Director of Leadership Giving

Jul 30

Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA

Anticipated Start Date: 11/29/2025

Description

Mount Holyoke College (MHC), a private liberal arts women’s college that is gender diverse, seeks a creative, courageous, and mission-driven Director of Leadership Giving (Director) to cultivate major gifts and lead a growing team during a time of renewal, vigor, and bold action as the College continues its legacy as a trailblazer in women’s education and a powerhouse of changemakers and visionaries.

The Director will be a proactive and strategic leader responsible for spearheading a donor-centric fundraising program across key markets in the U.S. in support of the MHC Forward Strategic Plan, calling upon the support of a fiercely loyal and connected alum community representative of the fearless leaders and boundless learners who attend and work at Mount Holyoke. As the oldest member of the historic Seven Sisters colleges, Mount Holyoke’s history as an educational institution forged in dissent is central to its vision for the future. Rooted in a nearly 200-year history of challenging exclusion and advancing gender equity, the College remains unwavering in its support for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility—even as these values face threats. MHC has been a trailblazer in inclusive admissions policies, becoming the first of the Seven Sisters to welcome trans and nonbinary students. With a proud legacy of global renown, the College fiercely advocates for its international student community, which represents 20 percent of students.

Nationally recognized for its high level of undergraduate research, Mount Holyoke continues to invest in scholarly research and discovery. The College earned the prestigious Carnegie Classification as a baccalaureate college with “Arts & Sciences Focus and High Research,” and ranks #1 among U.S. institutions for producing graduates who go on to earn PhDs in the life sciences and STEM. Under President Danielle Holley’s leadership, the Mount Holyoke community is alive with ambition and purpose to support the MHC Forward Strategic Plan, which lays out a bold vision to ensure Mount Holyoke’s enduring excellence and transformative impact. MHC Forward sets the foundation for the College’s next comprehensive campaign, set to launch in the fall of 2026.

Mount Holyoke’s culture of principled boldness and forward-thinking momentum offers an inspiring context for the Director to contribute to a mission deeply rooted in societal impact at a time when women’s colleges are more important than ever. In partnership with the Associate Vice President for Development, the Director will lead a team of six, ensuring the team’s professional growth and collective fundraising success. Working closely with colleagues across College Relations, the Director will help develop and execute College-wide fundraising strategies, designing compelling cases for support, and facilitating regular collaboration and communication across campus to advance Mount Holyoke’s strategic priorities.

As a senior leader on the development team, the Director will serve as a thought partner to campus leaders in identifying fundraising opportunities, enabling data-informed decisions, and implementing innovative strategies. Grounded in creative and relationship-driven approaches, the Director will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects to secure gifts of at least six and seven figures while promoting proven fundraising practices within the Leadership Giving team and across the College. The successful candidate will bring at least seven years of progressive leadership experience and a proven ability to secure major and principal gifts, in addition to five years of management experience. The ideal candidate will possess outstanding communication skills, passion for Mount Holyoke’s mission, and a commitment to inclusive fundraising practices, along with a proactive, thoughtful, and transparent management style.

The candidate must possess a high level of integrity and credibility; be a self-starter with a clear set of priorities; and be adaptable to changing circumstances. In accordance with its core values and mission, MHC is especially interested in recruiting members of diverse communities and individuals who will promote and uphold the values embodied within the College’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement. While candidates residing within commuting distance of South Hadley, MA are preferred, Mount Holyoke is open to considering compelling candidates in New England, the Mid-Atlantic, New York City Metro, and South Florida.

Responsibilities

Supervise a team of six (five Gift Officers and one Coordinator), providing thoughtful management and coaching to ensure strategic goals are met that align with the College’s academic plan.
Serve as coach-mentor to gift officers and volunteers to develop effective strategies for assigned regions and prospects.
Work closely with College leaders to design and execute fundraising initiatives, serving as a thought partner to the AVP, VP, and other senior leaders.
Provide expert fundraising counsel to senior administrators, members of the faculty, department chairs, and alumni volunteers.
Manage a portfolio of approximately 75 Mount Holyoke College prospects and donors, guiding individuals through the full donor cycle: identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Conduct at least 75 substantive donor interactions annually, including 20 or more gift solicitations, with domestic travel required.
Build meaningful relationships with alums, donors, parents, and friends of MHC that lead to impactful philanthropic commitments.
Ensure strong collaboration with colleagues across annual giving, gift planning, principal gifts, and donor relations to develop and implement integrated donor strategies.
Assist in supporting high-level fundraising volunteers, including but not limited to trustees.
Secure cash, pledges, and planned gifts that align with departmental and campaign fundraising goals.
Contribute to a team culture centered on collaboration, transparency, and data-informed decision-making.
Participate in and lead the team in professional development activities.
Actively support Mount Holyoke College’s commitment to creating a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will bring many of the following professional qualities and experiences:

A Bachelor’s degree is required.
Minimum of seven years of development/fundraising experience denoting increasing complexity with five years of supervisory experience preferred, and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
Proven success securing gifts of five-figures, ideally with experience closing six- and seven-figure gifts.
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, along with written and verbal communication.
Demonstrated ability to explain complex financial or legal concepts in a donor-friendly way.
High level of discretion and integrity in managing confidential information.
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful engagement with a diverse donor base.
Ability to serve as a proactive, strategic, and creative manager and leader with a strong orientation to being a team player.
Knowledge of fundraising best practices and campaign planning stages is preferred.
Experience using fundraising CRMs and proposal software (i.e. Salesforce, PGCalc, TIAA Kaspick tools).
Availability for frequent domestic travel and occasional evening/weekend work.
Ability to staff occasional night and weekend events, on and off campus.
Excellent judgment with the ability to represent the College appropriately.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

Mount Holyoke College offers a competitive salary budgeted in the range of $156,647 – $177,932 annually for this position. The exact compensation offered will be determined by experience. Information about the benefits package is available online.

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