Executive Director of Development (Commonwealth Honors College)

About the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation

Established in 2003, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation (UMAF) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising philanthropic funds in support of the University's mission and highest aspirations. Located on the Amherst campus, UMAF serves as a best practices resource for fundraising strategy and implementation, wholly dedicated to advancing the University's goals. As a separately governed nonprofit, UMAF offers its own comprehensive health, wellness, and retirement benefits to its team.

About the Role

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) will lead the development efforts for the Commonwealth Honors College, reporting to the Vice President of Development. This role is pivotal in building a national portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, with a strategic focus on the Northeast and Florida. Beyond managing a high-value portfolio, the CDO will cultivate a culture of generosity by hiring and managing a donor engagement team, guiding an active Advisory Board, and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations to increase private support.

A vital component of this role is addressing the urgent need to expand student scholarships. The CDO will craft compelling narratives that empower students to become innovative thinkers and problem solvers, providing the foundation and stimulus they need to create new knowledge. The ideal candidate will be relationship-driven and donor-centric, capable of thinking strategically while exhibiting the diplomacy and creativity required to close significant gifts. This position demands high emotional intelligence and the ability to navigate complex organizational details while leading joint solicitations with university leadership, faculty, and volunteers.

Our Values

Our culture is built on three core pillars:

• Connection: We build meaningful relationships rooted in trust, respect, and belonging.
• Courage: We show up with integrity, embrace challenges, and lead through uncertainty.
• Curiosity: We commit to learning—for ourselves and others—and create a culture where everyone can thrive.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the UMass Amherst Foundation, we understand the value that diversity, equity, and inclusion bring to our workplace, our constituents, and our community. We welcome and value diversity in all its forms, recognizing that a diverse team strengthens our work and advances our mission. We are committed to ensuring that people of all races, gender identities, ages, ethnicities, cultural heritages, nationalities, educational backgrounds, religious and political beliefs, sexual orientations, abilities, and socioeconomic and veteran statuses are valued, respected, and included at every level.

We encourage everyone to apply, even if your experience is close but not an exact match. We know that diverse teams make better decisions and deliver better results. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities to participate in the application or interview process.

Location and Work Model

This is a full-time hybrid position open to employees in select US states: Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The role requires travel up to 50% of the time, including overnight trips and occasional weekends.

Application Process

Questions regarding the position or careers with UMAF may be directed to the People & Culture team at careers@uma-foundation.org. We invite you to submit your application to join our mission-driven team.