Director of Leadership Giving and Philanthropic Partnerships- AZ- Development and Alumni Relations

Summary

Midwestern University seeks a dynamic, innovative, and results-oriented advancement professional to serve as Director of Leadership Giving, Annual Giving, Stewardship and Philanthropic Partnerships. Reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement, this position is responsible for developing and executing revenue-generating philanthropic programs that strengthen donor engagement, expand donor participation, and build sustainable support for the University.

Midwestern University seeks a dynamic, innovative, and results-oriented advancement professional to serve as Director of Leadership Giving, Annual Giving, Stewardship and Philanthropic Partnerships. Reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement, this position is responsible for developing and executing revenue-generating philanthropic programs that strengthen donor engagement, expand donor participation, and build sustainable support for the University.

The Director leads leadership giving, annual giving, donor stewardship and recognition programs, donor societies, alumni engagement initiatives, philanthropic partnerships, and foundational planned giving efforts. The position serves as a key driver of donor acquisition, retention, and pipeline development while creating meaningful opportunities that connect alumni, grateful patients, faculty, staff, parents, friends, corporations, foundations, and community leaders to Midwestern University's mission.

The Director is responsible for developing and managing a year-round fundraising and engagement strategy, including Giving Day, Giving Tuesday, year-end campaigns, leadership giving initiatives, stewardship programs, and other fundraising activities designed to strengthen participation and philanthropic support.

The position is accountable for achieving annual fundraising and participation goals and is expected to contribute at least $1 million annually in philanthropic revenue through leadership giving, annual giving programs, philanthropic partnerships, sponsor ships, stewardship initiatives, and related fundraising activities.

• Develop and execute comprehensive leadership and annual giving strategies that increase donor participation, philanthropic revenue, retention, and pipeline growth.
• Establish and grow a Leadership Giving Program and Presidential Society that recognize philanthropic leadership, strengthen donor engagement, and create pathways to major and planned giving.
• Design donor engagement strategies that move supporters through the philanthropic continuum from annual donor to leadership donor, major gift prospect, and long-term institutional partner.
• Manage annual fundraising goals, performance metrics, and revenue objectives related to leadership giving, annual giving, stewardship, partnerships, and donor engagement.
• Develop strategies to identify, qualify, and transition leadership giving donors with major gift potential to the Major Gifts team.
• Maintain a selective portfolio of leadership giving, corporate, foundation, and partnership prospects and personally cultivate, solicit, and steward donors as appropriate.
• Partner with University leadership, deans, faculty, clinicians, and advancement colleagues to advance fundraising priorities and donor engagement opportunities.
• Utilize data, analytics, and emerging technologies to strengthen fundraising performance, donor engagement, and pipeline development.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive annual fundraising calendar that drives participation, revenue growth, donor retention, and donor acquisition.
• Lead the planning and execution of key fundraising initiatives, including Giving Day, Giving Tuesday, year-end giving campaigns, leadership giving initiatives, reunion giving programs, and faculty and staff campaigns.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to create integrated fundraising campaigns utilizing digital, print, social media, video, email, direct mail, and emerging communication
• Develop compelling fundraising themes, donor stories, stewardship communications, and impact messaging that inspire philanthropic support.
• Establish campaign goals, benchmarks, and performance metrics and implement continuous improvement strategies based on results.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy by engaging academic and administrative leaders as active partners in fundraising and stewardship efforts.

• Lead a comprehensive donor stewardship and recognition program that demonstrates impact, builds trust, and encourages continued philanthropic support.
• Develop meaningful donor experiences through stewardship, recognition programs, events, impact reporting, and engagement opportunities.
• Oversee donor recognition initiatives, including a new Presidential Society, leadership giving societies, and legacy giving recognition programs.
• Ensure consistent stewardship…