Description

Job Title/Position Title:  Associate Director for Philanthropy

Company Name:  UW Medicine Advancement (University of Washington)

Institution Type: 4-year College or University/Higher Education Institution

Job Function:  Donor Relations and Stewardship; Fundraising
 

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. 

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

UW Medicine Advancement has an outstanding opportunity for an Associate Director for Philanthropy. 

At UW Medicine, we work to improve health for all people through excellence in clinical, research, and education and training programs. As the only comprehensive clinical, research and learning health system in the five-state WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) region, UW Medicine provides the most up-to-date care for each individual patient, leads one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive medical research programs, and provides innovative learning programs for students, trainees, and practitioners in the health professions. 

The passionate, 70-person team at UW Medicine Advancement works collaboratively to connect donors with meaningful opportunities to enhance patient care, expand educational opportunities and advance research at UW Medicine. This inspiring, challenging and rewarding work provides team members an opportunity to grow their careers, while making a difference in people’s lives, in our community and around the world. In the 2022 fiscal year, UW Medicine Advancement raised $284 million in gifts and private grants (46 percent of the University of Washington’s total) from nearly 14,000 donors to support the mission of UW Medicine. 

The Associate Director for Philanthropy, as part of a dynamic major gift fundraising team, focuses on securing major gifts ($25,000+), and cultivating donors at that level. The Associate Director will work with academic and hospital leaders, volunteers, and other Advancement staff to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospective donors for gifts in support of UW Medicine. 

The Associate Director reports to the Director for Philanthropy and will have assigned responsibility for oversight and coordination of major gift fundraising programs, supporting research, patient care, support for faculty initiatives, outright and endowed support, and interdisciplinary projects that span across UW Medicine including the Cancer Vaccine Institute, the Institute for Protein Design, and the Department of Dermatology.  The Associate Director may have assigned responsibility for staffing one or more volunteer committees.
 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Direct Fundraising Responsibilities:

• Develop strategic plans and identify funding opportunities for each assigned area within the context of the overall UW Medicine Advancement plan. Develop a pool of prospective donors for each assigned area and work with leadership to implement advancement programs needed to sustain major gift ($25k+) support.

• Manage a portfolio of 100 to 125 major gift prospective donors ($25k+) with a focus on those individuals with potential of $50,000 or more. Work with leadership and volunteers to identify and qualify new major gift prospective donors (may include grateful patients, faculty, emeritus faculty and alumni, staff, friends of UW Medicine, trustees, and key business and community leaders).

• Develop and implement a cultivation/solicitation strategy for each assigned major gift prospective donor; record and track activity using the UW prospect management database. Prepare written proposals, informational materials, endowment agreements, and other materials needed to secure major gifts. Develop appropriate stewardship activities within the context of the overall stewardship plan.

• Maintain a “Top 25” pool of prospective major gift donors who will be solicited in the next 12-18 month period.

• Make approximately 8-10 strategic cultivation, solicitation, or stewardship contacts each month to major gift prospective donors that move the potential donor toward major gift commitment. Until Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, donor visits will be done virtually. Seek opportunities to engage prospects, and current and lapsed donors to increase major and principal gift commitments and expand overall donor pipeline.

• Develop and present 12-20 major gift proposals each year with a target of securing an average of $500,000+ in new commitments.

• As appropriate, identify, recruit, train, and develop leadership roles for volunteers who assist with major gift fundraising activities. Staff volunteer fundraising partnerships and committees as assigned.
 

Activities in Support of Direct Fundraising:

• As needed, coordinate major gift fundraising activities with UW and UW Medicine colleagues in Gift Planning, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Principal Gifts, Regional Gifts, etc.

• Work with UW and UW Medicine colleagues to develop special events, marketing materials, and donor relations activities to support major gift fundraising.

• The Associate Director may have assigned responsibility for staffing one or more volunteer committees. Train faculty and volunteers on fundraising best practices, ensuring that all state and federal (HIPAA) privacy regulations are followed, as appropriate.

• Prepare annual operating plan and progress reports as requested.

• Complete annual performance self-assessment as key component of Annual Review.

Complete other duties as assigned.
 

POSITION COMPLEXITIES

• Developing and implementing major gift fundraising strategies for several key departments and program areas that focus on diverse and complex areas of medicine, research and patient care.

• Encouraging department chairs, hospital leadership, and faculty to actively and productively participate in the fundraising process; faculty are very busy with responsibilities in research, teaching, and clinical care.

• Identifying donors with the potential and affinity to make major gifts in each program area; there are no “ready-made” prospective donor pools for assigned areas.

• Maintaining a heavy strategic contact schedule (~10 contacts per month) while developing and managing advancement activities. Face-to-face visits with prospective major donors are preferred, unless the donor indicates otherwise.

• Develop and present 12-20 major gift proposals each year with a target of securing an average of $500,000+ in new commitments.

• Working collaboratively with diverse constituencies (faculty, staff, alumni, patients, community leaders, volunteers) with diverse goals and expectations.

• Developing a keen understanding of the assigned areas of medicine and interpreting this complex scientific and medical information for a lay audience.

• Coordinating activities within the complex environment of UW and UW Medicine.

• Ensuring that all fundraising activities with patients are compliant with state and federal (HIPAA) privacy regulations.
 

QUALIFICATIONS

• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum of four years of experience in institutional advancement, including experience managing a portfolio of major donors and leading major gift requests.

• Additional requirements:
• Ability to understand, interpret, and articulate (verbally and written) complex medical research and scientific information for multiple audiences and donors.
• Strong interpersonal skills and customer service. Poised, professional manner with the ability to express oneself clearly and empathetically in interactions with others in all forms of communications, i.e. verbal and written, one-on-one and group, etc. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships; puts the team/organizational goals above individual goals and actively contributes as a member of working teams.
• Ability to develop fundraising strategies and plans that integrate into the organization’s mission, priorities and goals both independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Demonstrated creativity, organizational ability, and strong attention to detail. Ability to make decisions in ambiguous situations, exercise good judgment based on information and analysis in a fast pace, dynamic, deadline drive environment in an organized and professional manner.
• Ability to work independently, problem solve, take initiative, set priorities and handle multiple projects efficiently and effectively. Takes responsibility and initiative to set and meet the goals, objectives and obligations while representing the mission, visions and values of the organization.
• Models the ethical values of UW, including a commitment and respect to diversity and inclusiveness and an ability to maintain confidences and protect confidential information.

• Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum requirements.

• PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Advancement experience in a health care, higher education or research settings.
• 4-5 years of major gift fundraising.

To review the full job description and apply for this opportunity, please visit this direct link or visit UW Hires at hr.uw.edu/jobs and search for requisition #222729.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST!