Associate Director, Development & Corporate Sponsorships

University of California, Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

UCLA Extension (UCLAx) seeks an Associate Director of Development and Corporate Sponsorships to lead annual gift programs, cultivate donors, and manage sponsorship activities. You will curate prospects, coordinate events, and partner with the External Affairs team to advance fundraising initiatives.

This role requires a strategic fundraiser with a collaborative, detail‑oriented approach and comfort working across departments.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of demonstrated annual giving or fundraising experience.
• Experience in establishing, managing, and evaluating strategic partnerships and initiatives.
• Experience in conceptualizing, planning, and executing special events that advance fundraising objectives.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising principles and annual giving strategies in higher education.
• Skilled in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors and partners.
• Proficient in researching prospective funders and developing value propositions.
• Exceptional written communication and reporting skills.
• Strong verbal communication and presentation abilities.
• Highly organized, able to prioritize, and meet deadlines independently.
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and data management tools.
• Demonstrated integrity and discretion with confidential information.
• Experience with donor databases; Blackbaud CRM preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate and solicit annual gifts from a portfolio of prospects.
• Manage partnerships and sponsor events to support UCLAx operations.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Dean, External Affairs, on fundraising initiatives.
• Oversee execution of cultivation events and sponsorship strategies.
• Support broader External Affairs projects and fundraising goals.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Partnership development

Event planning

Fundraising principles

Donor cultivation

Prospect research

Written communication

Public speaking

Organization & time management

Staff management

Integrity & discretion

Blackbaud CRM

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Blackbaud CRM

Job description

On-site presence will be required at a minimum of 2 days per week, depending on departmental and organizational needs. For more information, please consult the hiring manager.

This position will be working from UCLA Downtown in Downtown LA - 433 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013.

Department Summary

Excelling in quality, innovation, and impact, UCLA Extension (UCLAx) is one of the top providers of continuing and professional education in the United States, offering programs and classes to more than 50,000 students per year through approximately 4,500 classes and certificate programs to meet the professional development, continuing education, and personal enrichment needs of the full spectrum of traditional, nontraditional, domestic, international, professional, and continuing education students throughout and beyond Los Angeles.

Position Summary

When you join UCLA Extension (UCLAx) as our Associate Director of Development and Corporate Sponsorships, you become part of our force for change and transformation in this vital role to raise funds that keep this momentum going and ensure that all generations benefit from the legacy that is uniquely and distinctly UNEX. As one of the nation's oldest, largest, and most comprehensive continuing and professional studies providers, UCLAx gives students a wide range of options to expand career opportunities, switch careers, or achieve personal growth. We encourage you to bring your strong experience in fundraising, commitment to excellence, and drive for success to this role. This is a great opportunity to bring your passion for engagement, zest for fundraising and high ambitions to advance our continuing education programs. As the Associate Director, you will be a member of UCLA Extension's inaugural frontline fundraising team responsible for the identification, cultivation and solicitation of annual gifts, with a specific focus on soliciting gifts ranging from $5,000 to $75,000. You will identify and manage a portfolio of prospects, sponsors and donors and will create individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies and timetables. You will strategize and oversee execution of a variety of UCLAx cultivation events with a focus on gifts that support annual operations. You will also support and/or manage corporate sponsorship event strategies and oversight. In addition, you will work in partnership with the Assistant Dean, External Affairs, and other Extension team members on a wide variety of fundraising projects and initiatives and will be a strong contributor to the broader mission of the External Affairs office. When you join us as our Associate Director of Development and Corporate Sponsorships, you will be a valued member of our team, supported by leadership and will receive the tools and inspiration to grow and make significant achievements as part of our environment of excellence.

Salary & Compensation

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Qualifications

• 2 years Minimum of demonstrated annual giving or fundraising experience and/or prior experience in a related field such as sales, marketing or business development. (Required)
• Experience in establishing, managing, and evaluating strategic partnerships, collaborations, and initiatives, building support among internal stakeholders and external organizations. (Required)
• Experience in conceptualizing, planning, and executing special events that advance organizational engagement, fundraising, and relationship-building objectives. (Required)
• Strong knowledge of fundraising principles and annual giving strategies within complex organizations, including higher education and research institutions. (Required)
• Skilled in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors and partners through targeted relationship management and engagement strategies. (Required)
• Proficient in researching prospective funders, analyzing funding opportunities, and developing compelling value propositions and partnership recommendations. (Required)
• Exceptional written communication skills with experience preparing reports, proposals, business correspondence, fundraising materials, and event communications. (Required)
• Strong verbal communication and presentation skills, with the ability to persuasively articulate organizational missions, priorities, and fundraising goals. (Required)
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with demonstrated ability to prioritize competing demands, work independently, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision. (Required)
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills, capable of building and sustaining productive relationships with diverse internal and external constituents. (Required)
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and data management tools, including database reporting, market segmentation, and data analysis. (Required)
• Demonstrated integrity and discretion in handling confidential information, with experience recruiting, training, motivating, and managing staff and volunteers to support development and fundraising objectives. (Required)
• Experienced with Blackbaud CRM or comparable donor/development databases, leveraging data systems to generate reports and support fundraising activities. (Preferred)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

• Bachelor's Degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.
• Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.
• Ability to work weekends and evenings as needed. (Required)
• Position is hybrid, and incumbent is required to work a minimum of 2-days per week on site (Required)

Schedule

8:00 am to 5:00 pm PST

Union/Policy Covered

99-Policy Covered