| Position Summary: |
As Yeshiva University prepares for its next comprehensive fundraising campaign, the University seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven Director of Principal Gifts to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward the University's most significant philanthropic partners. Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, this new position will manage a highly curated portfolio of approximately 75 current and prospective donors with the capacity to make transformational gifts of six- and seven-figure amounts.
This senior fundraising professional will develop individualized strategies that advance Yeshiva University's strategic priorities, including scholarships, academic excellence, faculty support, research, Israel initiatives, campus enhancements, and other institutional priorities. The Director of Principal Gifts will work closely with University leadership, including the President, senior administrators, deans, trustees, and volunteer leaders to cultivate meaningful partnerships with the University's most generous supporters.
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| Position Responsibilities: |
Position Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 75 high-capacity donors and prospects, each with the potential to make principal gifts.
- Develop and execute comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each assigned prospect.
- Personally solicit and close six- and seven-figure commitments, including outright, multi-year, planned, and blended gifts.
- Build trusted, long-term relationships with donors, families, foundations, and family offices.
- Identify planned giving prospects within the portfolio.
- Partner with the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, deans, faculty, and volunteer leadership to develop compelling philanthropic opportunities.
- Prepare briefing materials, solicitation strategies, proposals, and stewardship reports for senior leadership.
- Identify and qualify new principal gift prospects through research, referrals, and strategic networking.
- Coordinate donor engagement through personalized meetings, campus visits, leadership events, and exclusive experiences.
- Maintain accurate documentation of donor activity, strategy, and pipeline management within the University's CRM.
- Collaborate with development colleagues to ensure coordinated cultivation across schools, programs, and fundraising priorities.
Performance Expectations
- Maintain meaningful engagement with each portfolio prospect through strategic moves management.
- Secure multiple six- and seven-figure commitments each fiscal year.
- Build and maintain a robust pipeline of transformational gift opportunities.
- Achieve annual fundraising goals established in partnership with Institutional Advancement leadership.
- Raise approximately $5 million annually in new commitments, depending on campaign priorities and portfolio maturity.
- Maintain an average of 6-8 annual solicitations of $250k-$5m multi-year pledges.
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| Experience & Education Background: |
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively successful principal gift fundraising experience, preferably in higher education or a complex nonprofit organization.
- Demonstrated success closing 6- and 7-figure philanthropic gifts.
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| Skills & Competencies: |
- Exceptional relationship-building, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Experience working with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and volunteer leadership.
- Ability to develop sophisticated gift strategies and navigate complex donor relationships.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail.
- Willingness to travel and work some evenings and Sundays as needed.
Preferred Attributes
- Passion for Yeshiva University's mission and values.
- Experience partnering with university or organizational presidents, trustees, and senior academic leaders.
- Knowledge of the Jewish philanthropic community and experience working with high-net-worth individuals.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to manage long cultivation cycles while successfully closing transformational gifts.
- Collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
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| Salary Range: |
$180,000 -$205,000
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| About Us: |
Yeshiva University is dedicated to academic excellence, intellectual exploration, and the advancement of timeless values that shape and impact lives. With a rich tradition rooted in Jewish thought and heritage, YU fosters a dynamic learning environment across its undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. Our mission is to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will contribute meaningfully to society, guided by a commitment to ethics, innovation, and service. Our community extends far beyond the classroom, encompassing thousands of students, faculty, staff, and more than 70,000 alumni and supporters worldwide, all working together to build a brighter future.
As a Yeshiva University employee, you will be part of a welcoming, diverse, and intellectually engaging community that values collaboration, excellence, and professional growth. We offer a supportive and stimulating workplace with tangible employee benefits, opportunities for advancement, and a strong sense of purpose. Beyond professional development, YU is committed to ensuring a high quality of life for its employees, offering a work environment that prioritizes well-being, work-life balance, and a culture of mutual respect. Every role at YU contributes to our broader mission of education, research, and societal impact, ensuring that all members of our community—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends—are inspired to make a difference. We invite you to bring your talent and passion to YU and join us in shaping the future.
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| Equal Employment Opportunity: |
Yeshiva University is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities to all employees and candidates without regard to race, color, age, sex, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. |