Director of Individual Giving

Reporting to the Executive Director of the Boston Public Library Fund and working alongside a talented and energetic development team, the Director of Individual Giving will play a pivotal role in growing unrestricted annual support for the Fund. This is a highly external, relationship-driven position with significant responsibility for donor visits, events, and engagement activities designed to expand individual giving and build a strong leadership pipeline for future major, principal, and planned gifts.

The Director provides strategic oversight of a comprehensive annual giving program and leads the growth of leadership annual giving at the $2,500+ level. Working closely with colleagues, donors, and volunteers, this individual will expand participation in Patrons of the Courtyard (POTC), the Fund’s leadership annual giving recognition society, primarily through personal engagement — including one-on-one visits, phone conversations, and tailored solicitations.

This role is central to identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and upgrading donors who demonstrate both the capacity and inclination for deeper philanthropic investment. Success in this position requires building authentic, enduring relationships that strengthen long-term commitment to the Boston Public Library.

The Director of Individual Giving supervises the Assistant Director of Annual Giving and provides strategic leadership for annual giving campaigns and initiatives. The role also oversees the Fund’s Virtual Engagement Officer program, which focuses on targeted digital outreach to qualify prospects and thoughtfully transition them into personalized engagement with front-line fundraisers.

In partnership with the Director of Communications and Donor Relations, the Director of Individual Giving will collaborate on the development of a robust POTC stewardship program, including targeted engagement opportunities and compelling, personalized communications such as the annual impact report and donor newsletters.

The ideal candidate is a confident and visible fundraiser who is energized by donor-facing work, thrives in a dynamic environment, and brings curiosity, creativity, and strategic discipline to relationship building and revenue growth. A genuine passion for the mission of the Boston Public Library — and a belief in its role as a free, civic, and cultural cornerstone of the city — is essential.

This position is based at the Central Library in Copley Square in Boston, Massachusetts, and follows a hybrid work model. Candidates are not required to reside in the City of Boston.

Supervise the Assistant Director of Annual Giving, who holds primary responsibility for the development and execution of the annual giving program. Provide strategic guidance, feedback, and performance oversight as they:

• Create, execute, and evaluate a comprehensive annual giving program aimed at expanding the donor base and increasing unrestricted contributions.
• Develop and implement strategies for donor acquisition, retention, and upgrading, with particular focus on leadership annual giving and pipeline development.
• Plan and manage annual giving initiatives such as acquisition campaigns, year-end appeals, giving days, summer reading and early literacy efforts, and matched giving opportunities; monitoring results and adjusting strategies as needed.
• Oversee the content, design, and production of annual giving materials, including direct mail, email campaigns, and related collateral.
• Utilize the donor database and CRM tools to segment and analyze donor data, developing targeted campaigns and communications based on donor behavior, preferences, and giving history.
• Coordinate with colleagues to ensure thoughtful and consistent donor communications across touchpoints.
• Partner with the Director of Communications and Donor Relations to align messaging, branding, and appeal timing with the Fund’s and Library’s mission and objectives.

• Oversee all aspects of the Patrons of the Courtyard recognition society, including participation, benefits, solicitations, and stewardship…