Assistant Director for Health System Philanthropy

UW Medicine Advancement has an outstanding opportunity for an Assistant Director for Health System Philanthropy.

POSITION PURPOSE

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 (52 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.

As a member of the Health System Philanthropy team, the Assistant Director for Health System Philanthropy (Assistant Director) focuses on securing gifts $25,000+ and cultivating donors who have the capacity to give at that level. The Assistant Director will work with the Director for Health System Philanthropy, health system leaders, academic leaders, volunteers, and other Advancement staff to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospective donors for gifts in support of UW Medicine.

The Assistant Director position provides strategic leadership and direction for critical and high-profile fundraising programs. It coordinates activities across UW Medicine — UW Medicine Center (Montlake and Northwest), Harborview Medical Center, , Valley Medical Center, UW Neighborhood Clinics and Airlift Northwest — and must work collaboratively with diverse constituencies with diverse goals and expectations. This position will focus mainly on fundraising for key clinical fundraising initatives for both campuses of UW Medical Center, Montlake and Northwest. US News &World Report has ranked UWMC the #1 hospital in the state of Washington for 10 years in a row and is nationally ranked in six specialties: cancer, diabetes and endocrinology; ear, nose and throat; geriatrics; gynecology and rehabilitation.

The Assistant Director reports to the Director for Health System Philanthropy.  He/she will have assigned responsibility for oversight and coordination of major gift fundraising programs in one or more health system entities, departments and/or programs, and will be expected to work closely with UW Medicine Leadership, department chairs, clinical faculty, and Volunteer Boards at the hospitals. The Assistant Director may have assigned responsibility for staffing one or more volunteer committees focused on fundraising efforts for the health system.

Direct Fundraising Responsibilities – 85%

• Develop strategic plans for each assigned department, division, and program area within the context of the overall UW Medicine Advancement plan. Work with department chairs, hospital leaders, and clinical faculty to develop funding priorities and to implement advancement programs needed to sustain major gift ($25k+) support. Develop a pool of primarily individual, with some joint responsibility for corporate and foundation, major gift prospective donors for each assigned area. Identifying prospective major gift donors is critical to success. Coordinate the participation of department chairs, hospital leaders, and clinical faculty in major gift fundraising activities.
• Manage a portfolio of 100 to 125 major gift prospective donors ($25k+) with a focus on those individuals with potential of $10,000 or more. Work with academic and hospital leadership and volunteers to identify and qualify new major gift prospective donors. Donor prospects 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 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 and planned 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 and planned 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. 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 to 20 major gift proposals each year with a target of securing an average of $300,000-$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 – 10%

• 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.
• 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 – 5%

• Bachelor’s degree and three or more years of progressively responsible experience in institutional advancement, preferably with experience in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leadership gifts, and/or working in higher education or health care advancement.
• Preferred candidates will possess full-cycle experience to develop and secure major gifts or grants and demonstrated experience creating and leading complex, collaborative prospect strategies and relationships.

• Ability to develop fundraising strategies and plans that integrate into the organization’s mission, priorities and goals both independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Shares UW’s commitment to inclusiveness. Demonstrates respect and commitment to equity and diversity.
• 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. 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; puts the team/organizational goals above individual goals and actively contributes as a member of working teams. Proven ability to work collegially and effectively with development colleagues, school and hospital administrators, and external constituencies.
• 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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with grateful patient fundraising in a comprehensive health system setting
• Advancement experience in a health care, higher education and/or research settings.
• At least 3 years of major and planned gift fundraising.