Founded in 1957, the Division of Institutional Engagement at RISD includes a development team of frontline fundraisers, a campaign planning and strategy team responsible for implementing programming and communications, an alumni relations team that engages alumni and families, and an advancement operations team responsible for data integrity and technology.

Mission

The Division of Institutional Engagement advances RISD’s mission by strategically fostering lifelong relationships with alumni, parents, friends and organizations to strengthen goodwill and philanthropy.

Vision

Our vision is to ensure that any person or organization who engages with RISD becomes an advocate and donor.

Values

The RISD Strategic Plan has identified the following core community values:

• Creative thinking and making
• Rigorous immersion and serious practice
• Engaged curiosity and experimentation
• Respect and inclusion

In addition, the Division of Institutional Engagement has identified the following complementary values:

• Agility
• Collaboration
• Generosity
• Integrity
• Intentionality

Division of Institutional Engagement Goal: Be the BEST

• Build an organization and campaign that position philanthropy as a vital revenue stream for the college and museum
• Create sustainable opportunities to Engage alumni, parents, friends, students, staff and donors in support of the priorities of the college and museum
• Invest in staff, systems and processes that support a long-term performance-based high-achieving culture, essential to the Success of the institution
• Create an IE communications organization to Tell the impact of philanthropy on the college and museum, inspiring pride and advocacy

STAFF

Staff Directory

O’Neil A.S. Outar | Vice President

O’Neil A.S. Outar joined RISD’s leadership team in January 2018, bringing more than 20 years of fundraising and leadership experience from some of the world’s leading public and private research universities. He began his career at Tufts University, where he served as director of the Fund for Arts, Sciences and Engineering during the University’s $609 million “Tufts Tomorrow” campaign. From there, Outar held several ascending leadership roles at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, leading the work that secured some of MIT’s largest-ever donations.

Following MIT, Outar held fundraising positions at the University of Alberta and Harvard University, where he led the $2.5 billion “Campaign for Arts and Sciences.” Most recently he served as interim vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement at the University of Pittsburgh.

Currently a special adviser to The Guyana Foundation and a board director at Project Citizenship, Outar was a trustee on the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, a Commonwealth Study conference leader, a member of the Word Economic Forum’s Knowledge Advisory Group and an MIT Leader-to-Leader Fellow. A first-generation college student, he was born in New Amsterdam, Guyana and is named in honor of his father’s favorite Australian cricketer, Norman O’Neill.

The Office of Institutional Engagement has several exciting career opportunities to join our team. We currently have the following positions open:

Executive Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations

The Executive Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations will lead a comprehensive program engaging corporate and foundation prospective donors. S/He will actively establish long-term relationships and strengthen existing relationships with the corporate and foundation community that will result in funding for institutional priorities and initiatives that support student and faculty development. Read more about this position.

Executive Director, RISD Fund

The Executive Director, RISD Fund will develop and implement a comprehensive multi-year, multi-channel strategy for solicitation and stewardship of RISD Fund donors. S/He will also hire, train, supervise and evaluate professional staff and oversee the selection, management and evaluation of any RISD Fund service providers. Read more about this position.

Director of Prospect Management and Analytics

The Director of Prospect Management and Analytics leads the prospect development program, identifies and qualifies new major and planned gift prospective donors, provides strategic analysis for donor development and employs statistics and data visualization to communicate information.
Read more about this position

Senior Philanthropy Officer

The Senior Philanthropy Officer employs sophisticated relationship skills to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of 150 high-potential prospects and donors, including conducting 150 personal visits annually. In addition, this individual directs the recruitment, staffing and stewardship of groups of volunteer committees possessing major gift giving potential that cultivate support for RISD. Read more about this position.


Philanthropy Officer

The Philanthropy Officer will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding new and existing donors. S/He will also direct the recruitment, staffing, and stewardship of groups of volunteer committees, possessing major gift giving potential. Read more about this position.

Associate Director, Institutional Engagement Communications

This position creates and implements strategic communications to advance Institutional Engagement’s work to foster lifelong relationships with alumni, parents, friends, donors, and organizations to strengthen goodwill and philanthropy. Under the direction of the Executive Director of Campaign Planning and Strategies, the Associate Director undertakes communications research to understand stakeholder needs, build impactful messaging and develop and implement a responsive, multi-channel communications plan. This position oversees the development of high quality, innovative and engaging print and electronic fundraising communications platforms for both internal and external audiences. Read more about this position.

Development Associate, Campaign Planning & Strategy

The Development Associate will provide support for the Campaign Planning and Strategy department including, Events, Donor Relations and Communications within the Division of Institutional Engagement. This Development Associate is responsible for providing proactive administrative support to the Executive Director, Campaign Planning & Strategy, maintaining accurate CRM data and reporting; providing logistical support for events, stewardship and communications; and, liaising with and between key internal and external constituents to help foster and build relationships. Read more about this position.

Development Associate, Development

The Development Associate is responsible for providing proactive administrative support to the Senior Executive Director of Development, coordinating internal meetings, preparation, travel logistics and follow up for external visits and meetings. This Development Associate will maintain accurate CRM data and reporting; providing logistical support for events, stewardship and communications; and, liaising with and between key internal and external constituents to help foster and build relationships. This position will also provide support to members of the Individual Giving team. Read more about this position.

TELEPHONE

toll-free: 844 454-1877
phone: 401 454-6403
fax: 401 454-6802
[email protected]

Mailing Address

Institutional Engagement
Rhode Island School of Design
Two College Street
Providence, RI 02903

Office address

123 Dyer Street, floor 4
Providence, RI 02903

Staff Directory