State Title: Assistant Director
Bargaining Unit: Non-Unit
Employment Type: 35 hours per week/Full-time
Salary Range: $78,000 - $90,000
NON-UNION POSITIONS: For non-unit positions, salary commensurate with experience and is accompanied by a competitive benefits package.
About TCNJ
Founded in 1855, TCNJ offers a highly personalized and collaborative liberal arts education with over 7,400 undergraduates and 700 graduate students. The college is consistently ranked among the top comprehensive colleges in the nation, offering small classes, a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, and an immersive living-learning experience. With a 4-year graduation rate ranked #1 in New Jersey and #9 among U.S. public institutions, TCNJ is a model for public higher education.
Position Overview
Reporting to the Senior Director of Principal & Major Gifts, the Assistant Director of Major Gifts will support the College’s fundraising priorities through donor engagement, prospect identification, and portfolio management. The role will support the cultivation and solicitation of major gifts, with responsibility for securing no fewer than 10 gifts of $25,000 or more annually. It will contribute to the growth of a comprehensive major gifts program by building and maintaining meaningful relationships and supporting efforts to secure philanthropic support for institutional priorities. The Assistant Director will manage a portfolio of 50–100 prospects and donors, developing and implementing individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to strengthen engagement and support long-term relationship building. The role will help move prospects through the donor cycle, with an emphasis on consistent follow-up and identifying opportunities to grow annual and mid-level donors into the major gifts pipeline. The Assistant Director will also identify, research, qualify, and develop new major gift prospects through data analysis, referrals, events, and collaboration with colleagues to strengthen the College’s pipeline of future donors. The Assistant Director will support the preparation of donor materials as needed, including proposals, briefing documents, correspondence, and gift agreements, and will help ensure accuracy and alignment with College policies and donor intent. The role will also maintain timely and accurate records in the advancement database, participate in donor meetings and events when appropriate, and stay informed on general best practices in major gift fundraising and prospect development to support overall program effectiveness.
Responsibilities
Manage a portfolio of 50-100 assigned prospects and donors, developing tailored cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies designed to deepen engagement and maximize philanthropic investment. Identify, research, qualify, and develop new major gift prospects through data analysis, referrals, events, and collaboration with colleagues. Support strategies for prospect upgrading and work with the Major Gifts team to ensure effective prospect movement from discovery through solicitation and stewardship. Partner with colleagues, including the Director of Annual Giving on the Leadership Gift Council, as appropriate.
Support the cultivation and solicitation of major gifts, with responsibility for securing no fewer than 10 gifts of $25,000 or more annually. Collaborate with College leadership, faculty, and Advancement colleagues to translate institutional priorities into donor-centered funding opportunities and advance solicitation strategies. Collaborate with College leadership, faculty, and staff to understand institutional priorities and align donor engagement strategies accordingly. Work with the Major Gifts team to coordinate prospect strategy, ensure alignment across portfolios, and support consistent progress through the donor cycle. Support the preparation of donor-facing materials, including proposals, briefing documents, correspondence, and gift agreements, ensuring alignment with donor intent and College policies. Represent the College at donor-related events, meetings, campus initiatives, prospect visits, and alumni gatherings to strengthen relationships and support cultivation and stewardship efforts.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Experience managing relationships or a portfolio of prospects, clients, or donors with demonstrated success in meeting engagement or revenue goals.
- Experience identifying prospects and opportunities, and supporting cultivation and solicitation strategies.
- Demonstrated skill and experience with independent judgment and initiative.
- Knowledge of fundraising principles and practices, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to engage diverse constituents, including alumni, donors, faculty, and institutional leaders.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, including maintaining a portfolio, meeting deadlines, and tracking progress toward fundraising goals.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear and persuasive correspondence and donor-facing materials.
- Proficiency with or ability to learn advancement databases and tools (e.g., CRM systems) for tracking donor activity, managing pipelines, and generating reports.
Preferred
- Minimum 2–4 years of experience in fundraising, development, sales, relationship management, or a closely related field preferred.
- Experience working in a higher education, nonprofit, or complex organizational environment with multiple stakeholders preferred.
Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations in order to perform the essential functions of the position. If the requested accommodation(s) cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, the applicant may not be eligible for the position.
Employer Qualifications
Employment at TCNJ is contingent upon the successful completion of an applicable background check, reference checks, and verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States (Form I-9).
Accommodation: Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview should contact [contact details available in the full listing].
Employee Benefits
As a member of The College of New Jersey Community, you will be a part of an exciting and rewarding public college career. Eligible full-time employees will be able to take advantage of a generous benefits package that includes health, welfare, and retirement benefits, including:
- Comprehensive benefit plans covering medical, dental and prescription plans
- Generous leave entitlements program and Energy Savings Program
- Employee and dependent Tuition Waiver and Reimbursement Program
- Pension, retirement, and deferred compensation plans, group life insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Employee affinity groups
- New Jersey State Employee Discount Program (Pet insurance, cell phone plan discounts, discounted amusement park tickets, etc.)
- Access to extensive learning opportunities
To view a comprehensive list of benefits available to employees, visit our Health Benefits Plans and Programs page to learn more!
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should apply online and submit a letter of interest, resume (CV), as well as the names and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be considered until a viable finalist has been found.
The College is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus community that respects and uplifts individuals from all backgrounds. We value the varied perspectives, experiences, and talents of all members of our community and strive to create an environment where everyone has equitable access to opportunities for success. As an equal opportunity employer, we comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. We encourage applications from individuals whose lived experiences and professional interests align with our institutional mission of academic excellence, access, and integrity.
Primary Location: Green Hall - Devel. & Alumni Engagement
Work Locations: Green Hall - Devel. & Alumni Engagement
2000 Pennington Rd
Ewing Township, 08628
Job: Staff
Organization: The College of New Jersey
Job Posting: Aug 25, 2026, 9:46:26 AM
