Associate Director, Philanthropy - Social Work & Law

Associate Director of Philanthropy Social Work and Law

The Associate Director of Philanthropy Social Work and Law at the University of Louisville will play a key role individually and collectively in cultivating long-term relationships with donors who have the capacity to make major gifts, while leveraging the relationships and vision of university leaders to secure support for strategic university priorities and initiatives. The Associate Director of Philanthropy will be a seasoned and exceptional team-oriented fundraising professional with a demonstrated successful track record in securing philanthropic gifts.

The Associate Director of Philanthropy reports to the Senior Director of Philanthropy. The individual will provide creative and visionary coordination of fundraising endeavors for university-wide programs. They will convene campus partners and advise on the development of coordinated strategies aimed at maximizing the lifetime engagement and support of a portfolio of donors. They will help assemble key university members together with prospects around cross-cutting strategic funding priorities.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of individual prospects capable of making 5-6 figure gifts through the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles. Forge long-term relationships with these individuals to cultivate their interest in UofL.
• Solicit and secure major gifts to reach a minimum annual goal as determined by PAE leadership be no less than the performance standard minimum of $1M.
• Actively maintain a portfolio of major gift level prospects, particularly where there are multiple complex university relationships and the opportunity exists to have university-wide impact that requires thoughtful, experienced prospect management.
• Work closely with Prospect Management and Development, faculty, alumni, and volunteers to identify and create cultivation strategies for new high-wealth prospects.
• Manage the process & prospects through qualifying visits, cultivation initiatives, and the solicitation process that aligns with financial capacity, securing the commitment and stewarding current donors.
• Interface with deans, faculty, program directors, and other University leaders when necessary to prepare for prospect meetings and other solicitations.
• Record moves management into the CRM database to track engagement with donors.
• Oversee the preparation of funding proposals, talking points and scripts, assessments of potential support, briefings, gift agreements, endowments, and stewardship reports for assigned prospects. Ensure that all interested parties are involved in key efforts focused on specific prospects.
• Promote deferred giving and have an understanding and expertise in deferred vehicles and the role they can play in supporting visionary gifts.
• Advise key university officers on opportunities for their involvement with specific fundraising and engagement events and initiatives with top prospects.
• Provide assistance to university leadership including the President, Provost, Deans, and other academic leadership in direct solicitations and interactions with donor prospects as appropriate.
• Travel to meet with donors/prospects and execute strategic moves.

Local and some overnight travel, as well as evening and weekend work, will be required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3 years of related experience with higher education fundraising, including planned giving or wealth management, and/or work in CFR is highly valued.
• Experience managing a major gift portfolio utilizing metrics, systems, and relationship-building skills to maximize strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of 5-6-figure donors and transformational gifts.
• A deep understanding of and commitment to an integrated advancement program, and experience in a complex major research university environment.
• A keen understanding of the natural tension that exists when working with a multitude of colleges, departments, and programs with varying priorities is essential.
• Experience working to sustain strong working relationships with staff, donors, faculty, volunteers, and academic leadership is imperative.
• A strong ability to develop sincere, productive relationships and to build trust both with internal colleagues and external constituencies is a must.
• Proven success at developing and implementing creative solicitation strategies for transformational philanthropic gifts in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.
• Superior interpersonal and listening skills, exceptional negotiation skills, and a proven ability to make independent decisions.

Competencies:

• Clear and effective written and oral communication and presentation skills, including individual and large groups.
• Ability to assess risk combined with a willingness to take calculated risks.
• A tolerance for the inevitable ambiguity that typifies a large university.
• Proven ability to drive performance and execute for results; strategic and agile thinker to develop opportunities and strategies for organizational success toward objectives.
• Ability to lead peers and collaborate with staff in a manner that instills confidence and empowers staff to achieve through challenges and tough decisions, and situations, helping them to achieve full potential and attain high individual and team performance and goals.
• High integrity, judgement, and courage of convictions.
• Maintain self-awareness, understanding the impact of self on others.
• Strong evidence of ability to function in an environment of complexity, uncertainty, and change management.
• Natural sense of curiosity regarding individuals and industry, with a skill to uncover connections, networks, and interests.

*Please include a cover letter