Associate Director of Development, UConn Health

THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT FOUNDATION INC • West Bloomfield Township, MI

1d • $80,000

About The Position

The University of Connecticut is a top-ranked national university and health-system with its flagship campus located in idyllic Storrs. Designated a Carnegie Research 1 institution, UConn is the state land- and sea-grant university focused on education, research, and service to the state of Connecticut and beyond. The University serves over 33,000 students across seven campuses, 8,550 first-in-family students, and boasts numerous national championships. UConn Health is a top-ranked health provider that delivers groundbreaking medical education, research, and hospital and clinical services to over one million patients each year. In addition, UConn has nearly 300 scientists who are in the top 2 percent of researchers investigating everything from cancer to AI. UConn continues its meteoric rise as a top public University with a record number of applications, continued investment in student success, health, and wellness, recruitment of top faculty, innovation in research, and top-tier athletic programs focused on the health and financial literacy of student-athletes. This includes the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which have brought home three consecutive NCAA National Championship trophies in the last three years. UConn is proud to have 26 national championships across all sports. Guided by the public launch of our most ambitious campaign in history, Because of UConn The Campaign for UConn Nation, we are moving boldly into the future. The $1.5B comprehensive campaign spans all schools, colleges, campuses and UConn Health and focuses on four pillars designed to make education more affordable and elevate UConn among its national peers. Students First: making transformative investments in financial aid, student health, career readiness, and life skills to improve time-to-degree and career outcomes. Academic & Innovation Excellence: driving investment in top faculty and graduate fellows and building the innovation ecosystem of the state and beyond. Health & Wellness of People & Planet: focusing on patient care, medical research, and development of life-changing technologies that improve healthcare outcomes. Husky Pride: investing in athletic excellence and supporting a thriving UConn Nation that includes more than 290,000 alumni worldwide. Because of UConn will have a profound impact on the University. It will double the number of named scholarships, fund scientific breakthroughs and advanced lifesaving therapies, and engage UConn Nation in the life and mission of the University like never before. We seek the top talent in the country to join Husky Nation and help us drive our mission and UConn into the future. We are committed to a caring and supportive work culture, professional and leadership development, and flexibility for high achievers with a passion for higher education. We’re looking for dedicated professionals to drive success and excellence and exemplify our values. The UConn Foundation is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We celebrate different perspectives and are committed to a welcoming environment that values your unique experiences and identity. As an organization, we strive for continued growth each and every day. The Associate Director of Development is a front-line fundraiser position responsible for managing a comprehensive major gift portfolio for UConn Health, focusing on securing major gift support for the John Dempsey Hospital (JDH) and other important UConn Health initiatives. The Associate Director will secure major philanthropic investment that strengthens patient care, enhances clinical excellence, advances hospital-based research, and supports critical initiatives across JDH and, when aligned, broader UConn Health priorities.

Requirements

• Champion for inclusive priorities bother internally and externally.
• High level of motivation, as well as an ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Proven capability to evaluate and adjust work plans for optimum alignment to achieve annual goals.
• Strong interpersonal skills, tact, and diplomacy.
• The ability to build productive, beneficial relationships with a broad range of constituencies.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, including ability to effectively communicate University priorities to donors and prospects, and to positively represent the University and Foundation.
• Familiar with the use of computers and information management tools, such as CRMs (Blackbaud).
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, to assess and order priorities, and to track details in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to engender trust and confidence of donors and prospective donors and to maintain confidentiality of donor information; ability to represent the UConn Foundation to prospects, donors, faculty, administrators, and others.
• Ability to work to the demands of the position, which may exceed a 40-hour work week.
• Attention to and concern for others.
• Must be willing to consent to a background check, conduced and approved by UConn Health, to obtain staff access to UConn Health's buildings.
• Must be willing to travel extensively.
• Reliable personal transportation is required for this position.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license issued from the state in which the employee resides.
• Employees must maintain at their expense, automobile liability insurance coverage in the minimum amount of $500,000 or a combination of umbrella and automobile liability insurance coverage of $500,000.
• A certificate of automobile insurance evidencing the limit, must be provided to the Foundation at hire and annually thereafter.
• Bachelors degree required, advanced degree preferred.
• 3+ years of experience as a major gift fundraiser and/or relevant transferrable skills.

Nice To Haves

• Healthcare fundraising experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Manage a prospect portfolio of 125–150 major gift prospects rated at the $100K+ level, with a particular focus on grateful patient and family prospects connected to JDH.
• Raise $1M–$3M annually in support of JDH clinical programs, patient experience initiatives, capital priorities, and hospital-based research.
• Conduct 50 qualification meetings at the $100K+ level; 10+ solicitations at the $100K level; and 150+ face-to-face, meaningful donor meetings per year.
• Develop and execute creative strategies to identify, qualify, engage, and solicit high-capacity JDH prospects, including patients, families, community partners, and regional healthcare supporters.
• Prepare compelling funding proposals and customized donor materials aligned with JDH priorities, including clinical program enhancements, capital equipment, patient experience, and system modernization.
• Collaborate closely with the UConn Health Development team and Foundation colleagues to align donor strategy with JDH leadership and enterprise priorities.
• Conduct all work in compliance with Foundation standards, HIPAA, and UConn Health policies governing patient privacy, rights, and data use.
• Create meaningful opportunities for engagement involving hospital leadership, key clinicians, volunteers, and grateful patient ambassadors.
• Partner with Foundation Advancement leadership, hospital executives, department chairs, physicians, nurses, and clinical program administrators to develop coordinated moves management plans for prospects.
• Contribute to the productivity and efficiency of the Development Division by meeting or exceeding goals in a metrics-driven environment.
• Work with the Sr. Associate Vice President, Executive Director and JDH leadership to identify strategic fundraising priorities, developing compelling cases for support that advance hospital needs within the campaign framework.
• Work with Prospect Management colleagues to review caseload assignments; track, analyze, and report on progress against goals; complete quarterly reports; and recommend enhancements to increase operational efficiencies, improve communication, and increase donor engagement.
• Assist in the identification of new prospects by developing deep connections across JDH clinical teams.
• Perform administrative and data-management duties including CRM documentation, engagement plan updates, and adherence to Foundation policies.
• Model and uphold the Foundation’s core values at all times.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Demonstrate the ability to personally solicit gifts of $100,000 and above, while advancing the number and quality of principal ($5 million and above) and leadership ($1 million and above) gift conversations in partnership with the principal gifts team.
• Collaborate with the Prospect Management and Research team to increase and grow the major gift pipeline and overall fundraising success of the unit.
• Collaborate with Advancement Services to steward donors, engage with alumni, and support events specific to your unit.
• Provide visible leadership across the entire organization by engaging in organization-wide activities such as development management meetings, all-staff meetings, and staff events.

Benefits

• Benefits start from day one.
• We offer medical, dental, and vision plans and will make an annual contribution to your health savings account if enrolled in one of the high-deductible health plans offered by the Foundation.
• We offer a generous contribution to your 403(b)-retirement plan to help you plan for retirement.
• We place an emphasis on work/life balance.
• In addition to a hybrid schedule, you will receive thirteen paid holidays, five weeks of paid time off per calendar year, and additional sick time.
• We invest in your professional development.
• Aside from opportunities to participate in various trainings, committees, and conferences throughout the year, you will also be eligible for tuition reimbursement after one year of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level