Our Mission

We in Boston University Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) harness the power of philanthropy to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance BU’s global leadership in research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice. To support our work, we have built—and are continuing to build—an outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs. Where it’s not just about a job, but a career and a community.

Now, our Major Gifts team is looking for a Director of Parent & Family Philanthropy who will develop, build, and measure the efficacy of efforts focused on building the community of six-figure plus parent donors to Boston University.

Major Gifts at Boston University

The Major Gifts (MG) team is a regionally based team that covers six regions domestically and is not affiliated with any particular school or college. The MG team focuses on the discovery, qualification, solicitation, and close of major gifts ($100K+).

Director, Parent & Family Philanthropy

The Director of Parent & Family Philanthropy will be responsible for partnering with Prospect Management and fundraising unit leaders to ensure the early assignment and outreach of all new, rated parents to fundraisers. The incumbent will also be responsible for collaborating with regionally-focused major giving colleagues on the conceptualization and implementation of regionally-organized engagement opportunities for rated parents of Boston University undergraduates. The Director will work with colleagues from across the Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) organization to identify parent donors who, among other responsibilities, can serve as leaders among their parent peers in helping to make the case for philanthropic support of Boston University. The Director will also carry a portfolio of approximately 80-rated undergraduate parents, whom they will be responsible for qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting for a major gift to BU, ideally within the first 24 months of assignment.

The successful candidate will be a highly collaborative individual, capable of working in a highly matrixed environment. They will be in regular communication with fundraising leaders in the schools and colleges and will also serve as the primary DAR liaison with the Parent & Family Programs Office in the division of the Dean of Students.

The Director will report to the Assistant Vice President for Major Gifts and will collaborate regularly with the Vice President for Development, the Associate Vice President for Schools & Colleges, and the Assistant Vice President for Principal Gifts.

Responsibilities:

• Prospect Work:

• Identify, cultivate, and solicit leading parents for philanthropic commitments of $100K or more to Boston University.

• Program Management:

• Develop and drive programs to engage leading parents, with the goal of deepening their understanding of Boston University and therefore increasing their likelihood of making a major gift

• Strategic Coordination:

• Work with colleagues in Prospect Information Strategies, Global Leadership Development, and other DAR units to ensure coordination of prospect coverage and solicitation strategies. Work with colleagues in Schools & Colleges and the Dean of Students office to ensure initiatives

• Other:

• Miscellaneous projects in support of the University’s overall fundraising efforts

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree, advanced degree preferred

• 10+ years of directly related experience

• Outstanding and successful experience as a fundraiser, including comprehensive management of major gifts prospects, preferably parent prospects

• Strong development credentials; including proven track record of building and developing a high-level portfolio

• Effective experience in enlisting and interacting with senior level leadership volunteers and committees

• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills

• Superb judgment and the sensibility to adjudicate wisely among competing priorities

• A disposition to listen and circulate widely

• Outstanding interpersonal skills

• Exceptional reasoning, problem-solving and analytical skills, including an ability to translate ideas and concepts into clear, actionable steps

• Superb organizational skills and the ability to multi-task

• Ability to work independently as well collaboratively with team members

• Energy and stamina, self-confidence and humility, a strong sense of purpose, a tolerance for ambiguity and a sense of humor

• Extensive travel, nights and weekends required.

  But that’s not all we’re looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect , because we value every member’s contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere.

• Diversity, equity, inclusion , and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.

• Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.

• Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results.

• Continuous growth and improvement , both as individuals and as a team.

• Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.

  If this resonates with you and you want to help us in our ambitious next campaign—and maybe do some of your best work as an advancement professional— we encourage you to apply. If you are hesitant to apply because you have not previously performed every responsibility listed in the description, but you do possess transferable skills and the defined qualifications, we still want to hear from you and welcome your application as well.

  To learn more about Development & Alumni Relations at Boston University, and other job opportunities, please stop by the DAR Talent website: https://www.bu.edu/dar-talent/ .

  We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

  If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796.

Required Experience