Sr AVP Principal Gifts & Family Philanthr

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Full Time FY Full-Time North Andover, MA, US

Salary Range: $ To $ Annually

Merrimack College seeks an accomplished, entrepreneurial and highly relational fundraising leader to serve as Senior Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts & Family Philanthropy. Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Chief Advancement Officer, the Senior Associate Vice President will be a senior, revenue‑producing member of the Institutional Advancement leadership team responsible for advancing three interconnected areas of philanthropic opportunity for the College: principal gifts, family philanthropy and Merrimack’s Boards of Advisors (BOA).

The Senior Associate Vice President will build and lead Merrimack’s comprehensive family philanthropy program, including the development of a Parents Leadership Council; advance the philanthropic potential of the College’s Boards of Advisors and their networks; and manage a highly qualified portfolio of principal gift prospects. Central to the role is creating stronger pathways from engagement to philanthropy—identifying and developing high‑capacity individuals and families, expanding Merrimack’s network of prospective donors, and translating these relationships into significant philanthropic support for the College.

Working closely with the President, Senior Vice President and other College leadership, the Senior Associate Vice President will develop strategies that deepen engagement, connect donor interests with Merrimack’s priorities, and cultivate and close significant campaign and principal gifts.

This position will play an important role in the continued growth of the Together We Rise campaign and in expanding the constituencies, relationships and philanthropic pipeline necessary to support Merrimack’s long‑term fundraising ambitions.

• Lead the philanthropic and engagement strategy for Merrimack’s Boards of Advisors in partnership with College senior leaders and academic leadership.
• Partner with College and academic leadership on BOA meeting strategy, helping to shape agendas, experiences and engagement opportunities that deepen members’ connection to Merrimack, advance institutional and academic priorities and create pathways to greater philanthropic involvement.
• Develop strategies to increase philanthropic participation and deepen individual relationships with BOA members.
• Partner with Prospect Research and the Major Gifts team to identify and recruit prospective BOA members with strong philanthropic and strategic potential, while developing engagement and cultivation strategies for current members with major and principal gift capacity.
• Leverage BOA members’ professional and personal networks to generate introductions and expand Merrimack’s pipeline of prospective donors.
• Partner with College and academic leadership to identify and recruit new BOA members who bring philanthropic potential, strategic expertise, influence and networks aligned with the priorities and aspirations of the College and its schools.
• Connect BOA members and prospective donors with the priorities and philanthropic opportunities of Merrimack’s schools, programs and strategic initiatives.
• Develop opportunities for BOA members to serve as philanthropic ambassadors and connectors for the College.
• Establish goals and measures for BOA engagement, philanthropic participation, membership development and prospect generation, and assess progress over time.

• Lead…