Associate Director, Major Gifts

The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) is seeking an Associate Director of Major Gifts. Reporting to the Director of Major Gifts, the Associate Director of Major Gifts is a frontline fundraiser with a focus on raising gifts in key markets, including the San Francisco Bay Area. (Other potential regions to be discussed.) Primary responsibilities include identifying, cultivating, and soliciting individuals able to make gifts in the $100,000-$5,000,000 range.

The school’s priorities are focused on the core MBA, PhD, and MSx programs, GSB faculty support and growth, the global reach of the school, and strong collaboration with broader Stanford University. 

As part of a high-performing team, a successful Associate Director is able to skillfully build relationships with alumni and internal stakeholders while displaying enthusiasm for the school’s mission. This position requires exceptional professionalism, intellectual dexterity, and the ability to think strategically and operate independently. The Major Gifts team values professional entrepreneurship and a willingness to go above and beyond for our community. 

This is a full-time 100% FTE hybrid position with the expectation to be on-site at the Stanford campus a minimum of 2 days a week. 

 

Position-Specific Duties:

 

8 - 12 regional development trips per year.Act as supporting staff to the dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business during regional travel or individual development meetings.Build important professional relationships within the GSB and the broader Stanford community.Potential to act as liaison, on behalf of the Major Gifts team, to school initiatives, boards, and centers.Display strong leadership and collegial qualities within the External Relations department.On occasion, working nights and designated weekends on behalf of the External Relations and/or Major Gifts team.Build, strengthen, and reinforce GSB alumni relationships with the school through high-touch engagements and stewardship.Maintain a CRM and ensure its accuracy by diligently completing assignments.Responsibilities

Core Duties:

• Develop solicitation goals, objectives, and strategies fordevelopment projects and/or specific donor populations or geographicregions. Cultivate and solicit gifts to the university.

• Manage an active portfolio, and track solicitation assignmentsand progress. Work with a portfolio of assigned prospects to cultivate,solicit, and steward their support.

• Take responsibility for a wide range of fundraising activities,including maintaining an active level of contacts, identifying newprospective donors and volunteers, providing stewardship, andcoordinating volunteer fundraising efforts.

• Stay informed on current university initiatives andactivities.

• Develop relationships leading to gifts in the $250,000 -$5,000,000 range.

• Enhance relationships between current and prospective majordonors and the school or unit's faculty, students, dean, staff andvolunteers.

• Work with staff, donors, volunteers, and other university staffto assist in establishing and maintaining relationships with alluniversity constituencies.

• Design and manage appeals (e.g., direct mail, email, video,phone, and other channels) to target key populations to maximizefundraising potential.

• Establish ongoing relationships with individual alumni throughpersonal visits, phone calls, and meaningful contacts.

• Prioritize prospects, prepare background information, makevolunteer assignments as appropriate, and follow up with volunteers toensure completion of assigned solicitations.

• Work closely with other colleagues in development to alignprogram goals with the overall giving goals of the university’sdevelopment organization.

Minimum Education andExperience

Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience orcombination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated effectiveness in prospect identification,relationship building, and solicitation.

• Demonstrated experience mentoring and working with volunteers,faculty, and staff.

• Superior written and oral communication skills, with exceptionalattention to detail and the ability to articulate a compelling case forphilanthropic support programs.

• Ability to translate complex concepts into compelling developmentproposals.

• Demonstrate a commitment to fostering an inclusive workplaceculture where all employees feel valued, respected, andempowered.