SENIOR DIRECTOR, WEST COAST & MID WEST, MAJR GIFTS, Development & Alumni Relations, Leadership

Job Description

Position: Senior Director, West & Midwest Regions, Major Gifts

Location: Boston, MA, United States

Category: Charles River Campus → Professional

Posted Date: 8/21/2025

Salary Grade: Grade 53

Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

Overview

Boston University (BU) seeks a collaborative and entrepreneurial Senior Director, West & Midwest Regions (Senior Director) to lead a seasoned team of major gift fundraisers working with a vast swath of the University's alumni and an abundant number of engaged and committed families and friends. This is an exciting opportunity for an enterprising leader in major gift fundraising to join an institution at the outset of a campaign that will propel ever-more ambitious achievement.

The BU community is alive with excitement as President Melissa Gilliam assumed the university presidency on July 1, 2024. BU comprises 17 Schools and Colleges and is among the largest nonprofit universities in the country. BU is committed to diversity, affordability through initiatives like the Century Challenge, and broad access to education.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Major Gifts, the Senior Director will:

• Lead a donor-centric fundraising program and ensure the team collectively surpasses ambitious annual fundraising goals and activity benchmarks. Act as a thought leader for the major gifts effort across the West and Midwest regions, guiding strategies for several critical markets and managing a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects.
• Directly solicit and manage a portfolio of major gifts with a focus on gifts of $100,000+; travel as needed; cultivate prospects toward principal-level gifts.
• Direct management of experienced gift officers (recruit, train, supervise, evaluate, and manage a total staff of three or more).
• Establish and maintain Regional Leadership Councils and other volunteer structures to support counsel, prospect identification, and solicitations.
• Collaborate with Development & Alumni Relations colleagues to devise strategies and timetables for major solicitations; integrate Alumni Relations activities as part of the overall development strategy.
• Coordinate prospect strategies with deans and school/college development colleagues to optimize resource use.
• Set long-range goals and regional operating plans aligned with university priorities and manage pipelines to achieve goals.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring many of the following professional qualities and experiences:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• At least ten years of development experience, with at least five years of management experience.
• Strong track record as a fundraiser with management of major gifts prospects.
• Proven ability to build and develop a high-level portfolio and to manage a fundraising team.
• Experience in engaging senior-level volunteers and committees; excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong judgment, prioritization, interpersonal skills, and ability to translate ideas into actionable plans.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively; high energy, resilience, and a sense of humor.
• Familiarity with the West Coast region preferred; willingness to travel extensively, including nights and weekends.

Location, Schedule & Compensation

The Senior Director can be based in Boston, or remotely from a major market within California with approval from senior DAR leaders. BU provides a hybrid schedule with the option to work two days per week from home where circumstances allow. Compensation is budgeted in the range of $200,000–$210,000 annually, depending on experience. BU offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) at BU

BU has an endowment of approximately $3.5 billion and raised $349 million in annual philanthropic support in FY2024. DAR comprises 273 professionals across major gifts, foundation relations, annual giving, alumni engagement, stewardship, talent management, and advancement information systems. DAR emphasizes prospect management, analytics, and a growing major gifts pipeline. DAR values include:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect.
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Integrity in how we work and treat one another.
• Strategic thinking, curiosity, and measurable results.
• Continuous growth and improvement, both individually and as a team.
• Joy and shared appreciation for working toward meaningful goals.

To learn more about the DAR team, please visit BU’s DAR talent page (no link included here).

About BU and Leadership

Senior Director, West & Midwest Regions, Major Gifts is a senior member of the Major Gifts team, focused on securing gifts of $100,000+ from BU alumni, parents, and other individuals. This role oversees regional fundraising efforts, collaborates with senior stakeholders, and leads activities aimed at qualifying, soliciting, and closing major gifts. The role includes managing a portfolio of approximately 80 major gift prospects and leading special regional projects.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply through the BU careers portal. Note: No external links are included in this refined description.

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or other legally protected status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.