Senior Associate Director, Major Gifts

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center • Houston, TX

5d • Remote

About The Position

The Major Gifts team is dedicated to securing sustained transformational philanthropic support for the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center by engaging with new and existing donors across the United States. Major Gift officers heavily prospect for new donor opportunities and plan and execute deeply meaningful cultivation strategies for high net worth constituents and stakeholders (new and established) for the purpose of soliciting and closing six and seven figure philanthropic gifts. Philanthropy carries forth all fundraising efforts with a donor centric focus, and gift officers are empowered to maximize the donor’s engagement experience through meaningful moves along carefully planned strategies that align donor passions with areas in need of philanthropic support. In advancement of the institution’s largest philanthropic campaign in history, MD Anderson Cancer Center is seeking a Sr. Associate Director, Major Gifts to join the Individual Giving team. The Sr. Associate Director, Major Gifts will heavily prospect for major gift donors in a designated travel territory, conceptualizing highly customized cultivation strategies for individual constituents and stakeholders to personally solicit and secure philanthropic gifts in excess of $100,000 for the institution’s fundraising priorities. In partnership with Planned Giving colleagues, this gift officer will also qualify for and present opportunities for planned gifts. This development professional will be highly adept in matching donor interests with institutional fundraising priorities. This professional will work alongside institution faculty, volunteers, and leadership as part of cultivating prospective donors and grateful families. The Sr. Associate Director will pursue growth and sustainability of an individual portfolio comprised of approximately 75 constituents, meaningfully engaging all donors in his/her/their accountability and establishing a constituent portfolio that generates a minimum of $4.5 million in gift revenue annually. The ideal candidate is a highly accomplished major gifts fundraising professional with a proven track record of securing six and seven figure philanthropic gifts through deeply personalized, donor centric strategies. They bring strong experience prospecting, qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting high net worth donors within complex, mission driven institutions, and demonstrate the ability to thoughtfully align donor interests with institutional priorities. This individual shows exceptional perceptiveness and situational awareness, effectively navigating cross functional teams, faculty partnerships, and leadership collaboration while managing multiple priorities with discipline and precision. They excel in stakeholder engagement, building trust and rapport with constituents nationwide, and are comfortable personally soliciting gifts of $100,000 to $1 million or more, including identifying planned giving opportunities. The ideal candidate also brings strong leadership and project management skills, driving strategy execution across a robust portfolio, consistently achieving revenue goals, and serving as a collaborative, values driven leader who models excellence, accountability, and professionalism in support of MD Anderson Cancer Center’s transformational campaign goals. This position is designated as a remote role, allowing the selected candidate to perform their responsibilities from any location. While remote, the role requires reliable virtual connectivity, active collaboration with team members across digital platforms, and adherence to standard business hours as applicable. Occasional in person meetings or travel may be requested with advance notice. In addition to personal accountability to donors under assignment, the Sr. Associate Director may also provide supervision and management to a squad of major gift officers and serve as an inspirational leader to the team. Leading by example, this collaborative fundraising partner will model MD Anderson’s Core Values in all aspects of securing funds in support of the institution.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
• Seven years Direct fundraising experience
• Two years supervisory experience
• Must pass pre-employment skills test as required and administered by Human Resources.
• The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of critical infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• CFRE - Cert Fundraising Executive

Responsibilities

• Heavily prospect for major gift donors in a designated travel territory.
• Conceptualize highly customized cultivation strategies for individual constituents and stakeholders to personally solicit and secure philanthropic gifts in excess of $100,000 for the institution’s fundraising priorities.
• In partnership with Planned Giving colleagues, qualify for and present opportunities for planned gifts.
• Match donor interests with institutional fundraising priorities.
• Work alongside institution faculty, volunteers, and leadership as part of cultivating prospective donors and grateful families.
• Pursue growth and sustainability of an individual portfolio comprised of approximately 75 constituents.
• Meaningfully engage all donors in his/her/their accountability and establish a constituent portfolio that generates a minimum of $4.5 million in gift revenue annually.
• Investigate, qualify, and solicit new donors ($500K to $1M in a national territory) to the institution.
• Engage with varied constituencies with social fluency and garner their trust to influence donor behavior.
• Appropriately align donors to giving opportunities and orchestrate and facilitate meaningful engagements.
• Drive execution of strategic plans and lead decision making around donor relationships, special projects, and initiatives.
• Continuously capture and collect significant data points, execute deliverables with precision, develop actionable strategies, and allocate appropriate resources to execute work functions.
• Manage professional staff and staff team and division projects.
• Provide supervision and management to a squad of major gift officers.
• Serve as an inspirational leader to the team.
• Model MD Anderson’s Core Values in all aspects of securing funds in support of the institution.

Benefits

• Paid employee medical benefits (zero premium) starting on first day for employees who work 30 or more hours per week
• Group Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D and Disability coverage
• Paid time off (PTO) and Extended Illness Bank (EIB) paid leave accruals
• Paid institutional holidays, wellness leave, childcare leave, and other paid leave programs
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service
• Teachers Retirement System defined benefit pension plan and two voluntary retirement plans
• Employer paid life, AD&D and an illness related reduced salary pay program
• Extensive wellness, recognition, fitness, employee health programs and employee resource groups
• medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.

What This Job Offers

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