Smith Appoints Leading MIT Fundraiser as Vice President for Development

Beth Raffeld, a senior executive at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a 30-year career in educational fundraising, has been named vice president for development at Smith College.

Raffeld, who holds the title of executive director of philanthropic partnerships in MIT’s Resource Development department, was appointed to Smith’s top fundraising post after a national search involving trustees, faculty, and administrators. The search was led by Smith’s new president, Kathleen McCartney.

As Smith’s chief development officer, Raffeld will direct a staff of more than 60. She will oversee individual and annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, gift planning, international development and the college’s executive education program. As a member of McCartney’s cabinet, she will serve as a fundraising adviser and strategic partner to the president, board of trustees, and senior leadership, creating vision and strategy to reach the college’s philanthropic goals in support of Smith’s educational mission.

Raffeld joins Smith in the second public year of its Women for the World fundraising campaign, a central goal of which is raising $200 million to support endowed financial aid for students. Through the efforts of its volunteer and professional leadership, and the generosity of many donors, Smith has raised $227 million to date toward the $450 million campaign goal.

“I am delighted that Beth Raffeld is joining the Smith College leadership team,” McCartney said. “Beth has an extraordinary track record in development, with demonstrated experience and success in principal gifts fundraising and management. She is strategic, creative, and a strong advocate for women’s education.”

“This is a unique opportunity to work alongside an inspirational new president, and to join with the dedicated alumnae, faculty and staff in support of women’s education,” Raffeld said.

“Smith is a remarkable liberal arts college with a clear, exciting and important mission.  I am honored to work to develop new opportunities and resources while building on the college’s great traditions.”

Raffeld came to MIT in 2007. She built a principal gifts team of 25 and a program to realize philanthropic partnerships with donors around the globe, working closely with former president Susan Hockfield and current president Rafael Reif.

Prior to joining MIT, Raffeld served as senior vice president for development at Boston’s Museum of Science, dean for development at Harvard University for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and director of development and principal gifts at Williams College.

Raffeld celebrates her return to Smith, having served on Smith’s major gifts team early in her career during the administration of President Mary Maples Dunn. Raffeld and her daughter are both graduates of Mount Holyoke College. She notes that she holds a special fondness for the Pioneer Valley and looks forward to engaging in the community.

Raffeld will begin work at Smith on September 16.

Smith educates women of promise for lives of distinction. One of the largest women’s colleges in the United States, Smith enrolls 2,650 students from nearly every state and 65 other countries.