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, 77-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 2023 fiscal year, UW Medicine Advancement raised $268 million in gifts and private grants (43 percent of the University of Washington’s total) from over 16,000 donors to support the mission of UW Medicine. You can find out more about UW Medicine Advancement’s priorities and office culture on our career website: https://give.uwmedicine.org/careers/
The UW Medicine Advancement team has an exciting opportunity for a major gifts fundraiser to work within the Corporate & Foundation Relations team. The Assistant Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) will work with the Director for CFR and other Advancement leadership and staff, as well as with academic leaders and volunteers, to cultivate, solicit and steward organizations (foundations, corporations, associations and other types of organizations). This role may also include work with individual donors.
The Assistant Director will secure gifts and grants primarily from private organizations for clinical, translational and basic research as well as the educational and health systems at UW Medicine. The Assistant Director serves as a strategist and resource for corporate and foundation fundraising and will manage a portfolio of major gift/grant level prospects. The portfolio may include a number of individual giving prospects as well as organizational prospects.
The Assistant Director will be expected to work closely with faculty, staff, alumni, and volunteers to develop and advance departmental fundraising priorities. While the Assistant Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations will work with both individual and organizational prospects, the position is part of a team that focuses primarily on developing organizational support for gifts and grants across all of UW Medicine and will help to support the qualification, cultivation and stewardship of key corporate and foundation major gift or grant prospects. Given the exceptional faculty at UW Medicine, this is an incredible opportunity to create meaningful partnerships with local, regional, national, and international organizations.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct Fundraising Responsibilities—80%
The Assistant Director is responsible for securing, sustaining and enhancing strategic partnerships and philanthropic relationships with corporate and foundation partners as well as individual giving prospects. Task may include but not be limited to:
- Identifying strategic opportunities and establishing priorities with faculty partners. Helping coordinate the participation of department chairs and clinical faculty in major gift fundraising activities.
- Developing a pool of prospective donors for each assigned area. Identifying prospective major gift or grant donors is critical to success.
- Building relationships with corporate and foundation leaders capable of providing long-term support for UW Medicine. This includes hosting meetings and site visits with business leaders and faculty.
- Developing, reviewing and refining proposals and other materials, including letters of inquiry, reports, and briefings, to enhance private gift or grant support for UW Medicine’s priority initiatives.
- Providing innovative stewardship and engagement opportunities for UW Medicine donors, ensuring that all gift and grant guidelines and compliance requirements are met.
- Assist with the development of competitive program and project ideas, particularly ‘big ideas’ that cross multiple departments and campaign priority areas.
- Managing a portfolio of 75-125 major gift or grant prospects — emphasizing prospects with capacity of $25,000 and greater.
- Maintain a “Top 25” pool of prospective major gift donors who will be solicited in the next 12-18 month period.
- As needed, traveling to meet with donors to represent UW Medicine for the purpose of cultivating new prospects, presenting proposals and stewarding existing relationships. Assisting with the planning of travel for Advancement and academic leaders as well as faculty members by helping to secure appointments and overseeing the preparation of briefing materials.
- As needed, coordinating fundraising activities with UW Medicine colleagues and with UW colleagues in Gift Planning, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Principal Gifts, Regional Gifts, etc.
- Recording and tracking all activity using the University’s prospect-management and tracking system. Submitting written strategy reports on a minimum of 75% of prospects and donors in portfolio, and logging a minimum of 100 substantive contacts with organization representatives and donors.
Activities in Support of Direct Fundraising—20%
- Seeking appropriate training and professional development opportunities. As needed, providing training to faculty, staff and volunteers in fundraising best practices, ensuring that fundraising activity is compliant with University policies.
- Preparing an annual work plan and progress reports as requested. Participating in evaluating progress toward goals by completing an annual performance self-assessment.
- Assuming management of special projects as assigned by the Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations. Participating in team meetings and coordinating with fundraisers across UW Medicine and the University.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree and three or more years of progressively responsible experience in institutional advancement, preferably with experience in corporate and foundation relations, higher education or health care.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Values the UW’s commitment to inclusiveness and UW Medicine’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization. Demonstrates respect and commitment to diversity.
- Preferred candidates will possess demonstrated skill in grant writing; developing plans, proposals and other written materials for advancement programs; implementing progressive strategies to forge strong relationships with corporate and foundation partners (moves management); and experience with organizational prospect research.
- Preferred candidates will possess experience with developing and securing major gifts or grants ($50,000+) 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.
- Ability to work independently, problem solve, take initiative, set priorities and handle multiple projects efficiently and effectively, while representing the mission, visions and values of the organization. Demonstrate creativity, organizational ability, strong attention to detail and ability to make decisions in ambiguous situations.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships; puts the team and organizational goals above individual goals, actively contributes as a member of working teams and manages strong collaborative partnerships with diverse colleagues.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain confidences and protect confidential information; acts in a selfless manner and model ethical values of the UW.
- Proficiency working with relational databases and Microsoft Office.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- At least 3 years Advancement experience; health care, medical research and/or higher education setting is preferred.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- This individual will attend meetings, visit donors and be responsible for events outside the regular business day on a regular basis. Some evening and weekend work is required.
- Must have regular and reliable transportation for local travel and willing to travel as necessary.
- Periodic national travel is expected.