Assistant Director for Philanthropy

University of Washington; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

UW Medicine Advancement is seeking an Assistant Director for Philanthropy to develop and manage donor relationships, with a focus on Cardiovascular Health and the Department of Surgery. You will partner with faculty, clinical leaders, volunteers, and colleagues to advance research, patient care, and education through donor engagement and fundraising strategy.

You will manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, set annual goals, prepare proposals, and collaborate across UW Medicine to deliver

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and three years of institutional advancement experience.
• Preference for experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leadership gifts.
• Equivalent education or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies within Cardiovascular Health and Surgery.
• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and meet annual goals.
• Build and strengthen donor relationships through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Meet regularly with donors to understand interests and connect to opportunities.
• Create donor proposals, gift agreements, and fundraising materials.
• Use donor data to inform strategy and progress toward goals.
• Collaborate with prospect development and advancement colleagues.
• Maintain accurate donor records in the donor management system.

Skills

Donor relationship management

Prospect development

Major gift solicitation

Communication skills

Collaboration across teams

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

UW Medicine Advancement is a passionate, 95-person team that works collaboratively to connect donors with meaningful opportunities that enhance patient care, expand educational opportunities, and advance research across UW Medicine. In fiscal year 2026, UW Medicine Advancement raised nearly $488 million in gifts and private grants (55% of UW’s total) from 31,000 donors in support of this mission. Learn more about UW Medicine Advancement at https://give.uwmedicine.org/careers/.

UW Medicine Advancement has an excellent opportunity for an Assistant Director for Philanthropy to join their team.

The Assistant Director for Philanthropy develops and manages relationships with donors to secure philanthropic support for UW Medicine, with a focus on Cardiovascular Health and the Department of Surgery. In partnership with faculty, clinical leaders, volunteers, and advancement colleagues, this role helps advance research, patient care, and education through donor engagement, fundraising strategy, and stewardship activities.

What You Will Do

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies that support UW Medicine priorities within Cardiovascular Health and the Department of Surgery.
• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, achieving annual goals for donor engagement, prospect qualification, gift solicitations, and fundraising results. Expectations include 75 to 125 substantive donor contacts, approximately 25 major gift qualifications, 3 to 7 major gift solicitations, and annual fundraising outcomes ranging from $150,000 to $750,000.
• Build and strengthen relationships with donors and prospective donors through strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Meet regularly with donors and prospective donors to understand philanthropic interests and connect them with meaningful opportunities to support UW Medicine.
• Partner with faculty, clinical leaders, volunteers, and advancement colleagues to develop compelling funding opportunities and donor engagement strategies.
• Create donor proposals, gift agreements, fundraising materials, and other communications that support philanthropic investments.
• Use donor, portfolio, and fundraising data to inform strategy, evaluate progress, and advance annual fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with prospect development, planned giving, and advancement colleagues to identify, qualify, and engage new philanthropic supporters.
• Maintain accurate donor and fundraising records within the University's donor management system.
• Support and participate in events, volunteer engagement activities, and other efforts that strengthen donor relationships and advance fundraising priorities.
• Serve as a trusted partner across UW Medicine Advancement to ensure donors have a seamless and meaningful philanthropic experience.

Activities in Support of Direct Fundraising (15%)

• Contribute to annual fundraising and operational planning by helping establish and advance team goals and priorities.
• Develop donor-facing proposals, gift illustrations, presentations, and other materials that support philanthropic engagement and major gift fundraising efforts.
• Build knowledge of UW Medicine's research, patient care, and education priorities to effectively represent funding opportunities to donors and partners.
• Ensure fundraising activities are conducted in accordance with University policies and applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements, including HIPAA regulations.
• Participate in professional development opportunities to strengthen fundraising expertise and stay current with industry best practices.
• Support additional projects and initiatives that contribute to the success of UW Medicine Advancement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, your application must demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications will not be forwarded to the Hiring Department.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree AND three years of experience in institutional advancement with a preference for experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leadership gifts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building and managing relationships with donors, clients, customers, or other key constituents.
• Initiative, resourcefulness, and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities, solving problems, and driving work forward independently.
• Resilience, persistence, and a positive outlook, with the ability to remain motivated through setbacks, rejection, and long-term relationship-building efforts.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach to working across teams and stakeholder groups.
• Ability to navigate complex organizations and build partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex information into compelling messages for a variety of audiences.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and experience handling confidential information.
• Adaptability, coachability, and a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and follow through on commitments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn new systems and technologies.

What You Can Expect

• Hybrid-work schedule with two days in the office and three days eligible for telework per week. The primary onsite work location is UW Medicine offices in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle.
• Cubicle/open workspace environment that may result in higher noise levels and visual distractions.
• Workload and times may vary, including occasional evenings or weekends.
• Access to reliable transportation for local travel and willingness to travel when necessary.
• Employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with UW Medicine Policy on Professional Conduct. An assessment of professionalism will be a factor considered in performance reviews, salary adjustments and promotion.
• Alignment with UW’s Executive Order 81 Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct which establishes the University’s standards for preventing and responding to such conduct, including compliance with applicable federal and state laws. The University is committed to fostering an environment in which all members of its community can participate fully in University programs and activities free from discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation.