Director of Development; SBS

About University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation

Established in 2003, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation (UMAF), a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, exists to raise philanthropic funds in support of the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s mission and highest aspirations. Located on the Amherst campus and wholly dedicated to supporting the University’s mission, UMAF is a separately governed nonprofit organization with its own health, wellness, and retirement benefits. UMAF serves the University of Massachusetts Amherst community by serving as a best practices resource for fundraising strategy and implementation.

About the role

Reporting to the Senior Executive Director of Development and Chief Development Officer for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS), the Director of Development is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and foundations capable of making major gifts in support of SBS priorities. Working in partnership with the SBS Dean, faculty leaders, volunteers, and advancement colleagues, the Director of Development manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors and develops strategies that align donor interests with the college's strategic priorities.

The position plays a critical role in advancing philanthropic support for student success, faculty excellence, research, experiential learning, civic engagement, and other college initiatives.

The Director of Development is expected to build and maintain meaningful relationships with donors and prospects, conduct strategic discovery and solicitation activities, and contribute to the achievement of annual fundraising goals. The successful candidate will be a collaborative, results-oriented fundraiser with strong communication and relationship-building skills, sound judgment, and a commitment to donor-centered philanthropy. In partnership with the Chief Development Officer, the Director will help expand the college's pipeline of philanthropic support and strengthen engagement with alumni and friends in support of the mission and priorities of SBS.

Location:

This is a full-time remote position based in Boston, Massachusetts.

What you'll do

• Manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors and develops strategies that advance relationships and philanthropic support.
• Cultivates, solicits, and stewards donors through meaningful and sustained engagement aligned with institutional priorities.
• Identifies and qualifies new prospects capable of making significant philanthropic investments.
• Secures major, blended, and multi-year commitments in support of strategic fundraising objectives.
• Represents the institution in meetings, events, and other engagement opportunities that strengthen donor relationships and expand philanthropic support.

• Aligns donor interests with institutional priorities and develops compelling funding opportunities that inspire philanthropic investment.
• Creates and presents written proposals, case statements, stewardship communications, and other donor-facing materials.
• Partners with academic and administrative leaders to understand funding needs and articulate philanthropic opportunities.
• Facilitates meaningful donor connections with institutional leaders, faculty, students, and programs.
• Contributes to campaign initiatives, fundraising priorities, and strategic advancement planning efforts.
• Develops and executes comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for assigned prospects and donors.
• Maintains accurate and timely constituent records, engagement strategies, and activity reports within the constituent relationship management system.
• Evalu…