Senior Director for Family Engagement, Philanthropy and Student Life

UO HR Website • Eugene, OR

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director for Family Engagement, Philanthropy and Student Life designs and executes a comprehensive fundraising and engagement strategy to increase philanthropic support from University of Oregon parents and families while advancing the Division of Student Life’s strategic priorities. As the chief parent and family philanthropy strategist, the position leads efforts to cultivate, solicit, and steward high-net-worth parents, foster a culture of giving and engagement, and connect 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 for the parent and family donor community. It manages an active portfolio of 30–50 parent and Student Life prospects, predominantly major-gift-level donors and above, and builds networks of volunteers and supporters. The Senior Director 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.

The position leads the Parent and Family Philanthropy team and serves as the primary Student Life liaison and subject-matter expert within University Advancement. It works with university leadership, development colleagues, faculty, staff, and campus partners to identify and advance fundraising priorities, while managing program plans, goals, budgets, and performance. The position requires regional travel to build relationships and solicit gifts. The appointment is regular and ongoing, with a hybrid work arrangement and flexibility to work in Eugene or Portland, Oregon.

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 people 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.
• 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 the Parent and Family Philanthropy team and develop and execute a comprehensive plan to increase philanthropic support from parents and families.
• Serve as the chief strategist for parent and family giving, aligning fundraising with university 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.
• Partner with Annual Giving and Advancement Communications to develop targeted parent donor solicitation strategies.
• Oversee the Family Advancement Council, expanding membership and philanthropic impact.
• Manage the Parent and Family Giving Portal CRM, including data accuracy, segmentation, and optimization for fundraising initiatives.
• Engage the President, Trustees, campaign volunteers, faculty, and staff in donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Develop and manage a long-term parent engagement strategic plan with clear goals, deliverables, and measures of success.
• Prepare and manage the program budget in accordance with university policies and responsible fiscal practices.
• Build relationships with parents, travel to regional areas to solicit gifts, and represent the University of Oregon as an 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.
• Connect parents and family members with university leadership and opportunities to engage in university life through relationship-building and personal visits.
• 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 set 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.
• Represent university campaign priorities and philanthropic opportunities effectively.
• Provide strategic direction, coaching, and professional development for direct reports, aligned with advancement goals.
• Establish qualitative and quantitative performance goals, including donor engagement, solicitations, revenue growth, and portfolio activity.
• Serve as the primary Student Life liaison and 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 donor relationships, strengthen 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 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