University fundraising salary

[Anonymous]

Anyone know how university fundraising pays as a career? Mid level salary? Senior level? Top tier universities and elite law and MBA programs.

Is it pure salary or do they get a commission or some sort of bonus reflecting how much they bring in (or is that too mercenary for academia?)

[Anonymous]

For public universities this is all available online.

My university (major university) did not give bonuses to anyone. Football coach was highest paid person (but I don't think that is unusual).

Here is a list of top salaries at NYU. Development officer makes the list at 500+.

[Anonymous]

http://nyulocal.com/on-campus/2013/03/14/what-nyu-pays-its-top-earners-and-what-most-of-your-professors-make/

[Anonymous]

At my elite institution there are no bonuses, but you are likely to get a significantly higher annual adjustment for large gifts. And of course if you are good at fundraising you will be promoted quickly. Fundraising is competitive - they are the best salespeople around - they get you to give up your money for "nothing"! So people jump around a lot. You are looking at anywhere from low 70's to mid 150 for this role at my institution (top MBA program). We are low for our peers. A very senior person would be somewhat higher. Although it is a good salary with excellent benefits on the higher end, there is an extraordinary amount of travel and pressure.

[Anonymous]

At the B1G school I worked at in the midwest, most of the major gift officers made between $110-$160k. Annual giving and stewardship officers made less. Law/Business/Med usually made more than, say, the gift officer for the library or ed school. There was no "commission," but if you brought in high dollar gifts, you would be more likely to be promoted or end up at law/bus/med. The benefits and leave policy was amazing. Many of the positions required a lot of travel and were stressful. At the end of the day, it is a sales job...a rewarding sales job, but a sales job.

[Anonymous]

Small LACs probably pay more in the 75k-100k range for mid to senior positions. Cost of living often lower of course in places like Amherst, Northfield, Middlebury, etc.so those salaries probably aren't bad.

[Anonymous]

A relative of mine does this at an Ivy for the undergrad program and makes about $80 as a mid-level person. I would think law/med/biz schools are higher. Great benefits.

[Anonymous]

At Maryland a junior/entry level would be about $70-85K; major gift officer/assistant director would be $86-$100ish; director level and up $110 or so...assistant dean-AVP level would be $150s and up (and up).

No, you don't necessarily get bonuses/percentages of "big gets." But it can help you get promoted.

LOTS of turnover/moving for these types of jobs. MD recently got an influx of Penn Staters, other Big 10s like Indiana, etc., especially at the senior level.