Associate Director, Philanthropy - Social Work & Law

About the role

The Associate Director of Philanthropy – Social Work and Law at the University of Louisville will play a key role – individually and collectively – in cultivating long-term relationships with donors who have the capacity to make major gifts, while leveraging the relationships and vision of university leaders to secure support for strategic university priorities and initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of individual prospects capable of making 5-6 figure gifts through the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles.
• Forging long-term relationships with these individuals to cultivate their interest in UofL.
• Solicit and secure major gifts to reach a minimum annual goal as determined by PAE leadership be no less than the performance standard minimum of $1M.
• Actively maintain a portfolio of major gift level prospects, particularly where there are multiple complex university relationships and the opportunity exists to have university-wide impact that requires thoughtful, experienced prospect management.
• Work closely with Prospect Management and Development, faculty, alumni, and volunteers to identify and create cultivation strategies for new high-wealth prospects.
• Manage the process & prospects through qualifying visits, cultivation initiatives, and the solicitation process that aligns with financial capacity, securing the commitment and stewarding current donors.
• Interface with deans, faculty, program directors, and other University leaders when necessary to prepare for prospect meetings and other solicitations.
• Record moves management into the CRM database to track engagement with donors.
• Oversee the preparation of funding proposals, talking points and scripts, assessments of potential support, briefings, gift agreements, endowments, and stewardship reports for assigned prospects.
• Ensure that all interested parties are involved in key efforts focused on specific prospects.
• Promote deferred giving and have an understanding and expertise in deferred vehicles and the role they can play in supporting visionary gifts.
• Advise key university officers on opportunities for their involvement with specific fundraising and engagement events and initiatives with top prospects.
• Provide assistance to university leadership including the President, Provost, Deans, and other academic leadership in direct solicitations and interactions with donor prospects as appropriate.
• Travel to meet with donors/prospects and execute strategic moves. Local and some overnight travel, as well as evening and weekend work, will be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and two (2) years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing a major gift portfolio utilizing metrics, systems, and relationship-building skills to maximize strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of 5-6-figure donors and transformational gifts.
• A deep understanding of and commitment to an integrated advancement program, and experience in a complex major research university environment.
• A keen understanding of the natural tension that exists when working with a multitude of colleges, departments, and programs with varying priorities is essential.
• Experience working to sustain strong working relationships with staff, donors, faculty, volunteers, and academic leadership is imperative.
• A strong ability to develop sincere, productive relationships and to build trust both with internal colleagues and external constituencies is a must.
• Proven success at developing and implementing creative solicitation strategies for transformational philanthropic gifts in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.
• Superior interpersonal and listening skills, exceptional negotiation skills, and a proven ability to make independent decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years of related experience with higher education fundraising, including planned giving or wealth management, and/or work in CFR is highly valued.

Benefits

The University of Louisville has an exceptional benefits package; to learn more about our benefits, please visit here.

Pay

Compensation Will Be Commensurate To Candidate Experience.

Schedule

N/A