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Position Summary:
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Yeshiva University’s Institutional Advancement department seeks a motivated, growth-oriented Associate Director of Leadership Annual Gifts to expand its frontline fundraising team and strengthen the pipeline of future major and principal gift donors.
Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development, the Associate Director of Leadership Annual Gifts will manage a portfolio of approximately 200 existing donors and qualified prospects, with a focus on securing annual gifts between $1,800 and $5,000, while identifying and qualifying donors with the potential for increased philanthropic investment.
The Associate Director of Leadership Annual Gifts will play a key role in strengthening donor relationships, increasing donor retention and donor upgrades, and expanding philanthropic support for Yeshiva University's schools, programs, scholarships, faculty, and strategic initiatives. This position serves as an important pipeline-building role, preparing donors for future assignment to Major Gift Officers as their engagement and giving capacity grow.
As a member of the Institutional Advancement team, the Associate Director of Leadership Annual Gifts will collaborate closely with colleagues across development, alumni engagement, annual giving, advancement communications, and university leadership to ensure a coordinated and donor-centered fundraising strategy in support of Yeshiva University's long-term philanthropic goals.
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Position Responsibilities:
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Key Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 200 leadership giving donors and prospects through active moves management
- Develop individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for each assigned donor and prospect
- Solicit and renew annual leadership gifts ranging from $1,800 to $5,000
- Identify opportunities to upgrade donors to higher giving levels and qualify prospects for future major gift cultivation
- Conduct regular in-person, virtual, and phone meetings with donors and prospects
- Build meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, friends, and community leaders
- Partner with deans, faculty, and university leadership to align donor interests with institutional priorities
- Identify, recruit, and host donors and prospects at Yeshiva University's fundraising and stewardship events, using these experiences to strengthen relationships, advance donor cultivation, and increase giving
- Prepare personalized proposals, stewardship reports, and donor correspondence
- Coordinate recognition and stewardship activities that deepen donor engagement and increase retention
- Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, and strategic plans within the University's CRM
- Represent Yeshiva University at alumni, donor, and community events
Performance Expectations
- Successfully manage an active portfolio of approximately 200 donors and prospects
- Complete 200–250 substantive donor visits and meaningful contacts annually
- Achieve annual fundraising goals through renewals, upgrades, and new leadership gifts
- Increase the number of donors giving at higher leadership levels year over year
- Identify and qualify donors with the potential to transition into a Major Gift Officer portfolio
- Maintain strong donor retention, renewal, and acquisition metrics
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- Experience & Educational Background:
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- Bachelor's degree required
- Three to five years of successful fundraising, development, sales, or relationship management experience
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships and solicit philanthropic gifts or manage high-value client relationships
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail
- Experience using donor databases or CRM systems
- Willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed
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Skills & Competencies:
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- Experience in higher education fundraising or a mission-driven nonprofit organization
- Knowledge of the Jewish philanthropy community
- Experience working with alumni, parents, volunteers, and advisory boards
- Demonstrated ability to build lasting donor relationships and inspire philanthropic investment
- A collaborative team player who works effectively across Institutional Advancement and university departments, sharing strategies, coordinating donor engagement, and contributing to a culture of teamwork and shared success
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Salary Range:
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$110,000 - $130,000
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About Us:
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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:
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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.
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