Careers at Lehigh

Associate Director, Family Engagement and Giving - Join Lehigh University's Development and Alumni Relations Team

Lehigh University seeks an experienced fundraising professional to serve as Associate Director of Family Engagement and Giving within our Development and Alumni Relations department. This exempt, full-time position offers an exceptional opportunity to build meaningful relationships with families while advancing philanthropic support for one of America's premier research universities.

About the Opportunity

As a key member of the Parent and Family Giving team, you'll manage a dedicated portfolio of parent prospects for annual and major gift cultivation and solicitation, with particular focus on Parents' Council membership. Working closely with the Director, you'll oversee essential programs that foster engagement and philanthropy among our university families, including the Parents' Council, Family Weekend, and the Legacy Celebration.

Position Number: S97560

This position is a Grade: 10 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $67,270-$81,830 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop relationships for the University with donors and prospective donors to secure financial support for university priorities.
• Assess donor capacity, project interests, and inclination.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 75-125 assigned households, with a focus on first-year parent qualification.
• Arrange or staff campus visits, tours, and cultivation meetings for managed prospects
• Prepare customized proposals and reports that accurately represent University priorities.
• Plan, coordinate, and administer keystone programmatic elements to build a culture of family engagement.
• Manage day-to-day operations for the Parents' Council, a group of 125+ families contributing $5,000+ annually.
• Manage the strategic direction and communication for Family Weekend, a three-day fall event in coordination with the Events and Marketing teams.
• Manage event details and staffing for Legacy Celebration, the undergraduate legacy student and family event held during graduation weekend.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner for parent engagement across Development and Alumni Relations, including Summer Sendoffs, Athletics, and Commencement.
• Serve as a specialized parent resource for other gift officers in their work with parents and families.
• Document donor activity within 5 days of contact.
• Ensure gifts are booked properly according to accounting standards and University policies; troubleshoot discrepancies.
• Oversee stewardship for assigned prospects and provide regular performance reports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• Three to five years of related work experience
• Proven track record in major gift solicitation and donor cultivation
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for building relationships with diverse constituencies
• Experience planning and executing donor engagement events and programs
• Knowledge of fundraising principles, gift solicitation and stewardship strategies

Why Lehigh University

Located in Pennsylvania's beautiful Lehigh Valley, Lehigh University combines academic excellence with a supportive work environment. You'll join a collaborative community committed to student success and institutional advancement. Lehigh's campus provides access to cutting-edge facilities, professional development opportunities, and the chance to work alongside dedicated colleagues who share your commitment to higher education. Our proximity to major metropolitan areas like New York and Philadelphia offers additional cultural and professional opportunities.

Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university’s mission. Lehigh University offers a comprehensive and family friendly benefits package which includes but is not limited to Health Care, Retirement and Educational benefits. Information can be found on our website.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.

Special Considerations

• The duties of this position may allow the employee to work partially remote as deemed appropriate by their supervisor.

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.

Only complete applications will be considered therefore please complete the application in its entirety.  Once the posting is removed from the website applications may no longer be allowed to be completed.