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Posted: 22-May-26
Location: Clinton, New York
Categories:
Internal Number: JR100189
Job Description:
Position Summary
The Director of Principal Gift Engagement and Stewardship is a strategic leader within the Office of Advancement, responsible for shaping and advancing the College's most significant philanthropic relationships.
As the College enters its largest and most ambitious capital campaign, this role will partner with gift officers to drive execution and follow-up for engagement, solicitation, and stewardship activities of a select portfolio of principal gift prospects (typically $2.5M+). Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, the Director partners closely with the President, senior leadership, and gift officers to translate donor insight into clear, actionable tactics that align established strategies with a goal to unlock transformational gifts.
Hamilton College is known for its close faculty-student relationships, open curriculum, intellectual rigor, and a deeply loyal alumni community. This role ensures that the institution's most important donors experience the College in highly personal and meaningful ways. It provides a rare opportunity to help shape and deliver principal gift strategy at a defining moment for the College. The successful candidate will operate at the highest levels of the institution—partnering with leadership, engaging exceptional donors, and helping to secure the transformational philanthropy that will define the College's future. Some travel required. Remote work will be considered for candidates within a reasonable commuting distance to campus.
Responsibilities
Principal Gift Strategy & Pipeline Leadership
In partnership with gift officers, design tactics that operationalize strategy for up to 100 top prospects, inspiring engagement with and enthusiasm for campaign priorities
Identify and present opportunities to bring to life the impact a donor has had related to college priorities
Identify and address pipeline gaps to advance prospects toward solicitation and closure
Executive Engagement & Strategic Support
Prepare high-level briefing materials with a focus on strategic recommendations for the President and senior staff
Oversee Presidential gift acknowledgements, ensuring personalized, thoughtful, and timely communications
Manage strategy for Presidential and senior staff travel, prioritizing high-impact donor engagement
Bespoke Stewardship & Donor Experience
Design and execute individualized, narrative-driven stewardship strategies for the College's top donors
Conceptualize and lead small-group and individual cultivation experiences—on and off campus—featuring the President, faculty, trustees, students and alumni
Partner across Advancement and supervise one staff member to deliver seamless, high-touch engagement
Provide responsive, discreet, and professional service to the College's most significant donors
Collaboration & Operational Excellence
Work collaboratively across Advancement, and with campus partners, to ensure coordinated donor engagement
Strengthen processes and best practices related to principal gift strategy, stewardship, and campaign execution
Perform other duties as assigned
Education & Experience
Bachelor's degree required.
8+ years of experience in advancement, with a focus on principal or major gifts strategy and stewardship
Demonstrated success supporting or advancing gifts at the $1M+ level
Experience partnering with senior leaders and preparing high-level briefings and communications
Preferred
Experience in a comprehensive capital campaign
Background in a liberal arts college or similarly relationship-driven institution
Experience designing bespoke donor experiences and managing complex, cross-functional initiatives
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
Exceptional writing and communication skills
Demonstrated strategic thinking ability
Project management skills
Sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to operate effectively in a highly relational, mission-driven environment
Compensation Range:
$100,000 - $120,000
EEO Policy:
Hamilton College is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an accessible, supportive environment and an educational experience that recognizes a wide array of experiences, backgrounds and viewpoints as integral components of academic excellence. Candidates who can contribute to those goals are encouraged to apply and identify their strengths in these areas.
Benefits:
For Benefits Information, please navigate to the following link:
Employment - Work at Hamilton - Hamilton College
