Associate Director of Development

The Termeer Institute is a non‑profit organization that advances innovation to bring life‑changing therapies to patients worldwide. We support and empower life science innovators through values‑driven leadership development, mentorship, and network activation—strengthening the human capabilities required to translate scientific breakthroughs into patient impact. We address a critical gap in the life sciences ecosystem— the human variable—by cultivating and connecting leadership capacity across a diverse community of innovators spanning industry and academia.

Our programming supports leaders at every stage, from emerging founders to experienced executives, and strengthens collaboration, judgment, and resilience in pursuit of solving healthcare’s greatest challenges. Learn more meerinstitute.org.

The Termeer Institute is seeking a relationship‑driven Associate Director of Development to build and lead our major donor program while strengthening core development systems and engagement strategies. Working closely with the CEO and Board, this leader will translate strong relationships and ecosystem engagement into a structured, intentional, and scalable fundraising strategy— with particular emphasis on major gifts and leadership philanthropy. The position blends strategy and execution and is ideal for someone energized by developing programs, cultivating meaningful relationships, and shaping the future of a mission‑driven organization operating at the intersection of leadership, science, and patient impact.

• Design and manage major donor strategy, including tiering, moves management and cultivation
• Steward and grow an existing donor/prospect portfolio (~125–150 relationships)
• Expand pipeline through research, referrals, and ecosystem engagement
• Partner with CEO and Board on donor outreach, cultivation, and solicitations
• Support progress toward a $2M major donor goal (FY26) and advise on FY27+ goal achievement
• Prepare CEO and Board for donor meetings and solicitations
• Activate Board members in identification, cultivation, and asks
• Develop briefing materials, talking points, and follow‑up strategies

• Develop strategy to deepen philanthropic engagement across Genzyme and Termeer alumni communities
• Work with CEO and Board to set annual fundraising goals; segment and grow annual fund and major gifts
• Partner with community champions and explore matching initiatives
• Design and manage annual giving strategy and campaigns
• Align annual giving with major donor pipeline development and retention

• Develop disciplined framework for using events as stewardship and cultivation tools
• Ensure relationship follow‑up and pipeline integration

• Strengthen CRM use, donor tracking, and moves management
• Build reporting dashboards for CEO and Board
• Improve fundraising discipline and decision‑support analytics

We seek someone who:

• Brings entrepreneurial energy and relationship‑based fundraising experience
• Is excited to build structure, not inherit it
• Demonstrates strong organization and follow‑through
• Is confident engaging senior leaders, board members, and major donors
• Is motivated by mission and values alignment
• Thrives in a collaborative, lean, high‑trust environment
• This position requires a command of successful fundraising principles with experience managing people laterally, driving timelines, and independently following through with tasks and projects
• Experience closing 5‑ and 6‑ figure asks and ability to grow into larger donations
• Has fundraising experience in a biotech or healthcare setting; specific experience with Boston area donors a plus

• Experience in and understanding of entrepreneurship and start‑up company environment in life sciences/biotechnology.
• 10+ years of industry experience with 5‑7 years of progressive fundraising development experience, track record of successful major gifts solicitations in $100,000+ donor category.
• Growth mindset, interest in working at a start‑up social good organization and a very high level of…