Director for Philanthropy

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

Nearly 28,000 caring professionals come together each day at UW Medicine with a singular mission: to improve the health of the public. UW Medicine encompasses a top-rated medical school, an internationally recognized research center and a renowned health system that includes Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center – Montlake, UW Medical Center – Northwest, Valley Medical Center, UW Neighborhood Clinics, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine and Airlift Northwest. In the 2021 fiscal year, UW Medicine Advancement raised $377 million in gifts and private grants (53 percent of the University of Washington’s total) from over 18,000 donors to support the mission of UW Medicine. The University of Washington completed a 10-year, multi-billion-dollar campaign in 2020, during which UW Medicine raised over $2.5 billion.

The Director for Philanthropy (Director) is responsible for securing major gifts ($50,000+) and cultivating donors who have the capacity to give at that level. The Director will work with the Senior Director for Philanthropy, Associate Vice President, Campaign, the Chief Advancement Officer, academic leaders, volunteers, and other Advancement staff to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospective donors for gifts in support of UW Medicine. The Director reports to the Senior Director for Philanthropy.

The Director will be the lead staff member generating philanthropic support for the UW Medicine Diabetes Institute and other departments and/or programs as assigned. In this capacity, the Director will have leadership responsibility for developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy to increase gift and grant support for UW Medicine. In this role, the Director will work with the head of the endocrine division, Diabetes Institute co-directors, administrators, and other academic leaders to develop fundraising strategies that support this key program.

The Director will develop annual fundraising plans and manage a comprehensive campaign strategy for the UW Medicine Diabetes Institute and other departments and/or programs as assigned.  The Director will be expected to work closely with senior UW Medicine administrative leadership, department chairs, academic leaders, faculty, and volunteers.

This position has a primary worksite at UW Medicine’s South Lake Union campus in Seattle. A hybrid work arrangement may be available. Hybrid work means that remote work may be possible for a day or more per week, depending on business need, on an ongoing basis.

Direct Fundraising Responsibilities-85%

• Develop a strategic major gifts plan for the UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, and any other assigned department, division or focus area within the context of the overall UW Medicine Advancement plan. Work with Diabetes Institute leaders, other academic leaders and advancement colleagues to develop fundraising priorities and to implement programs, if necessary, to sustain major gift ($50k+) support. Develop a pool of primarily individual, with some corporate and foundation, major gift prospective donors. Coordinate the participation of Diabetes Institute leadership, other academic leaders and faculty, as well as UW Medicine Advancement team members in major gift fundraising activity.
• Manage a portfolio of 100 to 150 major gift prospective donors (50k+) with a focus on those individuals with potential of $100,000 or more. A priority donor pool for this position will be patients.
• Collaborate with Diabetes Institute leaders, UW Medicine Advancement colleagues, faculty, and volunteers to identify and qualify new major gift prospective donors, with emphasis on securing faculty referrals of grateful patients. There are no “ready-made” prospective donor pools for assigned areas. Develop and implement a cultivation and solicitation strategy for each assigned major gift prospective donor. Record and track all activity using the University’s prospect management and tracking system. Prepare written proposals, informational materials, endowment agreements, gift illustrations, and other materials needed to secure major gifts. For each major gift donor managed, 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 to 10 strategic cultivation, solicitation, or stewardship contacts each month to major gift prospective donors that move the potential donor toward major gift commitment. Face-to-face visits are preferred, unless the prospective donor indicates otherwise.
• Develop and present 12 to 15 major gift proposals each year with a target of securing an average of $2 million+ 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.
• As needed, coordinate major gift fundraising activities with UW Medicine colleagues, and UW colleagues in Gift Planning, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Principal Gifts, Regional Gifts, etc. We place a premium on intra-team collegiality, and assignment and donor portfolios frequently overlap. The Director will demonstrate exceptional communication and collaboration skills.

Activities in Support of Direct Fundraising—15%

• Encourage department chairs, division heads and faculty to actively and productively participate in the fundraising process; faculty are very busy with responsibilities in research, teaching, and clinical care.
• Working collaboratively with diverse constituencies (faculty, staff, patients, community leaders, volunteers) with diverse goals and expectations.
• Work with UW and UW Medicine colleagues to develop special events, marketing materials, and donor relations activities to support major gift fundraising.
• Seek appropriate training opportunities, including training necessary for proficiency in the use of gift planning techniques.
• 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.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field
• At least six years of progressively responsible experience in institutional advancement, with an emphasis on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts ($50k+).
• Proven skill in developing a strategic vision and overall direction for complex advancement programs; ability to create, implement, and manage programs;
• Experience in recruiting and managing volunteers in the advancement process.
• Demonstrated ability to establish, cultivate and steward strong relationships with donors and friends to build and maintain lifelong partnerships and trust with while aligning the donor’s passions and goals with the institution.
• Intrinsically motivated and able to create innovative ideas to achieve results. Recognizes and seizes opportunities.
• Ability to develop fundraising strategies and plans that integrate into the organization’s mission, priorities and goals both independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Works to resolve conflicts and differences through dialog and open communication in a timely manner. Sees every difference as an opportunity for growth and change.
• 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, verbal and written, one-on-one and group, etc. Ability to communicate in a direct and professional manner that engages dialog in a manner that resolves differences.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships and actively contributes as a member of working teams to achieve results. 
• 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. 
• 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. 
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidences and protect confidential information; acts in a selfless manner and models ethical values of the UW.
• Values the UW’s commitment to inclusiveness. Demonstrates respect and commitment to diversity.
• Proficiency with personal computing environment, Microsoft Office Suite (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint), and the Internet. Willingness and ability to learn how to use the ADVANCE database system and other proprietary software products.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for stated requirements.
• Experience in higher education or medicine preferred.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with grateful patient fundraising.
• Advancement experience in a health care, higher education or research settings.
• At least 6 years of major and planned gift fundraising.
• Demonstrated track record overseeing management of volunteer committees or community boards.