Director of Development

About NECO

Founded in 1894 the New England College of Optometry (NECO) is the oldest continuously operating school of optometry in the United States and a national leader in the education and preparation of tomorrows eye care providers. As one of only three independent private nonprofit colleges of optometry NECO is uniquely positioned to innovate respond quickly to the evolving needs of the profession and shape the future of vision health.

With approximately 520 students a $32M operating budget a $75M endowment state-of-the-art clinical training facilities and deep community and industry partnerships NECO continues to advance its mission through excellence in education clinical care and research. To learn more visit .

The Opportunity

NECO seeks an experienced hands-on collaborative and strategic Director of Development to build elevate and lead NECOs fundraising initiatives. This leader will have broad responsibility for designing the strategic direction foundational systems and operational infrastructure needed to build a sustainable high-performing fundraising program. Core areas of responsibility include:

• Development (annual leadership major principal and planned giving)
• Corporate and foundation relations
• Alumni engagement and event management
• Donor relations and stewardship
• Advancement operations and data systems
• Advancement communications and marketing
• Comprehensive campaign planning and execution

NECO is preparing to launch its first comprehensive capital campaign in 2026 a transformative five-year $10M initiative to secure institutional priorities strengthen NECOs national reputation and expand its impact. The feasibility study portion has been completed and NECO is beginning its silent phase of the capital campaign with $1.6M raised/committed to date (as of December 31 2025) for the campaign.

Philanthropic revenue has stabilized to approximately $1M annually over the last two years with the expectation of increasing this to $1.5M to $2M annually. The next Director of Development will be charged with building on this momentum and laying the durable foundation - strategy staffing systems pipelines stewardship and culture - needed to grow philanthropy to $2M annually during and after the campaign.

Serving as NECOs chief fundraising strategist this leader will architect a long-term advancement plan aligned with the Colleges strategic priorities and will work in close partnership with the President Presidents Leadership Team Board of Trustees Alumni Board Director of Marketing VP of Professional Affairs faculty leaders corporate partners and external stakeholders. This is a rare opportunity to shape the trajectory of a historic mission-driven institution as it enters a new era of transformation aspiration and philanthropic growth.

This position reports directly to the Executive Vice President and COO.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Advancement Leadership

• Develop and implement a multi-year fundraising strategy focused on building a sustainable and scalable fundraising program.
• Lead the creation of a comprehensive campaign plan including campaign readiness case development volunteer recruitment pipeline development and long-term philanthropic strategy.
• Create and lead an internal Campaign Steering Committee and external Campaign Leadership Committee ensuring clear strategy management accountability and volunteer engagement.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President and Board of Trustees providing insights on philanthropic trends donor behavior campaign performance and emerging opportunities.
• Foster a college-wide culture of philanthropy educating and partnering with faculty staff students and senior leaders to strengthen engagement and impact.

Major Principal & Planned Gifts

• Manage a personal portfolio of 75 100 high-capacity prospects including alumni trustees corporate leaders and foundation partners. Conduct 80 face-to-face or Zoom annual visits with prospects.
• Design and execute individualized strategies for major principal and planned gift prospects securing commitments ranging from $10000 to $1M.
• Establish metrics systems and accountability structures for donor engagement and revenue growth across the advancement team.
• Collaborate with academic and clinical leaders to develop compelling philanthropic priorities and giving opportunities.

Stewardship & Donor Relations

• Build and oversee a best-in-class stewardship and donor relations program that deepens donor engagement increases retention and meaningfully recognizes generosity.
• Create individualized stewardship strategies for major and principal donors ensuring timely reporting of impact personalized communications and meaningful ongoing engagement.
• Partner with faculty clinical leaders and students to create donor impact stories that illustrate the transformative effect of philanthropy at NECO.
• Oversee and enhance all donor recognition programs including giving societies endowed fund stewardship scholarship reporting donor honor rolls and special recognition opportunities.
• Ensure that every donor at every level receives thoughtful timely and accurate acknowledgment and appreciation.
• Develop stewardship communications in partnership with Marketing & Communications including digital content impact reports and campaign stewardship collateral.
• Establish stewardship metrics and performance indicators that align with NECOs broader advancement strategy.

