Director of Development for Madison House

UVA External Relations; Charlottesville (VA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

UVA External Relations is seeking a Director of Development for Madison House to lead major gift fundraising, steward donor relationships, and drive strategic philanthropy in support of student-led public service.

The role reports to the Managing Director of Student and Family Philanthropy and collaborates with Madison House leadership, alumni, and volunteers to advance priorities and secure philanthropic support across UVA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Eight+ years fundraising experience including major gifts.
• Proven success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of major-gift donors, typically $100,000+.
• Develop cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies with university leaders.
• Travel nationally to engage alumni, parents, friends, and partners.
• Collaborate to identify philanthropic priorities and program needs.
• Lead annual giving strategy in coordination with UVA Annual Giving.
• Partner with multiple advancement colleagues to align strategies for Madison House.
• Represent Madison House at External Relations events and meetings.
• Maintain accurate donor activity in Salesforce.

Skills

Major gifts

Relationship fundraising

Strategic planning

Donor communications

Team collaboration

Travel readiness

CRM experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

External Relations at the University of Virginia (UVA) is seeking a highly qualified candidate to join the Student and Family Philanthropy team as the Director of Development for Madison House. Madison House serves as the student-led volunteer center for the University of Virginia, coordinating volunteers, developing student leaders, cultivating community partnerships, and promoting a lifelong commitment to service. Working alongside community partners, Madison House connects students with meaningful opportunities that support community priorities while fostering their educational and civic development.

The University of Virginia has a strong and reputable advancement community, boasting effective, results-oriented, and resourceful professionals. Our community comprises a robust advancement organization, 12 University schools, and more than 25 University-related programs. We offer a wide variety of career opportunities, as well as an outstanding environment for professional growth and development.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Managing Director of Student and Family Philanthropy, with a dotted line to the Executive Director of Madison House, the Director of Development will play a key leadership role in a growing, highly integrated, and collaborative advancement team pursuing ambitious fundraising goals.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced professional to make a valuable contribution in support of the missions of the University and Madison House.

This position is a central External Relations Development role and will work in close partnership with the Executive Director, staff, students, alumni, and volunteer leaders of Madison House. The Director of Development will serve as the primary frontline fundraiser for Madison House, with responsibility for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major-gift prospects and donors whose philanthropy can advance Madison House's student-led public service mission and long-term priorities.

The successful candidate will be an energetic and entrepreneurial fundraising professional with a demonstrated record of securing major gifts, building meaningful relationships, and translating organizational priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities. They will bring a strong appreciation for student leadership, public service, community engagement, and the transformational impact of Madison House on students and the communities they serve.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of current and prospective major-gift donors, generally at the $100,000+ level, and move prospects toward giving levels that achieve annual and long-range fundraising goals for Madison House and the University.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for assigned prospects, in partnership with the Managing Director of Student and Family Philanthropy, the Executive Director of Madison House, and other University leaders as appropriate.
• Travel nationally to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward alumni, parents, friends, and community partners with the capacity and interest to support Madison House.
• Collaborate with Madison House leadership to identify and articulate philanthropic priorities, including support for student programs, access and participation, endowment growth, facilities or programmatic needs, and other strategic initiatives.
• Build productive working relationships with Madison House staff, student leaders, alumni volunteers, and members of the Madison House Board of Directors in support of fundraising and donor engagement efforts.
• Lead strategy for Madison House annual giving efforts in close partnership with UVA Annual Giving, developing coordinated solicitation plans, messaging, segmentation, and donor engagement strategies that strengthen annual support, retain and upgrade donors, and build the pipeline for future major gifts.
• Partner closely with colleagues across External Relations - including Annual Giving, Prospect Research, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Gift Planning, Principal Gifts, Donor Relations, and Communications - to develop and execute coordinated fundraising strategies that strengthen Madison House's donor pipeline, advance major-gift opportunities, and identify and pursue corporate and foundation funding aligned with Madison House priorities.
• Help identify opportunities to engage Madison House's broad and loyal alumni community, as well as parents, friends, foundations, corporations, and community partners, in support of the organization's mission.
• Support the development and execution of fundraising strategies that advance Madison House priorities, including prospect pipelines, gift tables, volunteer engagement, donor recognition, and targeted communications.
• Collaborate with Madison House staff and Advancement colleagues to ensure meaningful donor stewardship, including impact reporting, donor communications, student engagement opportunities, recognition activities, and events.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions, strategies, proposals, and activity in Salesforce, in accordance with University Advancement policies and standards.
• Represent Madison House and the Student and Family Philanthropy team at External Relations meetings, trainings, events, and other internal and external engagement opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills And Competencies

• Proven track record of managing and successfully advancing a portfolio of major-gift prospects and donors, including gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Demonstrated success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts through a relationship-based fundraising approach.
• Ability to develop thoughtful fundraising strategies in collaboration with UVA leadership, program partners, volunteers, and colleagues across a complex advancement organization.
• Strong ability to articulate Madison House's mission, student-led public service model, strategic priorities, and impact in compelling and donor-centered ways.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and productive working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including senior leaders, alumni, volunteers, students, donors, and colleagues.
• Creative, entrepreneurial, and resourceful approach to prospect development, donor engagement, and fundraising strategy.
• Strong judgment, discretion, integrity, and emotional intelligence.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and contribute effectively as part of a collaborative team.
• Experience using donor database and CRM systems; Salesforce experience is preferred.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: bachelor's degree.
• Experience: At least eight years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including experience in major gifts, leadership annual giving, or a closely related advancement function.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors and prospects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, public service, student engagement, community engagement, or a related field.
• Experience working with alumni, volunteer boards, advisory groups, campaign committees, or other volunteer leadership structures.
• Familiarity with university advancement systems, policies, and collaborative fundraising practices.
• Experience partnering with Annual Giving, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Planned Giving, Donor Relations, Advancement Communications, and other advancement colleagues to advance integrated fundraising strategies.
• An appreciation for the student experience at the University of Virginia and the role of Madison House in supporting student leadership, service, and community engagement.
• Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Highest level of integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to fostering a strong sense of belonging among colleagues, students, volunteers, and donors.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Salary Range

• The anticipated hiring range is $110,000 - $120,000, commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location

• This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.
• This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability.
• UVA External Relations offers a flexible and hybrid workplace. All team members must have access to and maintain a secure home office environment with high-speed internet service and be able to work collaboratively with others using a variety of technologies and tools.
• This hybrid position requires frequent in-person work on UVA Grounds, at Madison House, and at donor or event venues is required. The ideal candidate will live within 50 miles driving distance of our office building in Charlottesville, Virginia.

About UVA And The Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application Timeline

Application review will begin after July 28, 2026.

Additional Requirements

• Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
• This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

Reference Check Process

Reference checks will be completed by UVA's third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

Contact

• For additional information about the position, please contact April Sibiski, Director for Staff Success, at [e-mail].
• For questions about the application process, please contact Jon Freeman, [e-mail].

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.