Associate Director for Philanthropy

University of Washington; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

UW Medicine Advancement seeks an Associate Director for Philanthropy to drive transformational support for the Cancer Vaccine Institute, Dermatology, Urology, and the Division of Simulation Science.

Reporting to the Senior Director for Philanthropy, you will build lasting donor relationships with faculty, volunteers, and donors to translate complex clinical priorities into compelling investments that advance research, patient care, and education.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Four or more years in institutional advancement with cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of leadership gifts.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a major gift portfolio with annual goals and donor contacts.
• Develop strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans and maintain donor activity in the prospect system.
• Partner with faculty and leaders to shape funding opportunities and deliver donor experiences aligned with institutional priorities.

Skills

Face-to-face cultivation & solicitatio

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Distill complex medical info

Decision making under ambiguity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)

UW donor CRM / proprietary systems

Job description

UW Medicine Advancement has an outstanding opportunity for an Associate Director for Philanthropy to join their team.

Reporting to the Senior Director for Philanthropy, the Associate Director for Philanthropy serves as a strategic front line fundraiser advancing research, patient care, and education across UW Medicine. As part of a dynamic major gifts team, this role builds meaningful relationships with donors, faculty leaders, and volunteers to secure transformational philanthropic support for the Cancer Vaccine Institute, the Department of Dermatology, the Department of Urology, and the Division of Simulation Science. This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative, mission-driven fundraiser to translate complex clinical and scientific priorities into compelling donor investments that improve lives in our community and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and manage a major gift portfolio, with annual expectations of 75–125 substantive donor contacts, 25 major gift qualifications, and 4–10 major gift solicitations resulting in approximately $500,000 to $1 million raised annually.
• Develop and execute strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for prospects and donors; prepare proposals, endowment agreements, and related donor materials; and maintain accurate activity tracking in the University’s prospect management system.
• Partner with faculty, academic and hospital leaders, volunteers, and colleagues across Advancement—including Pipeline and Planned Giving—to identify prospects, shape compelling funding opportunities, and deliver a high-quality donor experience that aligns gifts with institutional priorities.

Activities in Support of Direct Fundraising – 15%

• Contribute to annual operating plans and fundraising strategy by analyzing portfolio, pipeline, engagement, and gift data to forecast results, inform adjustments, and maintain progress toward annual goals.
• Develop working knowledge of UW Medicine’s research, patient care, and education priorities, and ensure fundraising activities involving patients are conducted in compliance with HIPAA and other applicable policies.
• Pursue ongoing professional development, complete annual self-assessment and related performance requirements, and support additional Advancement priorities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both 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.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Four or more years of increasingly responsible experience in institutional advancement, preferably including experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leadership gifts.

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

Additional Qualifications

• Experience with face-to-face cultivation and solicitation activities, along with strong written communication skills and the ability to distill complex scientific or medical information into clear, compelling donor-facing materials.
• Strong interpersonal, customer service, judgment, and decision-making skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, manage multiple priorities, and perform effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism, plus proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams) and the ability to learn UW donor CRM and other proprietary systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Major gift officer experience in a healthcare, medical research, and/or higher education setting.

Working Conditions

• Performs work primarily in a shared office environment with standard office noise and activity, including calls, meetings, and in-person collaboration.
• Frequent local and regional travel and some national travel are required, along with regular evening and weekend meetings and events.
• Expected to have regular, reliable transportation for local travel and be willing to travel as needed.

About the Team

The passionate 95-person team at UW Medicine Advancement works collaboratively to connect donors with meaningful opportunities that enhance patient care, expand educational access, and advance groundbreaking research. Team members have the opportunity to grow their careers while helping shape the future of health in our region and around the world.

In fiscal year 2025, UW Medicine Advancement raised nearly $382 million in gifts and private grants from more than 30,000 donors in support of UW Medicine’s mission. Learn more about the team and its priorities at https://give.uwmedicine.org/careers/.