Development, Institutional Giving Director

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Institutional Giving and Academic Initiatives – The Director is a key member of a six-person Institutional Giving and Academic Initiatives team. The Director manages a diverse portfolio of funders and grant projects including new submissions, special projects and the stewardship of existing grants. Working closely with colleagues across the Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE) department, this position will contribute to a team that raises over $25 million annually in new corporate and foundation support. The Director also collaborates with schools, centers, faculty, and academic leadership across the New School to advance high-priority initiatives. 

The New School is committed to creating and maintaining an environment that upholds and advances diversity and inclusion across all areas of employment, education, and access to its educational, artistic, and cultural programs and activities. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who share our commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner with the AVP to develop and implement an annual plan that includes new business development and stewardship of existing donors, ensuring increased progress towards the team’s annual revenue targets.

• Oversee a personal portfolio of major corporate and foundation prospects, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of institutional donors, ensuring responsive and strategic relationship management.

• Plan and participate in donor visits and campus events, including event invitations to prospects and donors..

• Collaborate with faculty, deans, and program leads to shape project concepts, prepare compelling narratives, and develop budgets and timelines.

• Write and edit high-quality proposals, letters of inquiry, corporate pitch decks, and supporting materials.

• Build and manage relationships with stakeholders to facilitate complex proposal development, including multi-stakeholder and cross-unit collaborations.

• Conduct prospect research and maintain a dynamic pipeline of prospective funders and track engagement strategies in SalesForce.

• Prepare comprehensive visit briefings for President, Deans, and other University leaders and participate in foundation/corporate visits when appropriate. 

• Meet with the Institutional Giving Team weekly to monitor progress and move prospects and team annual goals for each school; and work collaboratively to coordinate school-based fundraising as well as coordinate activities with the Directors of Development and Designated School(s) as assigned. 

• Update progress report for weekly meetings reflecting status of pending grants, grants received and pipeline of grants in production and continuously move new prospects from idea stage through to full proposal status and decision. 

• Contribute to university-wide initiatives, task forces, or special projects, as assigned.

• Works collaboratively with the AVP and Office of Research Support to lead new training sessions for faculty grantseekers. 

• Other Duties as assigned. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree or other educational certification required.

• Minimum of four to seven years of frontline fundraising experience or a related field, with a strong track record of securing major gifts, grants, or VC funding,

• Experience with complex grant applications and exceptional organizational, verbal, and written communication skills. 

• Demonstrated ability to meet ambitious fundraising targets.

• Exceptional collaboration and interpersonal skills, and the ability to be effective at engaging with all levels of the university. 

• Demonstrated ability to establish credibility and confidence with prospective donors. 

• Appreciation for the values of The New School and interest in or experience fundraising for innovative educational initiatives that foster student success, creativity, and exceptional teaching. 

• Able to work with ethnically, culturally, and socially diverse constituencies. 

• Strong technology skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM systems.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Past experience working in higher education institutions is preferred.

• Proven track record of working with national and international foundations and corporations on six-figure grant projects preferred.

WORK MODE

Hybrid - Employees hired for this position primarily work remotely with the occasional on-campus presence required with advanced notice. Employees in this role will also be expected to use their best judgment to be on campus when necessary in order to best fulfill the responsibilities of their job descriptions. 

SALARY RANGE

$110,000 - $120,000 annually