Director of Leadership Gifts Bentley University Waltham, MA https://www.bentley.edu Send Nominations or Cover Letter and Resume to: Wendy Lazar Search Director 617-262-1102 wlazar@lllsearches.com The Opportunity: Bentley University is one of the nation's leading business schools, dedicated to preparing a new kind of business leader one with the deep technical skills, the broad global perspective, and the high ethical standards required to make a difference in an ever-changing world. To achieve its goal, Bentley infuses its advanced business curriculum with the richness of a liberal arts education. The results are graduates who are making an impact in their chosen fields and turning their passions into success stories. Located on a classic New England campus just minutes from Boston, Bentley is a dynamic community of leaders, scholars, and creative thinkers. Bentley is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), the most prestigious international accounting body for business education. It is one of only two business schools in the U.S. and one of only 130 business schools worldwide accredited by EQUIS. Bentley University is also accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NEASC). BENTLEY UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 1
Today, the challenges of a rapidly changing world have made business skills and experiences hot commodities. More students are considering business as the foundation of their higher education experience. With its unique blend of business, technology, and the liberal arts, Bentley, a private, nonprofit institution, provides students with relevant, practical, and transferable skills. Over the past six years, Bentley s Advancement operation has undergone a significant transformation and is well on its way to becoming a best-in-class operation. The Leadership Gifts program has been formalized over the past two years and now is comprised of four seasoned and stellar frontline gift officers. This role will be responsible for overseeing this high performing team and will be charged with the continued growth of the program. This is an ideal portfolio for someone who enjoys building data driven strategies and managing and motivating a strong development team. This role will also oversee a portfolio of high capacity alumnae. Position Overview Director of Leadership Gifts The Director of Leadership Gifts is primarily responsible for developing and growing the Leadership Gifts program by developing and growing the pool of prospects and donors to support the upcoming comprehensive campaign, and by building a program that will sustain leadership giving in the years following the close of the campaign. The Leadership Gifts team is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to ensure proper identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of leadership gift prospects capable of making gifts of at least $50,000 to Bentley. The Director will manage a collaborative program, coordinating the Leadership Gifts program with other key fundraising programs in University Advancement. BENTLEY UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 2
Essential Functions: Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, the Director will be a key member of the Development team, leading and directing a staff of Leadership Gift Officers (each carrying portfolios of 150-200 prospects) and support staff. In addition, the Director will manage a portfolio of 75-100 leadership gifts prospects. S/He will: Work with the Executive Director of Development to set revenue targets, and solicitation goals and objectives for the Leadership Gifts team that are in line with annually articulated division goals. Work with Advancement Services to refine and increase the utilization of a recently developed prospect management system. Collaborate with Prospect Research team to develop effective cultivation and solicitation plans and materials for Leadership Gift Officers. Work with the Executive Director of Development to create and implement an international fundraising strategy. Be a key member of the campaign management team, developing campaign strategies for the Leadership Gifts program. Maintain a thorough understanding of Bentley University s campaign and fundraising priorities. Develop and articulate a deep knowledge of the culture at Bentley University; its history and mission; academic, extra-curricular, and athletic programs; and its faculty, students, and administration. Understand and meet departmental standards, policies, and procedures with respect to all aspects of the position. Travel (25-30 percent) is essential. Marginal Duties: Coordinate with Annual Giving, Center for Alumni, Parents and Friends, Advancement Communications, Prospect Research, University Events, and Donor Relations teams to carry out expected strategies to meet goals. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor s degree required. BENTLEY UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 3
