On this episode of the RAISE podcast, Brent connects with Diane MacGillivray, Senior Vice President for University Advancement at Northeastern University. Diane has worked in her actual office at Northeastern every day since June 1st of last year, and she explains to our listeners why she despises WFH. (Spoiler alert: she is the ultimate people-person.) Diane submitted one sole college application to Boston University, enrolled site-unseen, and she now describes herself as a Southerner by birth, a Californian by upbringing, and a New Englander by choice. Diane has worked in admissions, undergraduate advising, and advancement, so she deeply understands the entire lifecycle of an alum. On this episode, we learn about the Women Who Empower Initiative; the Young Global Leaders Program; and what it’s like working at Northeastern, an institution whose five-year, co-op experiential learning model offers a distinct value proposition in an industry where demonstrating ROI and impact to donors is the make-or-break for universities. This one is a must-listen.

About Diane

Diane MacGillivray is Senior Vice President for University Advancement at Northeastern University, where she oversaw the successful completion of the university’s largest ever campaign in 2017, which raised $1.4 billion, setting a new a university record. Under Diane’s leadership, annual fundraising has increased from an average of $20 million to an average of $85 million, including securing a gift for the first named college at the university and a $50 million donation for a second named college. Most recently, MacGillivray was instrumental in attaining two $100 million gifts to launch an advanced technology campus in Portland, Maine—one from David and Barbara Roux to create the Roux Institute and a second from the Harold Alfond Foundation to provide scholarships and other resources for its students.

MacGillivray steers a University Advancement team that works closely with the deans of Northeastern’s nine schools and colleges, as well as with athletics and the university library, to develop and execute fundraising strategies that fuel the university’s momentum. She oversees a broad range of functions including: advancement communications; advancement services; events, alumni relations; development; interdisciplinary initiatives; and special projects. After coming to Northeastern, she implemented a strategic restructuring of the fundraising operation from a centralized model to a more effective hybrid structure and oversaw the creation of new initiatives such as the parent giving program, innovative alumni engagement programs, and Women Who Empower—a university-wide scholarship and conference series.

Prior to joining Northeastern in 2007, MacGillivray was senior associate dean for Advancement in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC). There Diane directed USC’s $400 million Tradition & Innovation fundraising initiative. She also oversaw the development of its annual giving society; parents’ program; seven regional and thematic boards; and an international fundraising effort. In addition, she established endowment funding for USC’s Korean Studies Institute and Institute for Armenian Studies and led the integration of the Shoah Foundation’s fundraising operation when it moved to USC in 2005. MacGillivray holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s in 19th century British history from USC.