Director for Development

Job Description

For over 160 years, the University of Washington has been a hub for learning, innovation, problem solving and community building. Supporting this legacy and important public mission—with the goal of making the UW the world’s greatest public university, as measured by positive impact—guides everything we do in University Advancement. Bringing together development; alumni and stakeholder engagement; marketing and communications; and advancement operations, we advance the UW’s impact by developing meaningful connections that foster pride, advocacy and philanthropic support.

The mission of the Development team is to facilitate private resources to enhance and protect the University’s reputation and support equitable community building and service. This starts with creating a culture of belonging within our organization that values the diverse experiences and expertise of our team members, allowing everyone to thrive and to contribute their unique talents as we strive to achieve our shared goals.

The Foster School of Business has an exciting opening for a Director for Development. This is a full-time permanent position.

The Director for Development works to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward current and prospective major gift donors to advance education at the University of Washington's Michael G. Foster School of Business. The Director manages a portfolio of approximately 125-150 individual stakeholders with philanthropic capacity of $100,000 or more. They set goals, execute tailored strategies and build relationships to solicit and secure major gifts.

The Director’s efforts focus on strengthening engagement, understanding, trust, and pride in the Foster School of Business and its impact through business education, research, leadership development, and partnerships that advance economic opportunity and strengthen communities across Washington state and beyond.

What You Will Do

Frontline Fundraising (70%)

• Establish and pursue goals, objectives and strategies for major gift fundraising for 125-150 individuals capable of $100,000+ gifts.

• Identify major/planned gift prospects and develop compelling engagement strategies.
• Partner with staff across Foster and Advancement teams to identify and cultivate donors, as well as prepare solicitation strategies for assigned prospects.
• Participate in quarterly self-assessment of progress toward stated goals, strategizing for increasing outreach and bottom-line success, and documenting best practices that can be shared throughout Foster and UW Advancement.
• Maintain a pool of major gift prospects who will be solicited in the next 12 to 18 months.
• Make and document strategic cultivation, solicitation and stewardship visits each year with identified core prospects.
• Prepare written proposals, gift agreements and other materials needed to define, secure and document major gifts.
• Partner with department chairs, faculty and key program staff to articulate and demonstrate funding priorities.
• Record and track donor activity using the University’s prospect management system.
• Develop meaningful recognition for each closed major gift that strengthens relations and brings appropriate desired visibility to individual donors.
• Identify, recruit, train, and staff fundraising volunteers and committees as assigned.

Strategy and Program Development (30%)

• Provide strategic leadership into the design and implementation of Advancement programs needed to build long-term relationships and attract major gifts.
• Attend meetings, events and classes as needed while staying current on UW and Foster School materials to convey “inside” knowledge, understanding and perspective.
• Leverage professional development opportunities to stay current on industry trends, and other related information that can impact securing major gifts.
• Participate in the development of policies and procedures relating to the major gifts program, marketing materials for the major gift effort, and major gift cultivation and stewardship.
• Support Foster Centers or Programs with developing fundraising priorities, creating clear strategies, providing fundraising training and coordinating interaction with donors and the Advancement team.
• Support the Executive Director for Development in implementing new cultivation events, systems, strategies and other tasks.
• Actively engage in leadership opportunities as they arise.

Required Qualifications

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.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications will not be forwarded to the Hiring Department.

Bachelor’s degree AND five years of experience in frontline fundraising.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success building, managing, soliciting and stewarding relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in fundraising within higher education preferred, particularly at business schools or comprehensive R1 research universities.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal and external audiences.
• Experience with constituent relationship management systems.
• Proven ability to establish and achieve measurable goals, manage competing priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced, dynamic, deadline-driven environment.
• Sound judgment, ethical decision-making and strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to navigate complex situations.
• Self-motivated, entrepreneurial, and collaborative, with the ability to work independently, think strategically and creatively and maintain exceptional attention to detail while managing multiple initiatives.
• Demonstrated commitment to philanthropy, volunteerism and donor-centered engagement.

What You Can Expect

• Hybrid-work schedule with two days in the office and three days eligible for telework per week.
• Cubicle/open workspace environment that may result in higher noise levels and visual distractions.
• Workload and times may vary, including occasional evenings or weekends.
• Access to reliable transportation for local travel and willingness to travel when necessary.

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About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.

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