Executive Director of Advancement - School of Medicine

The School of Medicine at The University of Missouri is searching for an Executive Director of Advancement. This senior leader oversees all fundraising efforts through a partnership with the Dean and MU Advancement, reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Systems Advancement.

The University of Missouri School of Medicine (also called University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine or MU School of Medicine) is located in the southern part of the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, Missouri. It was the first publicly supported medical school west of the Mississippi River and was established in 1872. The campus is located in the South portion of campus, along with the University Hospital, Mizzou Biojoint Center, and Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, among other members of the MU Health System. A new $42.5 million Patient-Centered Care Learning Center opened in Columbia in 2017.

A second campus, known as the Springfield Clinical Campus, was opened June 13, 2016, in partnership with CoxHealth and Mercy Health systems. Eight to twelve MU medical students complete their last two years of training at the Springfield campus.

Specific Duties include, but are not limited to:
• Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and inspiration to an Advancement team of major-gift fundraisers; alumni professionals and administrative teams to accomplish and exceed goals set for the School of Medicine
• Ensure the School of Medicine Advancement work environment supports the School of Medicine’s commitment to inclusive excellence
• Strategize fundraising efforts within the School in conjunction with the Dean, Department Chairs, and MU Advancement
• Identify prospective individual and corporate/foundation donors in partnership with CFR leadership
• Responsible for leading the Advancement strategic planning, priority review for the School as related to all fundraising activities and Alumni Affairs
• Lead the execution of a strategic fundraising plan and programs, consistent with the School’s overall strategic plan and mission.
• Meet regularly with Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean to discuss strategies for top priorities and prospects and to gain support for positional leadership efforts
• Partner with leadership, department heads, faculty and key leaders to assist with prospect strategy efforts that align with the strategic vision and goals for the School to maximize philanthropic success.
• Develop, implement, and manage an annual advancement plan for the School with specific goals, strategies and inclusive of all programs, including major/principal gifts, annual giving, planned giving, regional/national, corporate and foundation relations in partnership and with support from program leaders
• Personally manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, developing and implementing cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Manage an individual portfolio of major-gift and principal level donors, make substantive contact and present proposals
• Identify donor prospects with a strong sphere of influence and affluence resulting in major leadership gifts ($ 50k and above) and principal gifts ($1M and above)
• Actively engage in campus prospect management efforts in conjunction with leadership
• Serves as the point for all Alumni activity within the School, in partnership and through direction of the Director
• Oversee external relations within the School including fundraising/alumni activities and public relations that drive the School’s advancement and the MU Advancement division’s branding efforts
• Serve as the primary School liaison with MU Advancement.

Yearly Goals/Metrics:
• Raise $2 Million+
• 10-15 Major Gift Proposals Presented
• 6-10 Major Gift Proposals Closed
• $110+ Substantive Email/Letter/Phone
• 90-115 Substantive Visits
• 12-25 Evaluation Visits

Posting Title:
Executive Director of Advancement – School of Medicine

Work Hours:
(expected/anticipated) M-F 8am-5pm, various travel, and can include irregular working hours and some travel as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 10 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A minimum of 10 years of professional fundraising experience with a focus on major giving and demonstrated ability to develop and implement $100,000+ gift strategies.
• Track record of success in a capital campaign of similar scope at a similar size higher education institution.
• Experience collaborating with senior leadership to advance a high-level philanthropy program, earning trust and holding respect, motivating towards greater engagement.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including planning and critical evaluation of an initiative, designing metrics to monitor performance, and motivating a team to achieve goals
• Excellent communication skills, including superior verbal and written communication.
• Outstanding analytical and organizational skills, including a demonstrable ability to deliver progress reports and effective data in a timely, accurate manner.
• A team player with an ability to motivate and manage others.
• Fluency with donor database software.
• Must maintain valid driver’s license and wireless service in order to carry out responsibilities associated with this position.

Compensation starts at $115K

Founded in 1839, the University of Missouri is the oldest public university west of the Mississippi River. MU provides all the benefits of two universities in one: It is a major land-grant institution with a statewide mission of service to citizens, as well as, Missouri's largest public research university. Considered one of the nation's top-tier institutions, Mizzou is one of only 34 public universities, and the only public institution in Missouri, to be selected for membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities.

Mizzou Advancement emphasizes talent acquisition and professional development in service to our overall mission of enhancing private support of the University of Missouri. As a result, the division continues to attract top talent from around the country. Comprising 180 staff members with a presence across the United States and around the world, Mizzou Advancement announced the $1.3 billion Mizzou: Our Time to Lead campaign in October 2015. At its conclusion in 2020, it was the most successful philanthropic campaign in the University's history, at over $1.4 billion.

At Mizzou Advancement, we celebrate our diverse community of donors, alumni, staff, and friends. We are committed to taking bold steps to create an inclusive culture where everyone is seen, heard, and valued. Our team is continually learning and growing on our journey to embed diversity and inclusion in everything we do. We believe that diversity of views, informed by a breadth of life experiences, help us to understand our humanity more deeply and improve our service to mankind. Our efforts to be inclusive must be intentional and thoughtful, so that we might realize the full benefit of the diversity we seek to build within Advancement. Together we are stronger. Together we are better. Together we are Mizzou Advancement.