Associate Director of Development, UConn Health

The University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc. • West Bloomfield Township, MI

9h • $80,000 - $85,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director of Development is a front-line fundraiser responsible for managing a comprehensive major-gift portfolio for UConn Health, with a focus on securing philanthropic support for John Dempsey Hospital (JDH) and other important UConn Health initiatives. The role advances funding for patient care, clinical excellence, hospital-based research, patient experience, capital priorities, and other aligned UConn Health priorities.

The Associate Director manages prospects and donors with the capacity to give $100,000 or more and is expected to secure at least $500,000 annually. The position works with donors, volunteers, University and hospital leadership, faculty, and staff to identify prospects, develop fundraising priorities, and create engagement opportunities. It also partners with the principal gifts team to advance conversations about gifts of $5 million or more, and collaborates with Prospect Management and Research and Advancement Services on pipeline development and donor stewardship.

The role is based at the UConn Foundation Health Center in Farmington, Connecticut, and has a hybrid schedule. It requires extensive travel, reliable personal transportation, a valid driver’s license, and specified automobile liability coverage. The employee must consent to a UConn Health background check for building access and comply with Foundation standards, HIPAA, and UConn Health policies concerning patient privacy, rights, and data use. Work demands may exceed 40 hours per week.

The UConn Foundation is an independent nonprofit supporting the University of Connecticut and UConn Health through philanthropy and donor engagement. It describes its workplace values as Purpose, Excellence, Culture, Communication, and Integrity, and states that it is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to a welcoming environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; the posting also lists an advanced degree as preferred.
• At least 3 years of experience as a major-gift fundraiser and/or relevant transferable skills.
• Competence with Microsoft Office and donor management systems; Blackbaud CRM is cited as an example.
• Ability to personally solicit gifts of $100,000 and above.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate University priorities to donors and prospects and positively represent the University and Foundation.
• Strong interpersonal skills, tact, diplomacy, and the ability to build productive relationships with a broad range of constituencies.
• Motivation and ability to exercise independent judgment and adjust work plans to align with annual goals.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize, track details, and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to build donor and prospective-donor trust and confidence and maintain confidentiality of donor information.
• Ability to meet position demands that may exceed a 40-hour work week.
• Willingness to consent to a UConn Health background check for access to UConn Health buildings.
• Willingness to travel extensively.
• Reliable personal transportation and a valid driver’s license issued by the state of residence.
• Must maintain automobile liability coverage of at least $500,000, or combined automobile and umbrella liability coverage of $500,000, at the employee’s expense, and provide proof at hire and annually.

Nice To Haves

• Healthcare fundraising experience is preferred.
• An advanced degree is preferred.
• Automobile liability coverage of $500,000 is preferred; the posting also states this amount as the minimum requirement in its qualifications section.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors with the capacity to give $100,000 or more, particularly grateful patients and family prospects connected to John Dempsey Hospital.
• Secure $500,000 or more annually for clinical programs, patient experience initiatives, capital priorities, and hospital-based research.
• Meet or exceed annual performance measures for prospect qualification, donor visits, solicitations, proposals, commitments, and dollars raised.
• Personally solicit gifts of $100,000 and above and, in partnership with the principal gifts team, advance principal-gift conversations for gifts of $5 million and above.
• Collaborate with donors, volunteers, University and hospital leadership, faculty, and staff to identify new prospects and advance fundraising priorities.
• Develop and support strategic fundraising priorities within the campaign and articulate compelling cases for support.
• Work with the Prospect Management and Research team to grow the major-gift pipeline and unit fundraising success.
• Partner with Advancement Services to steward donors, engage alumni, and support unit-specific events.
• Create engagement opportunities involving hospital leadership, clinicians, volunteers, and grateful patient ambassadors.
• Document fundraising activity, write proposals, enter engagement plans in the relationship management database, and follow Foundation policies.
• Contribute to the productivity and efficiency of development staff in a metrics-driven environment.
• Comply with Foundation standards, HIPAA, and UConn Health policies governing patient privacy, rights, and data use.
• Provide visible leadership through organization-wide activities, including development management meetings, all-staff meetings, and staff events.
• Model and articulate the Foundation’s core values.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Annual contribution to a health savings account for employees enrolled in an offered high-deductible health plan.
• Employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan.
• Hybrid schedule.
• Thirteen paid holidays.
• Five weeks of paid time off per calendar year, plus additional sick time.
• Professional development opportunities, including training courses, committees, and conferences.
• Tuition reimbursement after one year of employment.

What This Job Offers

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