Director of Development wanted

We’re looking for a professional Director of Development and Alumni Affairs to manage alumni interaction and fundraising to create a stable, long-term financial foundation for the Independent, under direction from the Indy’s graduate board.

Activities are expected to include:

• Working with the graduate board, developing and executing a long-term fundraising strategy aimed at building the Independent’s endowment.
• Overseeing the development and rollout of an alumni-only web site (analogous to http://post.harvard.edu) that will include private message boards, updates on alumni and opportunities for alumni involvement with the Independent.
• Creation and distribution of a quarterly email update with information about the paper and alumni news.
• Management of alumni communications, including outreach and response to requests.
• Oversight of preparation and mailing of annual solicitation.
• Together with the Independent’s alumni, engagement in one-on-one and small group solicitation of major gifts.
• Planing and executing alumni events (e.g., reunion time open house).
• Management and maintenance the alumni database.

Job parameters: Anticipated to take an average of 10-15 hours a week, fluctuating based on circumstances (e.g. reunion week will be intensive). Event-related work (rare) will involve evenings and weekends. While much of the work can be done from home, candidate must live or work within commuting distance of Cambridge. Reports to the graduate board.

This position requires a command of basic fundraising principles, an ability to work creatively and independently, and when appropriate, to collaborate with both alumni and undergraduate editors.

Required and desirable credentials

• Bachelor’s degree with at least two years’ experience in fundraising and development, preferably in an academic context.
• Demonstrated ability in writing fundraising and alumni relations materials, devising and executing cultivation and solicitation strategies, and event management.
• Excellent writing ability.
• Comfortable engaging one-on-one with potential donors.
• Facility and aptitude with email, Web, and electronic communications.
• Knowledge of or relationship with Harvard community strongly preferred.

Compensation

Annual compensation: $10-$15K, depending on experience, plus possible performance-based incentive compensation.

Application

Interested candidates should send a resume to: Steven Asher, Treasurer, Graduate Board, stevena472,at,yahoo

And feel free to pass this announcement along to anyone you think might be interested.

- S.A.

And one more thing . . .

You should shortly be getting a letter from Indy Co-Presidents Edward Chen ‘09 and Sally Rinehart ‘09 inviting alums to contribute to the Indy’s annual fund drive.  This year, the alums have been challenged by Indy founder Tom Stemberg ‘71, who will match dollar for dollar the first $19,000 raised in the fund drive.   Your contributions make it possible for the Independent to transition to a web-based revenue model while maintaining the print edition you know and presumably love.  Lots of your former colleagues, including most of the coolest ones, have contributed to past annual drives and the 35th anniversary capital campaign.

I know that lots of charities are seeking your support at this season (including another institution with “Harvard” in its name): the Independent is one where your gift can make a major difference.

– S.A.

Welcome

As part of the program to bring the Harvard Independent into the 21st century, the student editors have set up their own blog. Either to emphasize the comparative technological illiteracy of the alumni or to keep us from bothering them, they also set up one for Indy alums. Here it is.

The goal is to connect 37 years of former editors with each other and with today’s Executive Board and we hope you’ll sign up to participate. If you would like to join as an author please contact the Indy’s Publisher, Frances Martel ‘09, (fmartel,at,fas.harvard.edu), and unless she decides, after consultation with the Grad Board, that you’re an unredeemable dip, you too can join in.

We’re also setting up a roll of blogs maintained by Indy alums; if you’ve got one or you know alums that do, please let us know.

Steve Asher ‘76

PS Already I don’t like the name. Anyone got any better ideas?