Senior Director for Family Engagement, Philanthropy and Student Life

University of Oregon • Eugene, OR

1d • $128,000 - $142,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director for Family Engagement, Philanthropy and Student Life designs and executes fundraising and engagement strategies to increase philanthropic support from University of Oregon parents and families while advancing the Division of Student Life’s strategic priorities. The role leads parent and family philanthropy, cultivates and solicits high-net-worth parent donors, fosters a culture of giving and engagement, and partners with campus units including Enrollment Management, Student Life, and University Communications. It coordinates major-gift and annual-giving efforts, parent volunteer programs, and engagement for the parent and family donor community. The Senior Director manages an active portfolio of parent and Student Life prospects, predominantly those with capacity for major gifts of $100,000 or more, and builds new networks of volunteers and supporters. The position also provides strategic oversight of the Family Advancement Council and Student Life fundraising initiatives and advises the Vice President for Student Life on fundraising, donor engagement, and stewardship. The role oversees a team and program budgets, represents Student Life within University Advancement, and develops fundraising and stewardship plans for Student Life priorities. The position is regular and ongoing, with a 1.0 FTE appointment. It offers a hybrid work arrangement with flexibility to work in Eugene or Portland, Oregon, and requires travel as needed.

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 and 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 it 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 and willingness 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 the Parent and Family Philanthropy team and design and execute a comprehensive development plan to increase philanthropic support from high-net-worth parents and families.
• Serve as chief strategist for parent and family giving and align the program with university fundraising priorities and institutional goals.
• Collaborate with fundraising, prospect research, donor relations, engagement, and annual philanthropy teams to set solicitation priorities, success measures, and strategies for parent prospects at different giving levels.
• Partner with Annual Giving and Advancement Communications on targeted parent donor solicitations.
• 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 potential donors.
• Develop and manage a long-term parent engagement strategic plan with goals, deliverables, and success measures.
• Prepare and manage the program budget in compliance with university policies and fiscally responsible practices.
• 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 opportunities for parent and family engagement, involvement, and philanthropic support.
• Build relationships through personal visits and connect parents and family members with university leadership and opportunities to participate 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 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 represent university campaign priorities and philanthropic opportunities.
• Provide strategic direction, coaching, and professional development for direct reports, aligned with advancement goals.
• Establish qualitative and quantitative performance goals covering 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 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 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 philanthropic opportunities.
• Coordinate outreach to high-capacity family donors with unit-based fundraisers across the university.

Benefits

• Competitive health and retirement plans.
• Generous paid time off.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Access to university resources.
• 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