Boston University (BU) seeks a collaborative and enterprising Senior Major Gift Officer, Parent & Family Philanthropy (Sr. MGO) to engage, cultivate, and increase philanthropic support from a diverse and energetic community of BU parents and families. The Sr. MGO will be a strategic thought partner in building the pipeline for the Parent & Family Philanthropy program, contributing to the success of the University’s next multi-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign and creating lasting impact for future generations of Terriers.
Founded in 1839, Boston University is one of the largest nonprofit universities in the country composed of 17 Schools and Colleges attended by more than 37,000 students representing all 50 U.S. states and 140 countries. BU’s diversity is one of its greatest institutional strengths, underpinned by its commitment to empowering students, staff, and faculty to promote inclusivity across a large, urban campus through initiatives such as the Newbury Center for first-generation student success and the LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center. With 37 student-run teams, BU students have the opportunity to participate in club sports, and approximately 600 student-athletes compete at the highest level of college athletics in 24 NCAA Division I varsity sports while excelling in the classroom and engaging in the local community with support from Student-Athlete Academic Support Services. In 2025, the University was one of only 16 colleges named in the Princeton Review’s inaugural Mental Health Services Honor Roll for its commitment to addressing mental health challenges and promoting wellness through BU’s Student Health Services office and Student Wellbeing initiative. Under the leadership of President Melissa Gilliam—a medical doctor, MacArthur-grant winning researcher, and adolescent health advocate who assumed the University presidency in July 2024—BU’s traditions of intellectual courage, academic rigor, service, openness, creativity, and the arts will serve as tools to drive the University’s next era of transformation.
Reporting to the Director of Parent & Family Philanthropy, the Sr. MGO will collaborate with colleagues across Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) and the University to engage high-level parent prospects and secure major and principal gifts. The Sr. MGO will utilize data-driven strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit prospects capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more, with a focus on growing the Parents Leadership Council and strengthening parent and family engagement across the U.S. The Sr. MGO will contribute to stewardship efforts and the overall strategy for the Parent & Family Philanthropy program.
The successful candidate will bring a minimum of eight years of development experience, including four years of six-figure gift solicitation, and a demonstrated record of accomplishment in developing successful engagement and fundraising strategies in a complex organization. The Sr. MGO must be knowledgeable about the nuances of building relationships with families and parents in an educational setting. The successful candidate should possess exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills and a collegial, team-building style with a demonstrated ability to cultivate productive, collaborative relationships. The Sr. MGO will contribute to a professional work environment that rewards individual and collective success, builds confidence, and promotes diversity in all its forms. In accordance with its core values and mission, BU is especially interested in recruiting members of diverse communities and individuals who will promote and uphold the values embodied within the University’s Diversity Statement.
Application Instructions
Boston University has partnered with Talent Citizen to assist in this recruitment. Please contact President Tracy D. Welsh, Managing Associate Rachel K. Partin, and Associate José Cisneros to share your resume and cover letter via email at: bu-smgopfp@talentcitizen.com.
Boston University is 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. Boston University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
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