continuous growth and improvement, both as individuals and as a team.
• Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.

If this resonates with you and you want to help us in our ambitious next campaign—and maybe do some of your best work as an advancement professional— we encourage you to apply.  If you are hesitant to apply because you have not previously performed every responsibility listed in the description, but you do possess transferable skills and the defined qualifications, we still want to hear from you and welcome your application as well.

Please note all newly hired staff and faculty will need to be in compliance with Boston University’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Requirement within 30 days of date of hire. You must upload your vaccine documentation or request a medical or religious exemption (instructions). For further information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please visit the COVID-19 Resources site.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.