Assistant Director, Gifts Officer

Title: Assistant Director, Gifts Officer

Location: New Haven United States

Job Description:

Working at Yale means contributing to a better tomorrow. Whether you are a current resident of our New Haven-based community- eligible for opportunities through the New Haven Hiring Initiative or a newcomer, interested in exploring all that Yale has to offer, your talents and contributions are welcome. Discover your opportunities at Yale!

Salary Range

$68,000.00 - $120,500.00

Overview

The Assistant Director is a vital member of the development team, responsible for securing philanthropic support from a defined portfolio of leadership-level donors and prospects. This position focuses on the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors capable of making leadership and major-level gifts, while also playing an important role in the operations and administration of the broader development team. The ideal candidate is a proactive relationship builder with strong communication and organizational skills and a deep understanding of engagement strategy.

Essential duties:

Leadership Giving & Donor Engagement:

• Manage and grow a portfolio of leadership and major gift prospects, with a focus on gifts of $50K - $250k
• Design and implement solicitation strategies tailored to individual donor interests in alignment with our priorities
• Build meaningful relationships to advance donor engagement and giving. Conduct prospect and donor visits and assist with staffing the Dean and YSPH faculty in meetings and at events.
• Prepare compelling proposals and briefings for meetings and solicitations
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align donor interest with programmatic needs
• Oversight of acknowledgement and stewardship processes

Development Operations:

• Partner with the Chief Development Officer on setting team goals, tracking metrics and assessing progress
• Contribute to the creation of systems and processes that improve the efficacy and effectiveness of donor pipeline management
• Ensure accuracy and timely documentation of all donor interactions and activities using Hopper
• Represent the team at internal and external meetings, events and donor engagement opportunities
• Manage and oversee incoming gift process
• Supervise daily operational needs of staff, and assist in mentoring to foster a culture of philanthropy and teamwork
• Assist with the strategy for and creation of written communications from various University administrators appropriate to a donor's interests.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to communicate clearly with donors, volunteers and colleagues. Professionalism, good judgment, and ability to work with top level donors and Yale administration
• Possess negotiating, organizational, analytical and fund-raising skills, including a track record of closing gifts at the six-figure level.
• Knowledge of marketing strategies in the development arena
• Ability to travel, domestically and internationally if needed

Preferred Skills and Abilities

Experience with Hopper or equivalent. Knowledge of CRM systems for donor tracking. Experience managing processes and/or other team members.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Measures success of developmental events and programs; recommends changes. 2. Contributes in planning and implementing cultivation and solicitation activities. 3. Researches and identifies potential new donors. 4. Contributes in development of financial solicitation programs, meets activity and revenue goals. 5. Analyzes grant-making organizations to identify likely funding sources for specific projects and programs. 6. Compiles, writes, and edits grant applications; federal, state, foundation, corporate. 7. May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience Bachelor's Degree required. Four years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Posting Date

10/01/2025

Job Category

Professional

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Development

Compensation Grade Profile

Development Officer 1 (24)

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff

Work Model

Hybrid

Location

60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role's grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.