Director for Advancement

What You Will Do

• Frontline Fundraising (75%)
  • Manage a portfolio of up to 125 prospects, primarily individual philanthropists, with occasional inclusion of strategic foundation and corporate donors.
  • Develop and carry out fundraising strategies to secure philanthropic support for KEMI, including gifts of $100,000+, in partnership with academic leaders, faculty, and advancement colleagues.
  • Cultivate, solicit, and steward donors through meaningful engagement, aligning donor interests with KEMI priorities.
  • Partner with academic leaders to shape and communicate a compelling case for support.
  • Plan and conduct prospect meetings and visits; prepare briefing materials and customized proposals; and support strategic cultivation and stewardship activities.
  • Support and design strategic cultivation and stewardship events.
  • Travel as needed to cultivate prospects, present proposals, and steward existing relationships.
  • Collaborate with advancement colleagues across the College of Engineering, UW Medicine, and University Advancement to coordinate donor engagement and ensure effective stewardship.
  • Identify and qualify new major gift prospects, including UW Medicine grateful patients and individuals identified through research.
  • Prepare timely impact and stewardship reports and ensure compliance with all University gift acceptance policies.
• Strategy and Program Development (20%)
  • Provide strategic fundraising guidance in support of KEMI’s philanthropic priorities.
  • Support and encourage KEMI leadership, faculty, and advancement partners in fundraising efforts.
  • Use donor data to inform prospect strategy, prioritization, and outreach.
  • Aid in portfolio goal setting, monitor progress toward annual goals, and report on fundraising results.
  • In partnership with advancement leadership, contribute to the development and execution of the annual KEMI fundraising plan.
• Other Duties (5%)
  • Participate in University Advancement, College of Engineering, and KEMI meetings and events, as appropriate.
  • Engage in professional development activities.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree AND a minimum of seven (7) years of experience in institutional advancement, preferably in higher education and/or health care, with an emphasis on frontline fundraising and soliciting major gifts.
• Demonstrated success securing major and principal gifts, including experience developing and closing gifts of $1 million or more through complex, collaborative prospect strategies.
• Prominent ability to establish, cultivate, solicit, and steward trust-based relationships with individual philanthropists.
• Strong capability to build and maintain collaborative working relationships with academic leaders, administrators, and advancement partners across organizations.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies aligned with organizational mission, priorities, and goals, both independently and in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Experience crafting compelling fundraising proposals and solicitation materials for individual donors.
• Able to work independently and proactively, exercising sound judgment, discretion, and initiative while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse internal and external stakeholders and navigate complex partnerships with tact and professionalism.
• Demonstrated creativity, organizational strength, and attention to detail, including the ability to make informed decisions in ambiguous situations.
• Knowledge of advancement principles within higher education, healthcare fundraising, or a related environment, including familiarity with the integrated advancement model.
• Access to reliable transportation and ability to travel as needed for donor work.