Senior Director for Family Engagement, Philanthropy and Student Life - University of Oregon

Another Source • Portland, OR

1d • $128,000 - $142,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Oregon is recruiting a Senior Director for Family Engagement, Philanthropy and Student Life to join University Advancement. The position can be based in Portland or Eugene, Oregon, and offers a flexible hybrid work arrangement, with travel up to 50% of the time.

The Senior Director designs and executes a comprehensive fundraising and engagement strategy to increase philanthropic support from University of Oregon parents and families while supporting the Division of Student Life's strategic priorities. As the chief parent and family philanthropy strategist, the role cultivates, solicits, and stewards high-net-worth parents, builds a culture of giving and engagement, and connects supporters with philanthropic opportunities and other ways to participate in university life.

The role coordinates major gift fundraising, annual giving, parent volunteer programs, and engagement efforts. It manages an active portfolio of top parent donors, predominantly those with capacity to give at the major gift level and above ($100,000+), while building new networks of volunteers and supporters. The Senior Director also provides strategic oversight for the Family Advancement Council and Student Life fundraising initiatives and advises the Office of the Vice President for Student Life on fundraising, donor engagement, and stewardship.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of skills and experience.
• Seven years of experience building relationships and working with parents of university students, volunteers, or high-level external constituents in a nonprofit environment, or equivalent.
• Ability to work independently and establish cooperative working relationships with faculty, staff, and campus partners.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Experience engaging volunteers and developing strategies to achieve organizational goals.
• Ability to make a persuasive verbal and written case for becoming involved in university life.
• Professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality when working with high-level donors and external constituents.
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn the university's history, mission, programs, and culture and explain how UO distinguishes itself from peer institutions.
• Strong commitment to parent, family, and donor-driven customer service.
• Sophistication in prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation, including building relationships with donors and prospects who may be difficult to engage.
• Commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to travel as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in higher education.
• Five years of experience cultivating and soliciting donors through frontline major gift fundraising.
• Familiarity with the University of Oregon.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the Parent and Family Philanthropy team, designing and executing a comprehensive development plan to increase philanthropic support from high-net-worth parents and families.
• Serve as the chief strategist for parent and family giving, aligning efforts with university fundraising priorities and institutional goals.
• Collaborate with frontline fundraising, prospect research, donor relations, engagement, and annual philanthropy teams to set solicitation priorities, success measures, and strategies for parent prospects at various giving levels.
• Partner with Annual Giving and Advancement Communications to create targeted parent donor solicitation strategies.
• Oversee the Family Advancement Council, expanding membership and philanthropic impact.
• Manage the Parent and Family Giving Portal CRM, ensuring data accuracy, segmentation, and optimization for fundraising initiatives.
• Engage the President, Trustees, campaign volunteers, faculty, and staff in cultivating and soliciting current and prospective donors.
• Develop and manage a long-term parent engagement strategic plan with goals, deliverables, and measures of success.
• Prepare and manage the program budget in compliance with university policies.
• Build relationships with parents, travel to regional areas to solicit gifts, and serve as a University of Oregon ambassador.
• Promote an equitable and inclusive work environment grounded in mutual respect, collegiality, and collaboration.
• Manage a portfolio of 30–50 active parent and Student Life prospects, focusing on major and principal gifts.
• Identify new parent and family engagement, involvement, and philanthropic support opportunities.
• Build relationships through personal visits and connect parents and family members with university leadership and opportunities to engage in university life.
• Partner with university leaders, including the President, vice presidents, deans, and faculty, to prepare for and participate in donor and prospect meetings.
• Attend university events to develop constituent relationships and identify engagement opportunities.
• Work with development leadership to establish and achieve measurable prospect discovery, qualification, and solicitation goals.
• Assess prospective donors' giving capacity and philanthropic interests.
• Coordinate with annual philanthropy, leadership annual giving, mid-level giving, and major gift programs to identify, solicit, and transition prospects at appropriate giving levels.
• Maintain fluency with and effectively represent UO campaign priorities and philanthropic opportunities.
• Provide strategic direction, coaching, and professional development for direct reports, aligning their work with advancement goals.
• Establish qualitative and quantitative performance goals, including donor engagement, solicitations, revenue growth, and portfolio activity.
• Serve as the primary liaison and Student Life expert within University Advancement, providing training and guidance to fundraisers, development officers, and senior university leadership.
• Advise the Vice President for Student Life as a strategic thought partner on fundraising strategies, priorities, and philanthropic opportunities.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising and stewardship plan for Student Life priorities to meet annual cash and commitment targets.
• Lead fundraising efforts for student experience initiatives, wellness programs, scholarships, and campus life enhancements.
• Establish new donor relationships, strengthen existing partnerships, and identify opportunities to generate philanthropic revenue.
• Partner with Student Life leadership, faculty, and campus units to develop impactful philanthropic opportunities.
• Collaborate with unit-based fundraisers across UO to coordinate outreach to high-capacity family donors.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including competitive health and retirement plans, generous paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
• Access to the resources of a world-class university.
• Hybrid work arrangement with flexibility in Eugene or Portland, Oregon.
• Collaborative advancement culture with opportunities for professional growth and impact.

What This Job Offers

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