Lafayette College is a highly selective, liberal arts and engineering institution with an endowment ranked in the top 2% nationally of independent colleges. We challenge our students to move beyond the familiar, the comfortable, the easy. We dare them to become thinkers and leaders themselves. We offer them opportunities to jump into the thick of things, to take risks, and to care deeply. Our beautiful campus overlooks the historic Delaware River and our students, faculty, and staff pride themselves in the true community that is Lafayette College.
We are seeking talent to propel our fundraising, engagement, and outreach efforts. At the College, we value the principles of sustainability, innovation, research, community engagement, diversity and inclusion, and global impact among other virtues. Our home of Easton, PA provides a variety of cultural offerings, retail and dining establishments, entertainment opportunities, and the natural beauty of the Lehigh Valley. Full-time employees are eligible for a variety of benefits, ranging from medical, dental, and vision coverage to a competitive tuition assistance program. The Lafayette Employee Wellness Program seeks to advance a culture of health and wellness promotion at the College, while the Employee Assistance Program dedicates its focus to enhancing the work-life balance for all staff members. We work collaboratively in pursuit of our goals while recognizing the responsibilities we all have away from campus.
The Assistant Director of Major Gifts will report to the Director of Major Gifts and play a critical role in raising philanthropic resources in support of Lafayette College’s strategic direction as outlined by the Board of Trustees and College leadership. In preparation for an upcoming bi-centennial celebration in 2026, the position will focus on engaging and reconnecting alumni, parents, and friends to the College through personal, professional, and philanthropic involvement. The ideal candidate would understand the importance of working within a flexible work environment, committing to a balance of on-campus responsibilities, travel, and remote work.
Primary Responsibilities:
● Manage a portfolio of 150 to 200 alumni, families and friends, composed of both regionally and affinity-based prospects.
● Conduct 15-17 meaningful engagements (in person visits, virtual visits, scheduled prospect phone calls) per month and develop strategies with the purposes of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding an assigned portfolio of donors at the $50,000 level and above. 25% of visits should be “unique,” with no less than 70% occurring in person.
● Exhibit a commitment to strengthening existing institutional relationships with an enhanced focus on establishing new relationships with respect to donors and volunteers through a comprehensive engagement, qualification, and solicitation plan.
● Assist directly in the development of a diverse, robust volunteer leadership pipeline that is representative of the current and future student body’s interests.
● Utilizing Ellucian CRM Advance, develop and maintain individualized prospect engagement and solicitation plans based on individual interests and per College fundraising priorities.
● Create detailed cultivation/solicitation/stewardship plans for assigned prospects and donors each year and prepare briefing documents when needed.
● Effectively manage travel logistics and expense reporting.
● Actively engage in the College community, attending and supporting appropriate alumni and donor engagement events related to assigned responsibilities.
● Participate in departmental and professional training programs to increase expertise in the profession.
● Work closely with the Office of Gift Planning, Annual Fund, Parents Program, Leadership Councils, Alumni Relations, Research, Donor Relations, and Advancement Operations teams to drive fundraising efforts and establish engagement strategies designed to expand Lafayette’s footprint throughout the country.
● Establish strong, working relationships with key campus partners (College senior staff, faculty, Athletic Department staff, etc.) serving as a primary development liaison when necessary.
Minimum Qualifications:
● A record of accomplishment of success in fundraising, financial services, marketing/sales, educational management, or other directly related advancement or development area.
● Self-starting strategic thinker, with a personal commitment to excellence and the missions of a top-40 liberal arts program and top-20 engineering program.
● Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to relate to a variety of people of all ages and backgrounds.
● Commitment to developing a thorough knowledge of Lafayette College’s history, academic and extracurricular programs, and its faculty, students, and administration; maintain a thorough understanding of the College’s current priorities and initiatives of the faculty and administration.
● Bachelor’s degree required.
● Minimum of three to five years of successful, face-to-face relationship-building experience, with a focus on resource acquisition.
● Willingness to travel extensively and be present for evening and weekend obligations, as necessary.
● Ability to manage a number of projects, synchronously, within a fast-paced development operation.
Application Process
Submit a letter of interest and resume online at http://apply.interfolio.com/128758. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
About the Division of Development and College Relations
The Division consists of three major areas, Development, Alumni Engagement, and Gateway Career Center. Our work is closely aligned in support of shared goals for engagement, programming, and fundraising. We are committed to advancing the mission and strategic direction of Lafayette College by fostering meaningful engagement and lifelong connections, and by securing the resources needed to realize powerful outcomes. The values of collaboration, inclusivity, integrity, lifelong relationships, outstanding service, and respect guide all aspects of our work.
Lafayette is deeply committed to creating a diverse community, one that is inclusive and responsive and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the College community share in the responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. The libraries reflect the College’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) initiatives, and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds.