Leadership Annual Giving, Grateful Giving Program, Associate Director

Tulane University•New Orleans, LA

4h•Onsite

About The Position

Tulane University seeks a strategic, relationship-focused, and mission-driven officer to secure philanthropic gifts from grateful patients and families in the $1,000–$25,000 range across clinical specialties. This frontline fundraising position is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting leadership annual gifts through field-based donor engagement, including in-person and virtual visits, personalized cultivation strategies, and direct solicitation. This position serves as a critical connector between annual giving and major gifts - building a robust pipeline of leadership annual donors while identifying and advancing prospects for higher-level engagement. Exercises professional judgment and discretion in clinical, patient-centered environments, in alignment with Tulane Health Systems' mission and HIPAA standards.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 5 years of frontline fundraising experience, including direct solicitation; OR High school diploma or equivalent and 9+ years of relevant fundraising experience
Ability to build trust and credibility with patients, families, physicians, and clinical leadership
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
Demonstrated ability to ask for and close philanthropic gifts
Sound judgment when working with sensitive and confidential information
Ability to work independently while aligning with institutional strategy
Strong organizational skills and discipline in moves management and CRM documentation
Professional discretion and emotional intelligence in patient-facing settings
Commitment to ethical fundraising and donor-centered engagement

Nice To Haves

Fundraising experience in a hospital, academic medical center, or healthcare-related environment
Experience with Leadership Annual Giving, Grateful Patient fundraising, or Major Gifts
Demonstrated success closing gifts through personal solicitation

Responsibilities

Manage an active portfolio of approximately 125–175 grateful patient prospects and donors
Conduct in-person and virtual donor visits to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors
Secure outright gifts, pledges, and multi-year commitments in the $1,000–$25,000 range
Develop and execute individualized donor strategies aligned with clinical priorities
Maintain timely and accurate documentation of all donor interactions in the CRM system
Partner with physicians, nurses, administrators, and clinical leadership to identify appropriate grateful patient prospects
Translate patient gratitude into philanthropic investment through ethical, patient-centered engagement
Represent Grateful Giving professionally within clinical and patient-facing environments
Ensure adherence to HIPAA and institutional compliance standards in all outreach
Qualify leadership annual giving donors for potential transition to Major Gifts
Coordinate strategic referrals and warm handoffs to Major Gift Officers
Collaborate with Annual Giving, Major Gifts, Advancement Communications & Marketing, and Donor Relations to ensure a coordinated donor experience
Support targeted appeals, stewardship efforts, and engagement initiatives as complements to frontline work
Maintain accurate forecasting, contact reports, and donor strategies
Track progress toward revenue, visit, and solicitation goals
Participate in team meetings, planning sessions, and training opportunities