Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations

UW Medicine Advancement has an outstanding opportunity for a Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations (Major Gift Officer - Devl (E S 10)).

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 2022 fiscal year, UW Medicine Advancement raised $284 million in gifts and private grants (46 percent of the University of Washington’s total) from nearly 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/

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Fundraising Responsibilities—80%

The Director will manage a portfolio of organizational and individual prospects and will:

Proactively work with faculty and Advancement staff to develop strategies to approach organizations and individual philanthropists.

Develop competitive program and project ideas, particularly ‘big ideas’ that cross multiple departments and campaign priority areas.

Develop, review, and refine proposals to enhance private gift/grant support for UW Medicine’s priority initiatives.

Lead, organize, and host site visits with foundation leaders and philanthropists, to learn more about UW Medicine and faculty research, proposals, and work.

Steward proposals through the submission and review process, working with faculty, administrative leaders, and Advancement staff.

The Director is responsible for securing, sustaining, and enhancing strategic partnerships and philanthropic relationships with corporate funders, including, but not limited to:

Identifying strategic opportunities, establishing priorities, and implementing plans to manage relationships with current and prospective corporate partners.

Building relationships with corporate leaders capable of providing long-term support for UW Medicine. This includes hosting meetings and site visits with business leaders and faculty.

Contribute to the refinement and implementation of stewardship efforts for corporate gifts and grants, ensuring that all gift and grant guidelines and compliance requirements are met.

Overall, in consultation with the Senior Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations, the Director will develop a portfolio of major prospects — emphasizing organizational prospects with capacity of $100,000 and greater — with special effort on proposals of $100,000 or more. Duties include:

Manage a portfolio of 50-75 organizational and individual prospects, maintaining a focused “Top 25” pool of prospects to be solicited in the next 12- to 18-month period.

Prepare and collaborate with marketing and communications colleagues on written proposals and other materials — including marketing plans and collateral, business justifications, letters of inquiry and grant proposals — to support funding requests.

Strive to achieve 75 substantive contacts annually, with organization representatives and donors. Develop and present 25 major proposals each year with a target of securing an average of $4 million annually in new commitments.

As needed, travel to organization offices to represent UW Medicine for the purpose of cultivating new prospects, presenting proposals, and stewarding existing relationships. Assist 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, coordinate fundraising activities with UW Medicine colleagues and with UW central Advancement colleagues in Gift Planning, Corporate, and Foundation Relations, Principal Gifts, Regional Gifts, etc. We place a premium on intra-team collegiality, and assignments and portfolios frequently overlap. The Director will demonstrate exceptional communication and collaboration skills.

Record and track all activity using the University’s prospect-management and tracking system.

Activities in Support of Direct Fundraising—20%

Participate in the development of policies and procedures related to the Corporate and Foundation Relations program, marketing materials for Advancement activities, and cultivation and stewardship events.

Seek appropriate training and professional development opportunities. As needed, provide training to faculty, staff and volunteers in Corporate and Foundation Relations, ensuring that fundraising activity is compliant with University policies.

Prepare an annual work plan and progress reports as requested. Participate in evaluating progress toward goals by completing an annual performance self-assessment.

Assume management of special projects as assigned by the Senior Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations.

Lead Responsibilities

The Director serves as a strategist and resource for corporate and foundation fundraising and will be responsible for specific assigned focus areas related to campaign priority areas. To achieve goals, the Director directs, coordinates, and supports the Advancement activities of academic leaders, faculty, volunteers and colleagues within UW and UW Medicine. The Director works independently to implement and evaluate these efforts.

IMPACT TO THE UNIVERSITY

While UW Medicine Advancement is the leading fundraising unit on campus, the level of private gifts must increase if UW Medicine is to remain competitive with its true peers, predominantly private institutions. UW Medicine is responsible for one-third to one-half of the gift revenue that the University of Washington receives annually. The Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations will work with key academic and administrative leaders, volunteers, and staff to identify, cultivate, and solicit organizations and philanthropists with the capacity of making gifts or grants of $100,000 and greater.

POSITION COMPLEXITIES

Developing strategies that will be effective in increasing philanthropic and sponsored research support. Developing and implementing major and principal gift/grant fundraising strategies for assigned focus areas. Meeting aggressive fundraising goals.

Understanding the complex range of research conducted at UW Medicine and translating these efforts into proposals that will attract outside funding.

Brokering and stewarding relationships with organization leaders, academic leaders, and volunteers.

Working collaboratively with diverse constituencies (faculty, staff, and volunteers) with diverse goals and expectations.

Encouraging department leaders and faculty to participate in fundraising.

Proactively working with faculty to determine themes and interdisciplinary approaches to “package” their work for outside funding. Fostering an environment in which faculty members identify areas where their work can take on an interdisciplinary focus.

Working within the complex environment of UW Medicine and the broader University, including with the Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of Research and Graduate Education, and the Center for Commercialization (CoMotion).

Ensuring that all fundraising activities are compliant with University policies.

Ensuring appropriate tracking and stewardship of both gifts and grants.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree and five years of progressively responsible experience in institutional advancement, including experience in corporate and foundation relations; or five years of advanced corporate marketing experience with emphasis in corporate social responsibility.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Demonstrated ability to lead and implement strategies for the purpose of establishing, cultivating, and stewarding strong relationships with corporate partners, foundations, and individual philanthropists.

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. 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 paced, dynamic, deadline driven environment in an organized and professional manner.

Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships; puts the team and organizational goals above individual goals and actively contributes as a member of working teams. Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly with internal and external stakeholders, to contribute to a positive team spirit, to resolve conflict, and to manage strong collaborative partnerships with diverse colleagues.

Demonstrated ability to maintain confidences and protect confidential information and acts in a selfless manner and models ethical values of the UW.

Values the UW’s commitment to inclusiveness. Demonstrates respect and commitment to diversity.

Solid computer skills, including proficiency working with relational databases and Microsoft Office.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for stated requirements.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in institutional advancement, including experience in corporate and foundation relations, preferably in higher education or health care; or five to seven years of advanced corporate marketing experience with emphasis in corporate social responsibility.

Graduate degree in a related field.

Advancement experience in health care, higher education, or research settings.

Prior experience in corporate and foundation relations.

Demonstrated track record overseeing management of volunteer committees or community boards.

Preferred candidates will possess demonstrated skill in grant writing; developing marketing strategies, plans, collateral, and proposals for advancement programs; experience working with volunteers; and experience with organizational prospect research.

Preferred candidates will possess experience with developing and securing principal gifts or grants ($1 million+) and demonstrated experience creating and leading complex, collaborative prospect strategies and relationships.

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.