Senior Leadership Giving Officer

South Hadley, MA | Mid-Atlantic | New York City Metro

Mount Holyoke College (MHC), a private liberal arts women’s college that is gender diverse, seeks a mission- driven, confident, and collaborative major gift fundraiser to join the MHC Development team as Senior Leadership Giving Officer (Sr. LGO) during a time of renewal, vigor, and bold action as the College continues its legacy as a trailblazer in women’s education and a powerhouse of changemakers and visionaries. The Sr. LGO will be a leader in driving individual giving across their assigned region in the U.S. in support of the MHC Forward Strategic Plan, calling upon the support of a fiercely loyal and connected alum community representative of the fearless leaders and boundless learners who attend and work at Mount Holyoke.

As the oldest member of the historic Seven Sisters colleges, Mount Holyoke’s history as an educational institution forged in dissent is central to its vision for the future. Rooted in a nearly 200-year history of challenging exclusion and advancing gender equity, the College remains unwavering in its support for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility—even as these values face threats. MHC has been a trailblazer in inclusive admissions policies, becoming the first of the Seven Sisters to welcome trans and nonbinary students. With a proud legacy of global renown, the College fiercely advocates for its international student community, which represents 20 percent of students. Nationally recognized for its high level of undergraduate research, Mount Holyoke continues to invest in scholarly research and discovery. The College earned the prestigious Carnegie Classification as a baccalaureate college with “Arts & Sciences Focus and High Research,” and ranks #1 among

U.S. institutions for producing graduates who go on to earn PhDs in the life sciences and STEM.

Under President Danielle Holley’s leadership, the Mount Holyoke community is alive with ambition and purpose to support the MHC Forward Strategic Plan, which lays out a bold vision to ensure Mount Holyoke’s enduring excellence and transformative impact. MHC Forward sets the foundation for the College’s next comprehensive campaign, set to launch in the fall of 2026. Mount Holyoke’s culture of principled boldness and forward-thinking momentum offers an inspiring context for the Sr. LGO to contribute to a mission deeply rooted in societal impact at a time when women’s colleges are more important than ever.

Reporting to the Director of Leadership Giving, the Sr. LGO plays a central role in advancing the College’s strategic priorities as a key frontline fundraiser responsible for managing a portfolio of Mount Holyoke alums, parents, and friends. The Sr. LGO will contribute to developing regional strategies, cultivating donor relationships, and partnering with senior leaders and internal partners during regional visits and events, helping to inspire and secure higher levels of philanthropic support. The Sr. LGO will be an engaging and visible ambassador of the College in their assigned region and collaborate across the College Relations division to ensure a coordinated and personalized donor experience—from identification and solicitation to gift closure and stewardship.

The ideal candidate will be a goal-oriented, data-informed development professional with at least five years of fundraising experience and a track record of closing six- and seven-figure gifts. The Sr. LGO will demonstrate strategic thinking, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a deep commitment to equitable and inclusive fundraising practices. With an ability to thoughtfully manage complex relationships, the Sr. LGO will bring curiosity, sound judgment, and a collegial spirit to a high-performing and mission-driven team. In accordance with its core values and mission, MHC is especially interested in recruiting members of diverse communities and individuals who will promote and uphold the values embodied within the College’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement.

Mount Holyoke College

Mount Holyoke College is a selective, nondenominational, residential liberal arts college that welcomes applications from female, trans, and non-binary students. Mount Holyoke’s exploratory education opens new pathways for discovery and knowledge, while the collaborative community supports students as they develop skills to solve challenges everywhere. Students are encouraged to see the world through a different lens— exploring beyond traditional boundaries and connecting to global perspectives and points-of-view. Working closely with exceptional faculty and staff, students are challenged to think creatively, act collaboratively, and lead purposefully. That’s why Mount Holyoke alums can be found on the leading edge of change—from the arts and humanities to STEM innovation to social justice and beyond. As a community of achievement, Mount Holyoke celebrates what makes each of us extraordinary while cultivating a deep sense of connectivity.

