Assistant Vice President, Philanthropy & Major Gifts

The Assistant Vice President, Philanthropy will lead key elements of the planning and implementation of University philanthropy and alumni engagement activities and support the Vice President and Chief Development Officers in the schools in successful fundraising. He or she will design and execute innovative strategies to identify, engage, solicit, and steward volunteers, grateful patients, alumni, corporations, foundations, and friends capable of supporting the University. The Assistant Vice President will personally maintain a select portfolio of high-level prospects and donors capable of giving at the major and principal gift levels. In particular, the Assistant Vice President will work closely with the UMB Foundation board on recruitment and retention of member.

The Assistant Vice President must be an integral member of the UMB community. He or she will reflect and embody the values of UMB and its leadership, leading the University advancement efforts and serving the university community with integrity, warmth, humility, grace, and humor.

Benefits: Exempt Regular 

UMB offers a comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes wellness, work/life balance, and professional development. This position participates in a retirement program that must be selected and is effective on your date of hire. Exempt regular staff receive a generous PAID leave package that includes over 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year, 15 paid holidays, 3 personal leave, unlimited accrual of sick time, and comprehensive health insurance; professional learning and development programs; tuition remission for employees and their dependents at any University System of Maryland school; and flexible work schedules and teleworking options (if applicable per job). 

Primary Duties:

• Guide and support the Vice President in his role as chief spokesperson and fundraiser for the University, serving as coach, advisor, and co-strategist in cultivating and soliciting gifts; ensure that the Vice President is professionally and effectively staffed regarding fundraising activities and that his time is optimally utilized.
  
• Work closely with the Vice President to systematically engage the schools’ Deans, Chief Development Officers, and other key staff in the fundraising process; provide them with the resources, training, and tools necessary to leverage their most successful alumni, grateful patients, and existing donors in supporting program priorities.
  
• Partner with the Vice President to identify and recruit philanthropic alumni, existing donors, and community members to the UMB Foundation board.
  
• Maintain regular communication with and cultivate strong, collaborative relationships across the university, including with the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, to coordinate and leverage fundraising activities as appropriate. Ensure that the University-wide philanthropy and alumni relations team serves as a valued, collaborative, and responsive partner that professionally addresses both opportunities and challenges.
  
• In conjunction with the director of annual giving and alumni engagement, evaluate, strengthen, and enhance annual fund and alumni programming, ensuring that University’s alumni are actively and meaningfully engaged; develop and implement innovative programs to identify and engage prospective donors (including alumni, corporations and foundations, parents/families, and friends), increase donor retention, and renew and bring existing donors to higher levels of giving.
  
• Personally manage a select portfolio of University prospects, cultivating and successfully soliciting new and existing prospects capable of making substantial gifts to the University. Travel as necessary to engage donors, prospects, grateful patients, alumni, and friends.
  
• Formulate a keen understanding of the research being conducted in the University; be able to articulate funding priorities, the University’s mission, and research milestones in clear and compelling terms to a broad array of constituencies. Direct fundraising efforts for programs that originate in the central University or that touch multiple divisions, such as the Community Engagement Center.
  
• Lead and mentor a small team of professionals; serve as an advocate for staff, representing their needs and concerns. This will ultimately include Regional Gift Officers and a Development Associate.
  
• Creates a cohesive diverse work team that works to collaboratively to achieve University goals and mission. Oversees the recruitment, performance, and training of team members and continually reviews strengths and increase proficiencies of staff to maintain a well-trained, highly involved, and motivated team.
  
• Serve as a resource for gift officers in helping them develop effective prospect strategies, moves management, gift closures, and stewardship; ensure that gift officers prioritize each donor’s intentions and act in the donor’s best interests.
  
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education: Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience: Ten (10) years of experience that demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the field, leadership, management, and administration of philanthropy in progressively responsible positions. Previous experience in a higher education setting preferred.

Supervisory: Five (5) years of direct supervision and management.

Other: 

• This position may require travel as necessary to engage donors, prospects, grateful patients, alumni, and friends.
  
• Financial disclosure reporting required by State of Maryland Ethics Commission.
  
• Serves at the pleasure of the Vice President, Philanthropy.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• An authentic leader who is motivated by UMB’s mission and can role model the related behaviors to UMB’s core values.
• Ability to demonstrate, understand, apply, and adhere to the UMB Core Values of Respect & Integrity, Wellbeing & Sustainability, Equity & Justice, and Innovation & Discovery.
  
• Strategic thinker with demonstrated experience in generating results as well as experience working across departmental silos to accomplish missions.
  
• Is a visible leader for Philanthropy staff members who empowers and supports the team, garners trust, encourages professional development, and holds all members of the team accountable for their actions.
  
• Understands the audience and is able to tailor oral and written communication for optimal understanding. Is experienced with public speaking and presenting to groups of all sizes.  Ability to effectively communicate both verbal and written thoughts, ideas, and facts.
  
• Ability to build teams and empower subordinates to get the job done while providing the support they need. Must have a history of recruiting and developing exceptional people.
  
• Possess excellent relationship building, communication, and influencing skills. Demonstrates the ability to interact comfortably, gaining credibility with a wide range of university stakeholders and constituents at all levels of seniority.
  
• Thorough knowledge of all applicable requirements, regulations, and laws.
  
• Ability to support a mission and strategic vision. Instructional, training, and teambuilding skills to strengthen and cultivate relationships.
  
• Skill in consultation and change management.

Hiring Range: $205K-$224K (Commensurate with education and experience) 

UMB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law or policy. For assistance related to employment, please contact the Staffing department at [email protected] .  

If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), during any part of the employment process, please submit a UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request . You may also contact [email protected] . Please note that only inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.