Associate Director of Development, Rutgers Democracy Lab

Reporting to the Senior Vice President (SVP), the Associate Director of Development (ADOD) will be focused on major gifts fundraising for the Rutgers Democracy Lab (RDL). The ADOD will translate the study and practice of democracy in a way that compels varied audiences. The ADOD will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects and donors, with an eye toward building the major gift pipeline.

The Rutgers Democracy Lab (RDL) at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, housed within the Rutgers New Brunswick Provost’s office, mobilizes the university's multidisciplinary resources to strengthen democratic life and cultivate the next generation of civic leaders. Grounded in the idea that democracy is practiced rather than observed, the Lab's programming bridges academic research with real-world action by focusing on youth civic engagement, constructive dialogue across differences, and the influence of emerging technologies. Key initiatives include the Technology and Democracy Research Hub (examining how AI and social media affect political behavior and public trust), signature student engagement programs like the Think and Do Tank and Talking Across Difference, the Democracy Summer Research Fellowships for doctoral candidates, faculty and staff democracy fellowships, the Digital Content Creator Program, and national convenings and community-facing events. Through these hands-on programs, RDL empowers students and researchers to tackle grand challenges and translate civic ideas into meaningful, real-world impact.

Essential Functions

• Build and maintain a portfolio of donors and prospects at the major gift level (defined as gifts or pledges above $25,000) with responsibility for the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of a diverse base of supporters, including alumni, institutions, and friends.
• Actively solicit prospects and donors and meet mutually established goals related to solicitations, gift closures, prospects met, and qualifications. This includes utilizing various giving vehicles, such as in-kind and planned gifts.
• Strategically organize the Director’s time and resources as it relates to donor meetings, special events, and School/University leadership meetings.
• Develop positive, professional, and collaborative working relationships with the faculty and staff members within RDL.
• Work with a communications firm to clearly articulate, in written, visual, and verbal form, the needs and priorities of RDL to make a compelling case for support.
• Be a major partner in the development of new and revised fundraising initiatives as RDL grows.
• Collaborate with RDL and Rutgers University Foundation (RUF) colleagues to effectively communicate and comply with operational policies and procedures; accurately analyze and maintain reports, data, and unit documents; and follow RUF policies and procedures as they relate to prospect management, solicitation, and follow-up procedures.
• Ensure timely reporting and tracking of contacts, solicitations, events planning, etc. through RUF tracking systems (i.e., CRM system, events calendar).
• Develop cutting-edge cultivation strategies and networking activities in partnership with advancement colleagues, including prospect research, alumni records, and donor relations.
• Other duties as assigned

Competency Aptitudes 

Leadership

• Set clear direction for a project or sub-team of colleagues; provide feedback and develop staff

Autonomy

• Manage assigned programs, projects, and/or sub teams
• Manage a personal major gift donor/prospect portfolio with a focus on securing gifts at or above the $50,000 level

Complexity

• Ability to devise strategies and execute on increasingly complex projects (interdisciplinary initiatives)

Strategy

• Develop and submit written proposals, budgets and other collateral materials as needed for securing significant ($100K+) philanthropic investments

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree and/or 4+ years of professional experience in fundraising, alumni relations, non-profit organizations, event planning, higher education, or related fields. For this position, experience fundraising for policy and education is preferred.

Working Conditions

This position requires clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines with little physical effort. Will work evenings, weekends, or odd hours to meet resource-raising commitments. Typical working conditions with an absence of disagreeable elements. This position requires some early mornings and late evenings to accommodate meetings, travel, events, and external constituents’ schedules.

Workplace Arrangements

This is classified as an office-centric hybrid position. Colleagues working under an office-centric hybrid arrangement have a primary workstation in a university or foundation location and are in the office between one and five days a week. The frequency with which they are present in the office depends on their role and function and the interdependency of other functions.

Compensation and Benefits
The position is budgeted for an annual salary of $90,000. In addition to salary, Rutgers University Foundation offers: 

• Office-centric hybrid work schedule
• Comprehensive medical
• Comprehensive no cost dental, and no cost vision insurance for employee and dependents
• 403(b) plan with matching employer contribution
• Accrual of three weeks of annual vacation time, in addition to five wellness days and fifteen sick days per year
• Nine holidays, as well as four floating holidays
• Significant tuition reductions
• Professional development is highly valued at the Rutgers University Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization to develop new skills and abilities for professional career progression.
• $40 monthly cell phone reimbursement

Equal Employment Opportunity 

It is Foundation policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants. The Foundation prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and/or local laws. Equal employment opportunity applies to hiring, placement, transfer, promotion, demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, layoff, or termination.