Candidate will have at least 10 years of development experience, including management experience, with a strong emphasis on major gifts in a capital campaign setting, preferably in an institution of higher education. Excellent interpersonal skills and strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential. A valid U.S. driver s license and the ability to travel are required. Supervisory Responsibility: Leadership Gift Officers (currently four) and co-manager of Senior Program Assistant. Bentley University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, building strength through diversity. The University is committed to building a community of talented students, faculty, and staff who reflect the diversity of global business. Persons from underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities, covered veterans, and those with diverse experiences and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Bentley strives to create a campus community that welcomes the exchange of ideas, and fosters a culture that values differences and views them as strengths in its community. Client Overview Bentley blends the breadth and technological strength of a large university with the values and student focus of a small college. Offering 24 majors and 35 minors, Bentley University shapes its academic curriculum around preparing students for the increasingly changing workforce. Students interested in business professions choose from a wide range of programs that address all functional areas, including accountancy, finance, marketing, management, and liberal arts all anchored in technology. The University s student body consists of 4,200 undergraduates and 1,000 graduate students. 16 percent of its students are international, coming from 82 countries. The student-faculty ratio is 14:1, and 78 percent of full-time faculty hold doctorate degrees. 99 percent of the Bentley class of 2016 were either hired or accepted to graduate programs within six months of graduation. BENTLEY UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 4
Bentley offers over 100 clubs and organizations; 20 percent of the student body participates in Greek Life. There are more than 20 Division I and II teams, and 2,300 students play intramurals. It boasts #1 as the NCAA Division II National Champions in Women s Basketball. Bentley University enjoys a strong position in many major rankings and lists, including U.S. News & World Report's latest edition of America's Best Colleges 2017 Bentley University is #3 in the Best Regional Universities-North category and is #48 in the Best Business Programs. Bloomberg BusinessWeek ranked Bentley #10 among the top undergraduate business programs in the nation in its 2016 issue of The Best Undergraduate Business Schools. In addition, The Princeton Review Annual College Guide named Bentley's Career Services #1 in the nation. The guide also named Bentley one of the nation s Best Colleges and Universities and one of the "Best Northeastern Schools" for 2017. Strategic Plan: In 1917, Harry Bentley transformed business education in America, introducing the sophisticated profession of accountancy, just as the financial industry was taking shape in the United States. Today, Bentley University is far bigger and more diverse than a one-room accounting school for men. It now offers 24 majors that span a broad spectrum of disciplines across business and the arts and sciences. As its educational focus has expanded, so too has Bentley s entire community, reflecting the gender, ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity of the 21st century world. At the start of its second century, the Bentley University Strategic Plan, Achieving the Business University, 2017-2019 lays out a vision that honors the legacy of its founder, Harry Bentley, while charting the exciting path forward into the University s second century. Throughout its history, Bentley has been dedicated to revolutionizing and advancing business education, with a commitment to success for its students and to excellence in education and research. This strategic plan keeps the institution on a continued path to realize those aspirations far beyond what its founders ever imagined when they first opened the doors to Bentley 100 years ago. A continued focus on education, student life, research, and foundational resources will build Bentley s brand and will position the University for increasing successes. With a recently concluded Centennial celebration BENTLEY UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 5
and objectives for the upcoming Become Best capital campaign identified, the Cabinet has put forth an extension of the strategy developed in 2013, with important updates that reflect Bentley s progress. Read more Campaign In preparation for Bentley s next century, the university is in the midst of the quiet phase of its Become Best comprehensive campaign. With an internal working goal of $100M, the focus of the campaign is to support initiatives that affirm Bentley as one of the nation s premier stand-alone business universities. For nearly 100 years, preparing tomorrow s business leaders to invest and manage funds wisely has been the thing Bentley has done best. The University is now applying that wealth of knowledge and experience to every dollar raised. The campaign s priorities are as follows: Academic Affairs: From ambitious to acclaimed. Academic excellence is the reason why Bentley exists. The most accomplished professors need to be retained. Those experts every university wants need to be recruited. Endowed chairs and thought leadership initiatives will attract the necessary professors and attention. And research support will enable faculty and students to collaborate on real-world issues, placing Bentley students on the front lines of progress and paving the way toward purposeful lives. Financial Aid: From aspiration to within reach. Today s applicants are tomorrow s alumni. And graduating tomorrow s business leaders starts with recruiting the brightest students. By increasing scholarships and reducing students need to borrow, Bentley can draw from an even deeper talent pool, including students from every socioeconomic level, culture, and background. Talented people can come from anywhere let s make sure they come to Bentley. Bentley Annual Fund: From conceivable to achievable. To become even more competitive and, more importantly, to stay that way, Bentley needs the flexibility to adapt and the foundation to endure. The Annual Fund is where all giving begins, and a stronger Annual Fund means the best of both worlds providing unrestricted funds to quickly target today s needs, and essential revenue to build on over the long haul. BENTLEY UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 6
