Assistant Director Development - Philanthropy, Comprehensive Cancer Center

About the Role

The Assistant Director of Development - Philanthropy serves as the philanthropic leader for Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. This role reports to the Director of Major Gifts and maintains a close working relationship with the Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Director of the Cancer Clinical Service Line, section heads for Hematology/Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Surgical Oncology, as well as other faculty across departments engaged in cancer treatment and research. The Assistant Director will supervise at least one Major Gift Officer and lead fundraising efforts supporting education, research, patient aid, and clinical care.

The role involves developing a philanthropic plan for the Comprehensive Cancer Center, providing strategic oversight, and extending efforts across all areas of the philanthropic program, including securing major and leadership gifts, leading faculty engagement initiatives, building a grateful patient program, and managing an external Advisory Group.

Responsibilities

• Major/Leadership Gifts
  • Identify, cultivate, and solicit individuals for major gifts ($50K+) and leadership gifts ($1M+).
  • Build and maintain a portfolio of high-profile prospects with the capacity to support the Cancer Center’s mission.
  • Develop solicitation strategies, utilizing institutional leadership and volunteers.
  • Collaborate with research, annual funds, events, and special gifts teams to identify and qualify major gift prospects.
  • Coordinate the assignment of cancer prospects and projects with faculty and institutional leaders.
  • Identify new high-potential donors, qualify prospects, and develop cultivation plans.
  • Track and document all cultivation and solicitation activities in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Develop, review, and edit gift proposals; strategize follow-up and intermediate steps.
• Faculty Engagement
  • Meet regularly with Cancer Center leadership to review philanthropic priorities and progress toward goals.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with leadership to encourage involvement in philanthropy.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for faculty and staff communication related to philanthropy.
• Grateful Patient Program
  • Promote formal and informal training to recognize and respond to philanthropic opportunities.
  • Encourage grateful patient referrals to and from faculty.
  • Adhere to standards for rapid response, qualification, and cultivation of referred prospects.
  • Communicate regularly with the cancer team regarding progress with referred prospects.
  • Build strong working relationships through sustained engagement and communication.
• Philanthropic Messaging
  • Communicate the mission, vision, values, and priorities of the Medical Center and Cancer Center to promote donor interest.
  • Assist in developing content for fundraising and stewardship materials, including fund agreements and donor reports.
  • Serve as a point of contact for faculty and staff communication related to stewardship.
  • Review and edit internal and external communications related to Cancer donor stewardship.
• Philanthropy Board of Advisors
  • Lead and manage the Cancer Philanthropy Board of Advisors to support philanthropic goals.
  • Engage members as advocates, ambassadors, connectors, and donors.
  • Encourage annual gifts of at least $5,000 and active participation in meetings and events.
  • Facilitate introductions, recruit new members, and support succession planning.
  • Oversee meeting logistics, agenda setting, and follow-up.
  • Ensure members are informed and motivated to advance the Center’s mission.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Five years of fundraising experience, including major gifts.
• Experience leading volunteer fundraising boards.
• Ability to work in a complex environment, establish priorities, and achieve goals.
• Adeptness in working with high net worth individuals and faculty/physicians.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to relate research and program goals to external audiences.
• Capacity to build and maintain long-term relationships.
• Proven presentation abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Willingness to travel nationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree.
• Experience leading a fundraising team.
• Fundraising experience in an academic medical center.
• Experience in a capital campaign.

Work Environment

Clean, indoor office environment. Ability to travel locally and nationally as required.

Physical Requirements

• Standing: 0% to 35%
• Walking: 0% to 35%
• Sitting: 65% to 100%
• Bending: N/A
• Reaching with arms: N/A
• Finger and hand dexterity: Required
• Talking: Required
• Hearing: Required
• Seeing: Required
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling: Up to 20 lbs. maximum