Director for Philanthropy

UW Medicine Advancement has an exciting opening for a Director for Philanthropy. This is a full‑time permanent position.

Reporting to the Senior Director for Philanthropy, the Director for Philanthropy develops and implements comprehensive strategies to secure philanthropic support for research, clinical, and education initiatives at UW Medicine’s Institute for Protein Design and other emerging priorities as assigned.

This highly collaborative role partners with advancement colleagues, academic leaders, faculty, volunteers, and donors to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects. The Director will build trusted relationships across a complex, matrixed environment and translate donor interests into meaningful philanthropic impact.

• Develop and implement a strategic major gifts plan in partnership with the Senior Director for Philanthropy for the UW Medicine’s Institute for Protein Design, as well as other emerging priorities as assigned.
• Manage a major gift and private foundation portfolio with annual expectations of 75–125 substantive donor contacts, 5–15 major gift qualifications, and 5–10 major gift solicitations, resulting in $375K–$5 million raised annually.
• Partner with the Senior Director for Philanthropy, Associate Vice President for Development, department leaders, and advancement colleagues to define fundraising priorities and implement strategies to sustain major gift support.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects—including faculty referrals and grateful patients—by developing individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies and preparing proposals, endowment agreements, gift illustrations, and related materials.
• Recruit, train, and support volunteers in leadership roles that advance major gift fundraising, when appropriate. Staff volunteer fundraising partnerships and committees as assigned.
• Coordinate major gift fundraising activities with UW Medicine Advancement colleagues and University Advancement partners, including Gift Planning, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Principal Gifts, and Regional Gifts. Demonstrate strong communication and collaboration in an environment with shared donors and overlapping portfolios.

Strategy, Partnerships and Program Development – 15%

• Discern and inform strategy development promoting philanthropic priorities.
• Assist Senior Director with establishment of annual goals, objectives for areas of fundraising responsibilities. Contribute to the development/refinement of policies and procedures for the school or college’s advancement program as assigned. Encourage and support department chairs and faculty in active participation in fundraising efforts, recognizing competing responsibilities in research, education, and clinical care.
• Collaborate effectively with diverse constituencies, including faculty, staff, patients, community leaders, and volunteers.
• Partner with UW Medicine Advancement colleagues to develop special events, marketing materials, pipeline, and donor relations activities that support major gift fundraising.
• Pursue appropriate professional development, including training related to major and planned gift strategies.
• Prepare annual operating plans and progress reports as requested.
• Complete annual performance self‑assessment as part of the annual review process.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

To be considered for this opportunity, your application must demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least five years of progressively responsible experience in institutional advancement, with an emphasis on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts.

• UW Medicine values professionalism. Employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with UW Medicine Policy on Professional Conduct. An assessment of professionalism will be…