Overview
Advance philanthropy at one of the nation's most prestigious liberal arts colleges.
Williams College seeks an experienced Senior Development Officer to cultivate transformational relationships with alumni, parents, and friends capable of making major and principal gifts. Joining a highly collaborative advancement team, you'll help shape the future of an institution renowned for academic excellence, exceptional alumni engagement, and a longstanding culture of philanthropy.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors capable of making gifts of $250,000 and above, including gifts exceeding $5 million.
- Design and execute sophisticated donor engagement strategies while leading special projects and on- and off-campus cultivation events.
- Partner with colleagues across Development, Alumni Relations, and the '68 Center for Career Engagement to strengthen engagement with entrepreneurs, corporate founders, and other strategic constituencies.
- Collaborate with academic and institutional leaders to align philanthropic opportunities with Williams' strategic priorities.
- Contribute to a high-performing, collaborative fundraising team committed to advancing the College's mission through transformational philanthropy.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or higher with fundraising experience in higher education or the nonprofit sector.
- Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, negotiating, and closing major gifts, including experience with comprehensive campaigns.
- Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage sophisticated donors and institutional leaders.
- Proven ability to work independently while thriving in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
- Outstanding organizational skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range of $155,000–$175,000, commensurate with experience.
- Comprehensive benefits package including healthcare, retirement, tuition reimbursement, professional development, generous paid leave, mortgage assistance, wellness resources, and more.
- Opportunity to work on a beautiful Berkshire campus within one of higher education's most respected advancement organizations.
About Williams College
Williams College is among the oldest and most distinguished liberal arts colleges in the United States, educating approximately 2,000 students through an intensely collaborative academic model with a 6:1 student-faculty ratio. The College has earned national recognition for its commitment to academic excellence, access, and innovation, including becoming the first institution in the country to adopt a comprehensive all-grant financial aid program. Supported by an exceptionally engaged alumni community and one of the highest participation rates in higher education philanthropy, Williams continues to invest in ambitious strategic initiatives that will shape its future for generations to come.
Lindauer, a global search and talent firm, has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of Williams College. Consideration of candidates will continue until the position is filled.
