Senior Director of Development

Job Overview

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for UW‑Madison, is seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to lead the University of Wisconsin‑Madison School of Nursing development program. In 2024 the School of Nursing celebrated its centennial and closed its highly successful Badger Nurses Change Lives campaign at $45 M, exceeding its goal by $15 M. This is an exciting opportunity to elevate the development program as we enter the next era of Badger Nursing.

Employed by WFAA and reporting to a WFAA Managing Senior Director of Development, the incumbent will build, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major‑gift and planned‑giving prospects who are passionate about advancing nursing education and research to improve human health. If you are strategic, innovative, and highly collaborative, we invite you to join us in making a meaningful impact on the nursing profession and those it serves.

Please note:

This position can be filled at the Director of Development or Senior Director of Development level, depending on the skills/experience of the selected candidate.

• Work with the Dean and the advancement team to advance the key philanthropic priorities of the school, such as student support, educational innovation, faculty support, and research.
• Lead the development of objectives, priorities, and strategies for major‑gift philanthropy related to comprehensive campaigns, special programs, and ongoing fundraising in collaboration with SoN dean/faculty/staff, WFAA leadership, and other colleagues.
• Engage the school’s board of visitors to increase support of the school’s mission through gifts of time, talent, treasure, ties, and testimony.
• Work with WFAA research and development colleagues to identify a portfolio of major‑gift prospects from existing and potential donors.
• Implement development strategies with assigned constituencies, managing a portfolio of prospects and donors in varying stages of involvement to advance them strategically through the development continuum.
• Qualify prospective major‑gift donors on behalf of the entire University, including those with a specific interest in the SoN.
• Schedule and conduct initial assessment/exploratory meetings with prospects, following up with correspondence, phone calls, and additional visits as appropriate to qualify prospects.
• Plan and conduct meetings and other ongoing contacts to build relationships with donors, effectively presenting the case for philanthropic support and explaining gift opportunities.
• Develop and write major‑gift proposals, utilizing both current and planned gift opportunities to best meet donors’ needs, interests, and financial capabilities, including structuring complex or special gifts as appropriate.
• Artfully ask for the right gift, at the right time, in the right way.
• Collaborate with colleagues, discussing major donor prospects, sharing advice and information, and coordinating activity on shared prospects.
• Serve as a member of the SoN advancement team.

• Plan and implement recognition for donors, including writing thank‑you letters, making personal calls, arranging meetings, hosting events, etc.
• Plan and implement ongoing communication and stewardship with donors.
• Communicate, problem‑solve, and anticipate the needs of faculty and staff regarding accounting for donor‑created funds and serve as liaison between WFAA accounting department and campus staff.
• Request data/reports from WFAA staff to meet the needs of donors and school faculty, and staff.

• Plan and execute travel arrangements with responsibility for tracking and submitting related expense reports.
• Utilize WFAA’s customer relationship management (CRM) tool to plan, implement, and record all development‑related activity in a timely manner. This includes regular progress reports on prospect qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with WFAA and SoN staff to ensure accurate and proper administration and usage of donor funds.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or…