Career Services: From the career advisor s office to the corner office. In business, the only constant is change. But thanks to a historic ability to adapt and evolve, Bentley graduates are always ready for whatever comes next. And that s the one thing that cannot be allowed to change. Students need practical experience and innovative career programs. Those programs need the latest technology. And Bentley s best young minds need mentorship from its most accomplished alumni. Because as students build their competence, confidence, and community, they ll also build Bentley s collective reputation. Center for Women and Business: From getting hired to getting ahead. Bentley s biggest advantage has always been its courage to spearhead change. And with one of the nation s only university centers dedicated to advancing women in business, Bentley s best is yet to come. Strengthening corporate outreach programs will continue to change the culture of business from the inside out. Leveraging research will uncover smarter ways of leveling the playing field. And its student leadership programs, curriculum initiatives, and visiting scholars will prepare the next generation of female executives. A culture that values performance over gender is good for women, and men. And, it s better for business. Leadership Maureen Flores Vice President for University Advancement Maureen Flores was named the Vice President for University effective July 1, 2017. She oversees all fundraising programs, alumni engagement, Career Services, Advancement Communications and The Center for Women and Business and the Office of University Events. Previously, she was the Associate Vice President for University Advancement at the university responsible for fundraising programs including Annual Giving, Leadership Gifts, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Sponsored Research and Advancement Operations. Prior to joining Bentley, Maureen served as the Director of Advancement at Landmark School in Beverly Farms, MA for 8 years. In her time there, she successfully directed and completed two capital campaigns one for a new athletic facility and a second for two new academic buildings. Earlier in her career, Maureen held increasingly senior fundraising positions at a number of higher education and health care organizations including Fordham University, Harvard University, the University of Cincinnati, and the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation. She earned a bachelor of arts in English from Fordham University in New York. BENTLEY UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 7
Betsy Whipple Executive Director of Development Betsy has more than 30 years of experience in development, having worked in cultural, social service, academic medicine and higher education institutions. She received her BA in Accounting, magna cum laude, from the University of Cincinnati, and worked as a co-op student for three years for Alexander Grant (now Grant Thornton) in their tax and audit practice. Upon graduation, she took a sharp left turn and pursued a career in performing arts and musical theater. It was through her work with an international dance company in Chicago that she discovered the field of development. Early in her development career she ran annual giving programs, corporate and foundation giving programs, government grants, and special events. Betsy started her development career as Director and Development and Finance for Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, and Executive Director for Giordano Dance Chicago. She was part of the senior management team at Children s Memorial Hospital (now Lurie Children s) in Chicago responsible for a $100M campaign in the mid-90s. At Children s, she managed a team responsible for the Corporate and Foundation major gifts program, as well as individual major gift donors. Betsy held a similar role at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago as Director of Major Gifts. After relocating to Boston, she landed at Simmons College as Executive Director for Development and Alumni Relations for the School of Management, where she reclaimed her passion for business schools. Before coming to Bentley, Betsy was at MIT s Sloan School of Management as Senior Associate Director for Leadership Giving, where she managed a staff of 11 for MIT s $5B campaign. Betsy has served as a volunteer for a variety of organizations ranging from Dance for Life Chicago, Association for Fund Raising Professionals, SMILE Mass, her church and in various strategic planning roles for Sudbury Public Schools. Background Checks: Prior to submitting your resume for this position, please read it over for accuracy. LLLS does verify academic credentials for its candidates, and our clients frequently conduct background checks prior to finalizing an offer. BENTLEY UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 8
To learn more, call Wendy Lazar, Search Director at 617-262-1102 or send nominations or cover letter and resume to wlazar@lllsearches.com. All inquiries will be held in confidence. Setting the Standard in Development Search LOIS L. LINDAUER SEARCHES, LLC 420 Boylston Street, Suite 604, Boston, MA 02116 617.262.1102 www.lllsearches.com BENTLEY UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 9