Mount Holyoke College (MHC), a private liberal arts women’s college that is gender diverse and the oldest member of the historic Seven Sisters colleges, seeks a consultative and proactive Director of Gift Planning (Director) to lead a highly productive gift planning team. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development, the Director will have a unique opportunity to call upon the support of a fiercely loyal and connected alum community while bringing the ability to leverage insights and understanding of how complex assets might be unlocked to increase the reach and complexity of the College’s gift planning program and explore its many synergies across development as the College prepares for a comprehensive campaign.
With the inauguration of President Danielle Holley, several new campus-level leaders, and a robust strategic planning process nearing completion, the Mount Holyoke community is alive with ambition and excitement for co-creating the future of the College.
This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished leader to contribute to MHC’s advancement program by implementing innovative and action-oriented techniques, augmenting marketing and communications efforts, and applying data-driven strategies. The Director will educate and engage members of the MHC community in gift planning efforts in ways that reflect the collaborative and collegial culture of the College. The Director will play an essential role in setting gift planning strategy, designing compelling cases for support, and facilitating regular lines of communication across campus to advance gift planning efforts. Success for the next Director will be defined in part by creative, robust, and forward-thinking engagement strategies for securing complex gifts from a broad donor base of new and existing supporters. The Director leads a team of two professionals. Grounded in exceptional relationship-building skills, the Director will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects while maintaining visibility and leadership for gift planning opportunities and the gift planning team, as well as serving as a resource for colleagues across the College.
In partnership with the Associate Vice President for Development, the Director will be a key driver in the College’s efforts to maintain the prominent role of planned gifts in achieving annual fundraising goals. The Director will be critical in achieving these goals by expanding the reach of the gift planning program through intentional, collegial collaboration with development officers. Leading by example, the Director will inspire a positive culture of mutual ambition, shared credit, and collective celebration of achievements.
The ideal candidate must possess a minimum of ten years of fundraising experience with proven success securing a full spectrum of deferred gift techniques and vehicles, including gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, pooled income funds, life estate agreements, and charitable estate plans. Leading candidates will have broad experience in major and planned gifts from which to draw when guiding complex gift conversations and strategies. 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. The successful candidate must have extraordinary communication skills with a collegial, team-building style and a demonstrated ability to motivate staff as well as to cultivate productive, collaborative relationships with faculty and staff across campus. The candidate will foster 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, Mount Holyoke is especially interested in recruiting members of diverse communities and individuals with a commitment to anti-racism. An undergraduate degree is required.
Application Instructions
Mount Holyoke College has partnered with Talent Citizen to assist in this recruitment. Please reach out to President Tracy D. Welsh, Managing Associate Rachel K. Partin, and Associate José Cisneros to share your resume and cover letter via email at: mhc-dgp@talentcitizen.com.
Mount Holyoke College is a women’s college that is gender diverse. The College is committed to providing equal access and opportunity in employment and education to all employees and students. In compliance with state and federal law, Mount Holyoke College does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, genetic information, sex, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, ancestry, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local law.
