Principal Gifts Officer

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Asian University for Women Support Foundation (AUWSF) is a 501c3 that serves as the principal fundraising and development arm of the Asian University for Women (AUW) in Bangladesh. AUWSF is seeking a passionate and seasoned principal gifts officer to grow the highest-level philanthropic support for its critical mission of graduating women to be skilled and innovative professionals and service-oriented leaders in the businesses and communities in which they work and live.

Reporting to the President and CEO, the ideal candidate is a creative, focused, self-starter, and high-performing individual who thrives in an entrepreneurial and collaborative environment. They will embody a blend of intellectual curiosity, strong social acumen, a profound sense of accountability, and a bias toward action. They will demonstrate exceptional communication skills and seamlessly navigate interpersonal interactions with keen emotional intelligence. Additionally, the principal gifts officer will have a solid track record in resource mobilization, personally securing significant five and six-figure gifts while adeptly nurturing and expanding the development team and offering strategic counsel to senior leadership. They will also broaden and diversify funding sources, introduce new organizational systems and frameworks, refine performance metrics, and harness data-driven insights to inform strategic decision-making. 

The incoming principal gifts officer will serve as a vital ambassador for AUW, effectively conveying the organization’s message, voice, and vision to diverse audiences. Equally crucial, they will demonstrate unwavering dedication to AUW’s mission and possess an understanding and appreciation of the institution’s history, achievements, and future aspirations. 

The principal gifts officer will develop annual and ongoing strategies to solicit philanthropic support from individuals capable of gifts of $100,000 and higher in support of AUW priorities and other special initiatives. This externally facing role will spend considerable time out of the office cultivating and soliciting donors and principal gift prospects, often collaborating with senior leadership. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to play a role in providing a critical pathway to leadership development, economic progress, and social and political equality. 

Compensation for this position will be competitive and commensurate with experience, with a salary range estimated at $150,000. The foundation also provides generous and comprehensive benefits. The AUWSF office is based in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications (including resumes and two- to three-page letters of interest to the hiring committee, responding to the challenges and opportunities outlined above), should be sent below. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

Karen Avery is leading this search with Karson Freeman and Caroline Corry.

Equal employment opportunity is a fundamental principle at the Asian University for Women Support Foundation, where employment and promotional opportunities are based on individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.