Director, Leadership Gifts

Position Description

The Director, Leadership Gifts provides strategic leadership and day-to-day management for Manhattan University's Major Gift Officers within the Advancement Department; secures philanthropicsupport from new and existing donors; serves as a member of the Advancement Department's management team; and plays a key role insustaining and expanding the University's community of supporters. In collaboration with the Director, Capital Campaign, this role is responsible for executing a major gift fundraising strategy that supports both annual and capital fundraising objectives, while integrating planned and event giving strategies as required.

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Major Gift Officers to achieve fundraising and donor engagement goals; establish team and individual performance metrics focused on revenue growth, retention, and donor pipeline development.
• Personally manage a focused portfolio of leadership giving prospects and secure philanthropic support from new and existing donors through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Oversee portfolio management across the Major Gifts team, ensuring strong data integrity, disciplined prospect strategy, and consistent movement of donors through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with the Director, Capital Campaign and Advancement colleagues to execute major gift strategies that support annual, capital, planned, and event giving objectives.
• Provide strategic guidance to Major Gift Officers, identify opportunities for collaboration across fundraising programs, and contribute to Advancement Department planning and management.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture aligned with Manhattan University's values, and strengthen relationships with donors, alumni, University officials, faculty, and staff.

Bachelor's degree required.

7+ years of fundraising or development experience in a complex organization, including demonstrated success managing fundraising staff and driving results.

• Strong knowledge of major gift fundraising, portfolio and pipeline management, donor strategy, performance metrics, data analysis, and relationship-based philanthropy.
• Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to analyze data, set goals, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with donors, alumni, University officials, faculty, and staff or similar constituencies.