Career Center

This position will be based on our campus in Cambridge, MA. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic this position will be remote until further notice.

Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D) comprises the University Development Office (UDO), Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, AA&D Resources, and the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA). There is a unique relationship between the University and the FAS fundraising operations, resulting from a long history in which University fundraising ultimately grew out of College fundraising.

University Development Office (UDO)
UDO works closely with the President and Provost, and their teams, to determine their development efforts, leads fundraising for University principal gifts, initiatives and international fundraising, and coordinates cultivation and stewardship strategies for a select group of top prospects.

Manages a stewardship portfolio of donors who have made eight- and nine-figure gifts to the University, developing strategies that include digital and print narrative impact reports, opportunistic stewardship touches, engagement opportunities, and special recognition projects and events. In coordination with senior associate director, partners with gift officers and colleagues across the University to create comprehensive individual stewardship plans to enhance donor cultivation strategy and align with fundraising priorities. Working with colleagues within the University Development Office as well as across the University recognizes, stewards, and engages donors who give to emerging priorities and initiatives, including climate change. Oversees narrative stewardship reporting for select University initiatives, ensuring high-quality content development and visual design that convey impact and gratitude for donors who support such initiatives. May manage an assistant director or others within the stewardship team.

• Proactively, and in close collaboration with gift officers, develops and implements personalized stewardship strategies for the University's most generous donors, including plans for reports and other engagement opportunities that are tailored to the interests of each donor.
• Creates comprehensive plan for donors to emerging initiatives—ranging from broad reporting strategies to individual stewardship plans for principal gift donors, gift announcements, special touches from the president and provost, engagement opportunities, and mementos that reflect and enhance a donor's relationship with Harvard.
• Monitors activities related to donors and the outcomes of their gifts, seeking high-level opportunities for ad hoc stewardship and engagement of donors by the president.
• Oversees the work of a stewardship officer, who may steward donors who give to climate change as well as other donors who make significant gifts to centrally-held funds, presidential priorities, and cross-School initiatives.
• Works with colleagues within the University Development Office and University-wide to coordinate stewardship and recognition programs across the University, reaching out to Schools, Harvard Alumni Association, and academic and administrative offices. Fosters strong relationships with colleagues at Schools, including facilitating cross-School communication and taking a lead role in coordinating long-term plans that include outcomes across multiple Schools and funds.
• Conducts research and interviews staff, students, and faculty on the use of new and existing funds created through generous gifts from donors in order to create compelling, meaningful, and highly individualized stewardship reports on behalf of University leadership, including the president, provost, and other senior administrators.
• Partners with creative services team to produce non-written stewardship pieces, including customized photobooks, videos, websites, and other meaningful mementos. May partner with the senior associate director for University engagement to develop programming related to top initiatives, including gift announcement and recognition events.
• Develops and keeps accurate, comprehensive, up-to-date information on strategic stewardship plans for individual donors and priorities in shared internal database (BSR Advance). Assists senior associate director in the management and assignment of priorities and stewardship portfolios across donor relations team.
• Utilizes internal database and reporting platforms to run and analyze donor and gift reports. Works closely with team members to research fund status and monitor for compliance with fund terms and donor intent.
• Provides ad hoc research and other support for UDRE-led projects as needed. May occasionally include drafting gift acknowledgments and other leadership correspondence during busiest times of the year. May serve as an editor and proofreader for documents produced by colleagues in UDRE.
• The above covers the most significant responsibilities of the position. It does not, however, exclude other appropriate and legitimate duties that may be required.

This position requires a 3 month orientation and review period.
Please include a cover letter with your application.

About Harvard University
Harvard University, based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, was established in 1636 and is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. The University is home to over 20,000 students and employs 18,000 people, making us the fifth-largest employer in Massachusetts. Harvard is a special place, filled with diverse, energetic, and talented people who are driven to grow and succeed. By working here, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise.

Why AA&D?
We are a dedicated team of 400 alumni affairs and development professionals supporting Harvard's advancement activity through roles that include front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, events, communications, prospect management and research, business process, talent management and many other areas.

Harvard's Alumni Affairs and Development team inspires and galvanizes alumni, friends, and members of the University community to support Harvard through philanthropy, governance, and active engagement. AA&D believes a workplace that reflects the diversity of our society and our ever-evolving University constituency makes us a stronger and more effective organization. Our goal is to create an environment of respect that values the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our community, to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work, and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. AA&D strives to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, innovation and sharing of information in our daily interactions and our work.

To learn more about how Harvard supports diversity and inclusion throughout the University please visit the Office for Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at https://dib.harvard.edu/.

Discover AA&D and Harvard University Benefits

• Opportunities for internal advancement
• A creative, high- energy, collaborative environment
• Generous Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Holiday pay
• Medical, Dental and Vision benefits starting on your first day
• University-funded retirement plans
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Transportation benefits to help with your daily commute
• Health and wellness discounts, memberships and programs

Additional benefits can be found at https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards.

Accommodations: Harvard University welcomes individuals with disabilities to apply for positions and participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please let your recruiter know.

Vaccine Requirements: The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard's Vaccine & Booster Requirements. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University's COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University's

• Eight years of professional experience in donor relations, higher education, fundraising, or related field preferred.
• College degree from an accredited institution required.
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading experience.

• Strong research, analytical, and creative skills
• Diplomatic and able to foster successful working relationships across the University; works effectively as part of a team and independently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; can adapt writing to many voices
• Understands the critical elements to stewarding and engaging a donor individually and as part of an initiative, and demonstrates the ability to think both strategically and creatively about donor relations
• Resourceful in obtaining information, comfortable and adaptable with changing priorities, and able to problem solve
• Detail oriented, highly organized with the ability to balance work on multiple projects and oversee the tasks and projects of others
• Displays a high level of discretion when handling sensitive donor, faculty, and student information
• Committed to fostering an inclusive workplace
• Solid computer skills in a PC environment with the capability to master new software applications and technologies, including database management
• Energetic, motivated to learn, takes initiative, curious about academia, and open to change
• May be asked to submit a sample of prior work, including a writing sample

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: 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 status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.