Director for Development

University of Washington Medical Center•Seattle, WA

5d•$108,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

For over 160 years, the University of Washington has been a hub for learning, innovation, problem solving and community building. Supporting this legacy and important public mission — with the goal of making the UW the world’s greatest public university, as measured by positive impact — guides everything we do in University Advancement. Bringing together development; alumni and stakeholder engagement; marketing and communications; and advancement operations, we advance the UW’s impact by developing meaningful connections that foster pride, advocacy and philanthropic support. The mission of the Development team is to facilitate private resources to enhance and protect the University’s reputation and support equitable community building and service. This starts with creating a culture of belonging within our organization that values the diverse experiences and expertise of our team members, allowing everyone to thrive and to contribute their unique talents as we strive to achieve our shared goals. The Foster School of Business has an exciting opening for a Director for Development. This is a full-time, permanent position. As a part of a driven development team that raises more than $20M annually for the Foster School of Business, the Director of Development will lead frontline fundraising activities with a focus on international prospects. In collaboration with the Senior Director of Development and the Assistant Dean for Development, this position ensure engagement activities and special projects are aligned with the strategic plan and campaign goals. The Director’s primary focus is on objectives and strategies for high-touch, results-focused major gift fundraising for 75-125 individuals capable of making $100,000+ gifts as well as qualifying and cultivating the next level of pipeline gifts.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of frontline fundraising experience, with an emphasis on long-term philanthropic relationships, stewarding and solicitating major gifts.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Nice To Haves

Fundraising experience in a higher education setting.
Strong interpersonal skills, exceptional customer service and the ability to handle confidential information with care while communicating clearly and empathetically.
Strong communication skills across one‑on-one conversations, group settings, written correspondence, presentations and extensive phone outreach.
A track record of setting, managing and achieving S.M.A.R.T. goals with measurable outcomes.
Proven ability to build, cultivate and steward trusted professional relationships that align stakeholder passions with institutional mission and priorities.
Sound ethical judgment and decision‑making in fast‑paced, dynamic, deadline‑driven environments.
An entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to independently initiate outreach and activities while collaborating effectively and understanding school‑ and University‑wide priorities.
Strength in solving complex, unstructured problems through open communication, follow‑through and relationship‑centered approaches.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, consistently producing high‑quality results.
Access to regular and reliable transportation for local travel.
Ability to obtain a passport and willingness to travel internationally once per year.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of 75–125 individuals capable of making $100,000+ gifts, including establishing and pursuing goals and strategies for ach assigned prospect.
Identify major and planned‑gift prospects and develop individualized engagement strategies that drive significant philanthropic investment.
Conduct quarterly assessments to evaluate progress towards specified goals, refine outreach strategies and share best practices across Foster and UW Advancement.
Maintain a pool of prospects to be solicited in the next 12–18 months.
Prepare proposals, gift agreements and materials needed to secure and document major gifts.
Serve as liaison to key Foster centers and programs, including the Global Business Center, Certificate for International Studies in Business, Undergraduate Diversity Services and Undergraduate Programs.
Track donor engagement and activity in the University’s prospect management system.
Develop meaningful donor recognition that strengthens relationships and aligns with institutional stewardship programs, including the Dean’s Club, President’s Circle, Henry Suzzallo Society and other donor distinctions.
Collaborate with the International Advancement team and other UW Advancement colleagues to develop cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for shared prospects and donors.
Lead planning for cultivation visits, including setting agendas, coordinating travel, scheduling strategic meetings, organizing engagement events and partnering with local alumni chapters to maximize the Dean’s impact.
Recruit, train and support fundraising volunteers and committees.
Contribute to policies, procedures, marketing materials and events that support the major gifts program.
Other duties as assigned