Executive Director of the Office of Philanthropic Partnerships

Executive Director of Philanthropic Partnerships

 

The Massachusetts institute of Technology (MIT or the Institute) is seeking an experienced, innovative and results-oriented advancement executive to serve as its Executive Director of Philanthropic Partnerships (ED-OPP). This role oversees MIT's principal gifts program domestically and internationally, working with individuals, family foundations and corporations to secure the most transformative gifts.

Founded in 1861 to accelerate the nation’s industrial revolution, MIT has risen over its history to become one of the most elite and productive higher education institutions in the world. With ingenuity and drive, its graduates have invented fundamental technologies, launched new industries and created millions of American jobs. At the same time, MIT is profoundly global. The Institute's community gains tremendous strength as a magnet for talent from around the globe. Through teaching, research and innovation, MIT’s exceptional community pursues its mission of service to the nation and the world.

The mission of MIT is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the planet in the 21st century. To achieve this mission, the Institute is committed to generating, disseminating and preserving knowledge as well as working with others to bring this knowledge to bear on the world’s greatest challenges.

MIT Resource Development (RD) is responsible for all private support from alumni, parents, friends and foundations to the Institute. MIT's most recent comprehensive campaign, MIT Campaign for a Better World, raised a record $6.2 billion and concluded in 2021. MIT RD is now celebrating this momentous achievement and planning for the future of the office and for later campaigns. The Office of Philanthropic Partnerships (OPP) oversees RD's principal gift efforts across constituents and around the world. Leading a team of more than 20 in OPP, the Executive Director provides strategic leadership and vision for these efforts and integrate them into a unified vision for MIT principal gifts. With the conclusion of the campaign, the ED-OPP has an opportunity to evaluate these efforts, plan for the next phase of MIT's principal gift fundraising and develop a more ambitious plan for corporate engagement.

The ideal candidate for ED-OPP will be a distinguished principal gifts fundraiser and development manager who is eager to utilize these experiences to chart a new course for one of the most productive principal gift fundraising units in American higher education. Specifically, the ideal candidate should have at least ten years of principal gifts fundraising experience and four years of direct fundraising management experience including management of frontline development staff, preferably at a higher education institution.

In addition, the ED-OPP will have a deep commitment to transformational higher education in which remarkable students are educated, groundbreaking research is conducted and solutions to the world's most pressing problems are developed, tested and implemented. This commitment will be complemented by experience in highly matrixed, complex organizations that will ensure the selected ED-OPP can understand and learn organizational relationships and dynamics and use them to achieve objectives.

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in leadership profile found at www.wittkieffer.com.

WittKieffer is assisting MIT in this search. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a successful placement is made.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Greg Duyck and Ashlee Winters Musser

MITEDPP@wittkieffer.com

MIT is an equal employment opportunity employer. We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive equitable consideration for employment based on their experience and qualifications, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin. MIT’s full policy on nondiscrimination can be found here.

MIT considers equivalent combinations of experience and education for certain jobs. All candidates who believe they possess equivalent experience and education are encouraged to apply.

MIT requires COVID-19 vaccination for all MIT employees who will have an on-campus presence. Individuals may request exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information may be found at now.mit.edu.