Vice President, Major & Planned Gifts - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

PLEASE NOTE: This search is being managed by Pearl Street Collective. Please direct all applications and inquiries to Adele Mezher via email:

Adele Mezher (she, her, hers)
Managing Partner
Pearl Street Collective

adele@pearlstreetcollective.com

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Philanthropy Officer and collaborating closely with the Senior Vice President (SVP) and Chief Philanthropy Officer, the new Vice President, Major and Planned Gifts leads the team responsible for the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of prospective major donors with a giving capacity of $250K to $999K and Planned Giving donors at all capacity levels through bequests, trusts, life income vehicles, gifts of real estate, and other planned gift arrangements. This includes the Dana-Farber Society and related donor marketing, events, and stewardship programs.

The VP partners with Prospect Research and a new Faculty Engagement function to set priorities and determine portfolios, articulate Institute objectives to gift audiences, and establish individual and team goals based on actions and behaviors (KPIs) needed to reach ambitious revenue targets established based on Institute priorities. The VP will lead and manage their budget and strategically organize and plan their team’s work in alignment with Division goals. They participate as a member of the Division of Philanthropy leadership team with responsibility for advancing Division-wide goals and initiatives through collaborative problem solving and decision making.

The ideal candidate embodies a growth mindset, leveraging a keen ability to assess and enhance existing philanthropic programs while identifying opportunities for meaningful innovation and collaboration. Motivated by mission and energized by the opportunity to achieve ambitious goals, the VP will bring a proven track record of fostering a culture that values creativity, inclusiveness, and high performance, and will lead with purpose in embedding this culture into a hybrid work environment. The VP will excel at bridging big-picture vision with actionable strategies, ensuring both long-term impact and day-to-day effectiveness. A strong commitment to ethical fundraising practices and a relationship-centered approach are essential, as is the ability to thrive within a dynamic, complex, and mission-driven organization, inspiring others to advance Dana-Farber’s critical work.

The onboarding of this role will include a comprehensive training process which includes completion of online modules, shadowing colleagues, as well as hands-on learning experiences throughout the first calendar year in the role.

Embody Dana-Farber’s Core Values: Impact; Excellence; Compassion & Respect; Inclusion & Diversity, and Discovery every day. Add value to the Dana-Farber community by seeking opportunities to collaborate across the Institute. Foster an ethical, positive, results-oriented culture founded on open communication.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Resume and cover letter required with application submission. If you wish to disclose your personal pronouns, please include them within your resume and cover letter submission.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

• Lead, mentor, and coach a team of 50 who manage and oversee the implementation, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities of Major Gifts prospects and Planned Gift prospects.
• Develop and recommend new strategies to enhance Major and Planned Gifts fundraising and for gift solicitations.
• Lead expansion of gift officer team with a suite of hires over multiple years across Major and Planned teams.
• Set quarterly and annual goals for fundraising and donor activities and monitor team progress against goals.
• Lead and advance the Dana-Farber Society (DFS) strategy, goals, and activities as a signature program to include staffing Trustee Co-Chairs of the DFS.
• Collaborate on marketing and stewardship programs, including annual recognition events for Dana-Farber Society (DFS) members and donors.
• Oversee tracking and processing of estate management and assist in administration of estate settlements, bequests, trusts, life income gifts, and gifts of real estate.
• Cultivate, solicit, and otherwise manage a portfolio of prospects.
• Work collaboratively with Transformational Gifts, Principal Gifts, and Annual Giving teams on Planned Giving opportunities.
• Foster a culture of learning, improvement and collaboration among the Major and Planned Gifts team and Division of Philanthropy in a remote/hybrid environment.
• Travel as appropriate to meet with prospects and donors.
• Analyze and report on progress and outcomes of special projects.
• Provide back-up to SVP for Philanthropy and Dana-Farber President for trustee and principal gift prospects.
• Complete other projects as assigned by Deputy Chief Philanthropy Officer.
• Responsible for assisting the entire Division in reaching financial goals.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manages a team of 4 direct reports, including 3 Assistant Vice Presidents and 1 Senior Associate.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree preferred with minimum of 15 years of major gifts fundraising experience and strong managerial experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Successful track record of major gift solicitations in $250,000+ donor category. Experience introducing sophisticated planned giving vehicles (i.e., CGA, CRUT, DAF) during donor conversations with excellent analytical skills to resolve complex and blended gift situations that require the innovative application of technical knowledge. High level of confidence and experience working with and proactively engaging professional advisors and estate and trust professionals. Superior written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational and managerial capabilities, ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks. Effective public speaking and the ability to communicate and work with people at all levels. Must exercise significant judgment and confidentiality in working with prospects, volunteers, and Institute faculty and staff. Skilled as an outstanding coach, mentor, and motivator of professionals with a dedication to hiring, retaining, and developing diverse teams. A natural inclination towards integrating efforts to achieve goals. Exhibits sound decision-making in response to rapidly changing and often complicated situations. Microsoft Office Suite familiarity is necessary.

PATIENT CONTACT:

Yes, as appropriate.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This position is considered partially remote and will be expected onsite each week at 10 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA for leadership team meetings and to engage with staff. Employees must reside in New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont. Travel and evening and weekend work may be required.

DIVISION OF PHILANTHROPY INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, & EQUITY COMMITMENT STATEMENT:

We’re stronger together. In the Division of Philanthropy, we believe in the power of different voices. We encourage the authenticity and diversity of every individual within our community. Our collective voices – donors, volunteers, staff, and patients alike – allow us to work together toward a world without cancer. Committed to being a place of inclusivity, belonging, and change, these are our core values.

DFCI DISCLAIMER: External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under state or federal law, must be able to perform the essential job functions either with or without a reasonable accommodation. The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties (including essential functions), responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Non-essential and/or marginal job functions may be adjusted to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. Employment with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is “at will.”

DFCI offers a competitive benefits package including generous healthcare and retirement plans, at minimum 3-weeks’ vacation time in addition to 10 paid holidays, a flexible work environment, and work/life balance. Dana-Farber offers a variety of personal, professional, and leadership development opportunities to all members of its workforce through Institutional programming. Division of Philanthropy offers 75+ specialized professional development sessions designed for staff each year through its in-house learning program, the Center for Advancement Training.*

*All benefits subject to Institute changes

We’re hiring! Learn more about working in the Division of Philanthropy and view all open positions.

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

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