Associate Vice President, Principal Gifts

Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health•Palo Alto, CA

1d•$280,000 - $300,000•Hybrid

About The Position

LPFCH seeks an experienced and collaborative Associate Vice President, Principal Gifts to lead the Principal Gifts vertical and fundraising efforts for donors capable of making gifts between $10 million and $25 million, while building and strengthening the future pipeline for principal and transformational philanthropy. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Transformational and Principal Giving, this role combines frontline fundraising leadership with team management responsibilities and will play a critical role in advancing the Foundation’s principal gifts program. The Associate Vice President will manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, oversee complex donor engagement strategies, and provide leadership for a growing team that will include gift officer(s), and administrative support team members. The successful candidate will bring strong fundraising acumen, strategic leadership skills, and a collaborative approach to building meaningful donor partnerships that advance institutional priorities. The compensation range for this role is $280,000-$300,000 annually.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum of 12+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including significant experience securing principal gifts from high-net-worth individuals and families.
Demonstrated success securing complex gifts at the $5 million+ level, with experience managing or contributing to $10 million–$25 million philanthropic opportunities.
Prior management and revenue program management experience.
Exceptional relationship management, strategic thinking, and communication skills.
Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative academic medical and philanthropic environment.
Experience partnering with senior leaders, physicians, researchers, and volunteers in donor engagement and fundraising activities.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple sophisticated fundraising strategies simultaneously.
Ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
Passion for advancing child and maternal health through philanthropy.

Nice To Haves

AI Fluency: Embraces Emerging Technologies — Explores thoughtful ways to use artificial intelligence to work more effectively, solve problems, and advance team and organizational goals, while exercising sound judgment and maintaining appropriate human oversight.

Responsibilities

Build, manage, and strategically advance a personal portfolio of donors and prospects with the capacity to make gifts between $10 million and $25 million.
Develop and execute sophisticated cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that result in significant philanthropic investments and long-term donor relationships.
Grow the overall revenue efforts of the Principal Gifts program year on year to meet or beat industry standards.
Lead and coordinate complex donor strategies involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
Engage President and CEO, Foundation Board members, hospital leadership, and volunteers in cultivation and stewardship activities that strengthen donor relationships and advance fundraising goals.
Initiate and lead select Foundation-wide strategic events to advance principal gifts revenue goal.
Serve as a leader for the principal gifts vertical and contribute meaningfully toward annual and long-term fundraising goals.
Manage and develop a team that will include gift officer(s), and administrative support team members.
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, strategic thinking, and donor-centered fundraising.
Provide coaching and guidance to team members related to donor strategy, portfolio management, proposal development, and stakeholder engagement.
Help establish and refine operating standards, processes, and systems that support effective fundraising execution and donor management.
Support recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and retention of team members.
Partner with physicians, faculty, researchers, administrators, and Foundation leadership to develop the strategy and arc for compelling gift opportunities aligned with institutional priorities.
Develop complex proposals in partnership with faculty and senior leaders and the communications team. Ensure each proposal is appropriately scoped, vetted, well-crafted, and meets the priorities of both the donor and the organization.
Maintain a current body of knowledge about the Foundation’s development priorities and key content areas for philanthropic priorities in order to support donor interest.
In collaboration with Gift Strategy and Operations team, create business plans and budgets for funding priorities.
Develop and lead a strategy to identify and cultivate emerging principal gift prospects, by leveraging grateful patient data, volunteer networks, and broader communities.
Develop long-term engagement strategies designed to move donors toward increasingly significant and strategic philanthropy.
Evaluate and strengthen portfolio composition and prospect strategy to maximize long-term revenue growth.
Lead strategic planning efforts related to principal gifts revenue forecasting and growth.
Maintain strong portfolio management practices, including contact reports, proposals, and stewardship planning.
Monitor progress toward fundraising and activity goals and implement adjustments to maximize effectiveness.
Ensure fundraising activities reflect the Foundation’s values, standards of excellence, and commitment to donor partnership.

Benefits

Generous leave, including PTO, holidays, Summer Fridays, and a sabbatical (after 7 years of employment)
Annual bonus opportunity
Retirement plan + employer match
Premium Medical and Dental coverage
FSA + dependent care FSA
Employer-paid life insurance
Legal services plan
Commuter Benefits, including CalTrain “Go Pass” Program
4-week paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents
Stipend for home office and mobile phone