Director of Major Gifts and Governance

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William James College Newton, Newton, MA, US

7 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $ To $ Annually

Instituti onal Overview

William James College is in an exciting period of growth at a time when access to high-quality behavioral healthcare has never been more important. For over 50 years, our faculty and staff have prepared professionals to bring evidence-based mental health care to healthcare systems, community agencies, schools, correctional facilities, businesses, and private practice settings throughout New England and beyond.

Our mission is clear: to advance educational excellence in applied psychology and to develop skilled, compassionate professionals committed to expanding access to behavioral healthcare for individuals and communities who need it most.

As a community grounded in excellence, fairness, and respect for all individuals, William James College fosters leadership, collaboration, and service in an increasingly complex world. We seek professionals who are energized by meaningful work, committed to student success, and motivated to make a lasting impact in the field of behavioral health.

We are building the next generation of behavioral health leaders and are looking for colleagues who want to help shape that future.

Position Summary

William James College is seeking an accomplished, entrepreneurial fundraising professional to serve as Director of Major Gifts and Governance. Reporting to the Vice President of Advancement, the Director will serve as a close strategic partner to the Vice President and College President, playing a leadership role in growing the College’s major gifts program, advancing key philanthropic priorities, and strengthening engagement with the Board of Trustees and other volunteer leaders.

The Director joins WJC at an important moment of philanthropic opportunity as the College embarks on a major campaign and works toward growing annual philanthropic support from approximately $3 million to $5 million over the next two years. The Director will help drive this growth by building campaign momentum, expanding the major gifts pipeline, engaging trustees and other volunteer leaders, and developing new opportunities for philanthropic investment in the College

The Director will manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors and develop and execute individualized strategies for identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Working closely with the President, Vice President of Advancement, trustees, senior leaders, faculty, and other institutional partners, the Director will translate the College’s priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities and build relationships that result in significant philanthropic commitments, including major, multi-year, campaign, and planned gifts.

The Director will also serve as a key Advancement partner in the College’s governance work, supporting meaningful trustee engagement, strengthening connections between Board members and institutional priorities, and identifying opportunities for trustees to serve as philanthropic leaders, ambassadors, connectors, and advocates for WJC.

This role requires more than strong portfolio management. As a senior member of a four-person Advancement team, the Director will work collaboratively across functions while maintaining clear ownership of major gifts and governance. WJC is seeking a fundraiser who is energized by building: someone who creates opportunities, develops relationships, generates momentum, and moves ideas from strategy to action. The successful candidate will be a driver who is creative, resourceful, persistent, and nimble, with the judgment to recognize opportunities and the initiative to pursue them.

Essential Functions

Major Gifts and Donor Engagement

• Build and actively manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, developing individualized strategies for identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Maintain an active…