Executive Director of Development, Libraries

Job Summary

The Executive Director of Development for the Libraries is responsible for managing a comprehensive development program for the UMass Amherst Libraries. The program incorporates both capital and annual fundraising, with particular emphasis on major individual, corporate, foundation, and planned gifts. The Executive Director develops and manages initiatives to increase the financial contribution of the Libraries’ benefactors in support of the priorities of the Libraries as articulated by the Dean. The Executive Director promotes UMass Amherst priorities and a positive image to constituents and advances the university’s and advancement’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

The Executive Director reports jointly and directly to both the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Constituent Programs and the Dean of Libraries.

Essential Functions

• Builds and manages an appropriate portfolio of 60-90 donors capable of making gifts of $50,000 or more to the Library. This includes developing and carrying out effective strategies for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift donors while completing a significant number of face-to-face visits, proposals, and other strategic contacts towards achieving their individual fundraising goals and ensuring the successful outcome of the Libraries’ fundraising goals.
• Coordinates and supports the participation of the Dean, Director of Special Collections, Department Heads, Librarians and Advisory Board members in major gift fundraising activities.
• In partnership with the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Constituent Programs and Dean of the Libraries, and with input from senior Library staff, analyzes, forms, and implements fundraising plans and priorities for the Library.
• Prepares written proposals, informational materials, endowment agreements, gift illustrations, impact reports and other materials needed to secure major gifts. Works in partnership with communications staff within the Library and the university to feature prospects.
• Provides excellent briefing, follow-up, and other support materials that include prospect strategy, meeting objectives, and next steps, to the dean and other university leaders who meet with assigned prospects.
• Works with the Dean and members of the Libraries’ Administration Team to design meaningful engagements that build stronger relationships with constituents.
• Recommends prospects for volunteer positions, including advisory boards, regional engagement and development committees and other opportunities at the university level.
• Creates and implements programs to build stronger relationships with external and internal constituencies, including alumni, parents, business leaders, faculty and staff through careful cultivation and stewardship activities.
• Adheres to all Development Office policies and procedures, including those related to prospect management, documenting contacts and proposals, and submission of Library fundraising reports, statistics and projections.
• Attends on and off campus alumni events and engagements in which assigned prospects are present, and as requested by the Dean.
• Partners closely with the Director of Special Collections to ensure the successful outcome of gifts in-kind conversations. Provides donor information as needed and is responsible for entering all resulting donor information (i.e. personal visits, meaningful contacts, proposals, strategy and stewardship notes) into the Advance database.
• Partners with central Gift Planning and Corporate & Foundation Relations teams on philanthropic opportunities and/or potential partnerships that arise in the cultivation of major gift prospects.
• Ensures close coordination with all relevant central development, and alumni relations offices, including corporate engagement, foundation relations, gift planning, principal giving, annual giving, alumni relations, and others through close collaboration with the Directors of these central offices.
• Maintains performance goals and standards as outlined in the Prospect Assignment, Tracking and Management Guidelines.
• Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Library, and University goals and objectives.

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience is required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 6 years of professional development experience, with demonstrated fundraising success at the major gift levels (five-, six- and seven-figures) and across multiple funding sources, preferably within higher education.
• A passion for the impact that Libraries at UMass Amherst seek to create in an increasingly interconnected and complex world, and the ability to inspire donors to support that work.
• Demonstrated success in building and executing a comprehensive major gifts strategy.
• Excellent communications and writing skills critical for communicating with a diverse audience, including internal leadership and external donors.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Tested ability to work closely with high-level decision makers, trustees and other top-level volunteers.
• Previous experience working with senior level executives.
• Knowledge of advancement strategies including best practices related to development at institutions of higher education.
• Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.
• Strong emotional intelligence with the ability to diplomatically and sensitively collaborate across teams to execute initiatives effectively. Strong personal integrity with a sense of humor and perspective is essential.
• Previous experience working with academic leaders preferred.
• Experience managing alumni and/or student programs and devising innovative programs to engage alumni and/or donors to support academic priorities preferred.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Google Docs, donor management tools (Advance, EverTrue), and remote connection software (Zoom, Skype) is desirable.

Conditions of employment

• Ability to work evening and weekend hours, as necessary, on short or limited notice.
• Willingness to travel frequently.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule.

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

To be considered for this position: please submit a resume and letter of interest.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women, underrepresented groups, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities, and encourages applications from these and other protected group members.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact carolyn.crowley@umass.edu to request an accommodation.