Mount Holyoke’s vibrant campus is home to over 2,100 students, with 20 percent of the student body representing 80 countries other than the U.S. Expanding beyond gender diversity, 28 percent of students identify as domestic students of color—African American, Asian American, Latinx, Native American or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or multiracial.

With strong traditions and spaces designed for collaboration, the College offers three distinct Academic Centers meant to empower students to become agents of change—globally competent, environmentally responsible, ready to lead. The McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives is the hub and catalyst for comprehensive internationalization at Mount Holyoke, offering varied and meaningful opportunities for students to advance their global competencies and for faculty to incorporate more global perspectives into their teaching. The exceptional international diversity of the community offers a powerful context for building global competence. The Miller Worley Center for the Environment is dedicated to actively engaging Mount Holyoke students in the scientific, social/human, and global dimensions of environmental study, enabling students to make connections—across disciplines, across points of view, across constructs—that help them understand the concept of “environment” more broadly in their work, community, and lives. The Weissman Center for Leadership promotes the exploration and expansion of leadership—in all its many shapes and forms, helping students, faculty, and staff learn the skills to think strategically and yield influence—such as by identifying an audience, honing a message, advocating and organizing for change, and taking leadership in one’s daily life.

There is a treasure trove of time-honored traditions at Mount Holyoke that are emblematic of the ways in which students, alums, faculty, and leaders show up every day, treating each other with respect and affecting positive social change. These experiences and ways of being serve as unifying threads binding past and present students, faculty, and staff.

MHC Forward: The Strategic Plan for Mount Holyoke College

The MHC Forward Strategic Plan builds on the momentum of The Plan for Mount Holyoke 2023, which successfully advanced over 100 initiatives that strengthened academic excellence, expanded research and scholarship, and fostered a diverse and inclusive community. Key accomplishments included environmental leadership, the creation of innovative learning spaces like the Fimbel Maker & Innovation Lab, and major investments in community infrastructure, along with the establishment of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Developed through extensive community input, MHC Forward positions the College to meet the demands of a changing world by supporting curricular and pedagogical innovation; enhancing student life, wellness and career preparation; investing in campus infrastructure; identifying new revenue streams; and stewarding resources wisely for a bright future. With clear goals and success metrics, MHC Forward positions the College to lead with purpose for generations to come.

Essential Duties

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 120 Mount Holyoke College alum and parent prospects, guiding individuals through the full donor cycle: identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Conduct 100+ substantive donor interactions annually, including 20+ gift solicitations.
• Travel frequently to engage key members of the Mount Holyoke College community with an average range of 10 – 15 face-to-face visits per month.
• Attend regional engagement events for alums and parents.
• Staff the President and senior staff when in the region, including events and personal visits.
• Create briefing materials for senior leadership including meeting details, strategy, and desired outcomes.
• Participate in college-wide events and mandatory evening and weekend events.
• Meet and exceed annual metric goals through caseload management, including qualification visits.
• Build meaningful relationships with alums, parents, and other supporters, leading to impactful philanthropic commitments.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Annual Fund, Gift Planning, Principal Gifts, Research, and Donor Relations to develop and implement integrated donor strategies.
• Secure Mount Holyoke Fund leadership-level annual gifts at the five- and six-figure level (Annual Fund).
• Secure planned gifts in partnership with the Gift Planning team that align with departmental and campaign fundraising goals.
• Contribute to a team culture centered on collaboration, transparency, and data-informed decision- making.
• Participate in ongoing professional development.
• Actively support Mount Holyoke College’s commitment to creating a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Experience and Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring many of the following professional qualities and experiences:

• A Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Five to seven years of professional experience in fundraising or applicable and related fields (e.g. nonprofit, financial planning).
• Knowledge of fundraising best practices and campaign planning stages with direct experience closing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and advance relationships strategically and proactively.
• An unassailable sense of judgement and integrity.
• Personal capacity to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to travel 35 – 50% of the time to different areas of the U.S. with occasional evening/weekend work.
• Experience using fundraising CRMs and proposal software (Salesforce, PGCalc, TIAA Kaspick tools).
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, along with written and verbal communication.
• High level of discretion and integrity in managing confidential information.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful engagement with a diverse donor base.