Ben Anderson came to Boston College in 2012 and has worn many hats in University Advancement, including major giving roles on both coasts, director of parent development, and executive director of capital giving. For the past three years, he has been associate vice president for principal giving, and last year he added a new title: campaign director. In this role, Ben is leading the strategy for Soaring Higher through collaborations across campus and the BC community.

How did you get into development?

BA: A few of my college friends worked at an LED lighting company, so I went to work in sales. I really enjoyed the relationship building side of it, but at the end of the day, I didn’t feel good about the work that I did; I needed more fulfillment. Both my parents started their careers as teachers, so I went to teach at a boarding school in Rhode Island. But teaching was not for me. I explored what I liked about the jobs I had: relationship building, connecting people with an organization, making a difference in people’s lives. So it became either admissions or fundraising, and I was fortunate to get a job at Skidmore College in fundraising.

All these years later, how do you do your job effectively?

BA: It’s really about getting to know people and learning what they care about. Hopefully those things align with BC’s priorities and areas of need. If there is a connection, we do our best to make a compelling case for them to make an impact at BC in a significant way.

Do BC’s donors fit that profile?

BA: We’re fortunate to have a lot of donors who ask first about the University’s needs and priorities, and those tend to be the people who are giving more out of loyalty and gratitude for what BC has done for them.

Why should donors support Soaring Higher?

BA: As a mission-driven institution, BC plays an important role in shaping future generations of leaders who will have the courage to take on the world’s issues and bring us to a better place. This takes investments across the spectrum—aid to make a BC education attainable, investment in academics to ensure these students are challenged, and facilities and resources that allow them to reach their fullest potential.