Organizational & Team Leadership

• Lead mentor and inspire a high-performing advancement team including an Assistant Director Program Specialist and a part-time Alumni Liaison.
• Build capacity by hiring coaching and developing staff with an emphasis on collaboration accountability innovation and data-driven decision making.
• Oversee annual budgeting resource allocation workflow optimization and planning necessary to support campaign and institutional priorities.
• Advance professional development goal-setting and performance evaluation practices across the team.

Alumni & Constituent Engagement

• Reimagine strengthen and expand NECOs alumni relations program to increase alumni pride connection involvement and philanthropy.
• Partner with the Alumni Board to deepen alumni volunteer leadership and advance engagement strategies aligned with institutional priorities.
• Oversee the planning and execution of signature alumni events including reunion regional gatherings industry conference receptions and studentalumni initiatives.
• Ensure alignment and collaboration between alumni engagement development and student services.

Corporate Industry and Foundation Relations

• Collaborate with the VP of Professional Affairs to deepen NECOs long-established relationships with industry partners while proactively cultivating new corporate and foundation prospects to support research clinics scholarships pipeline programs and strategic institutional priorities.
• Lead the strategy development and submission of high-quality proposals grant applications and sponsorship packages to corporations foundations and other organizations ensuring alignment with funder interests and NECOs mission and goals.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of corporate and foundation funding from prospect identification and cultivation through proposal development award management reporting and renewal building a sustainable portfolio of institutional supporters.
• Coordinate and guide industry and foundation engagement across academic clinical and administrative units to ensure consistency of messaging avoid duplication of outreach and maximize philanthropic and strategic outcomes.
• Partner with faculty institutional leaders and program directors to identify compelling funding opportunities translate academic and clinical priorities into strong cases for support and develop budgets and narratives that meet sponsor requirements.

Advancement Operations & Communications

• Oversee a high-functioning advancement services operation including gift processing database management (Little Green Light) prospect research donor analytics reporting and compliance.
• Ensure data integrity strong fiscal oversight and seamless collaboration with the Business Office for gift reconciliation and fiscal reporting.
• Partner with Marketing & Communications to develop compelling philanthropic messaging donor impact communications digital engagement strategies and campaign branding.
• Provide regular updates and reports to the Board of Trustees Presidents Leadership Team and other key stakeholders on fundraising progress trends and performance metrics.

Qualifications

• 10 years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising including major/principal gift work and campaign leadership.
• Proven success in designing and managing comprehensive campaigns from silent phase through public launch and completion.
• Demonstrated success building and leading high-performing teams.
• A strong track record of securing major principal and planned gifts.
• Experience working with volunteer leaders boards and senior academic or clinical leadership.
• Sophisticated understanding and experience of the fundraising enterprisefrom pipeline development to stewardship and operationswith experience in higher education or healthcare strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with higher education healthcare or medical education environments is strongly preferred.
• Bachelors degree required; masters degree preferred.
• Ability to work nights and weekends as needed as well as occasional overnight-travel.

Leadership Strengths

• A strategic and systems-oriented thinker with the ability to build fundraising infrastructure from the ground up.
• A collaborative relationship-centered leader who thrives in a mission-driven environment.
• A team builder who fosters a culture of transparency creativity accountability and continuous improvement.
• A catalyst for philanthropy who inspires trust and confidence among donors alumni faculty and staff.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills able to articulate NECOs mission and impact with clarity and authenticity.
• Strong planning analytical leadership and organizational abilities.
• Diplomacy discretion and professionalism in all interactions with donors and stakeholders.
• An aptitude for creative and innovative-driven solutions to advancement.
• A commitment to data-informed decision making and operational excellence.
• The ability to influence and effect positive change in a matrixed operation.

Salary Range: $130000 to $150000 annually

NECO is an Equal Opportunity employer and encourages all qualified candidates to apply.

New England College of Optometry offers a robust benefits program including:

• 3 plan options for BCBS medical coverage (employer subsidized at 75% or greater)
• Mental Health and Wellness benefits
• BCBS Dental
• Discounted vision services
• 13 paid holidays and generous paid time off for sick vacation and personal days
• Employer-paid life insurance and short-term and long-term disability
• Voluntary Insurance: life critical illness hospital indemnity accident
• Voluntary Benefits: employee discounts and pet insurance
• 9% employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan after 1 year of service with no vesting schedule or match requirement
• Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employer