SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PRINCIPAL GIVING

Updated: about 1 year ago
Location: Seattle, WASHINGTON
Deadline: Open Until Filled

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For more detailed information, please visit our UA website.

The Principal Giving Program (PGP) focuses on current and prospective donors who have the capacity and affinity to make transformational and/or legacy gifts to any area of the UW. Our emphasis is on the power of ongoing, high touch relationships and the opportunity to generate gifts of impact. This program drives the creation of informed, long-range strategies for prospective donors – strategies that honor their passions and respect their multiple interests, strategies designed to bridge unit relationships with institutional viewpoints, and strategies that inspire our donors to stretch their philanthropic partnership with UW. UW’s Principal Giving program aligns University priorities with philanthropic values and goals of individual donors.

The Senior Director of Principal Giving will be responsible for the planning, strategy-setting and execution of activities necessary to successfully secure gifts of $1M and more for the University of Washington, with a primary emphasis on gifts of $5M+. Efforts shall be focused on strategic development of relationships and coordination of next steps with an identified group of the University’s most philanthropic and high capacity donors. The position will provide transparency and vision and use credible and proven experience with principal giving level donors to convene and build effective pathways to philanthropic outcomes.

Position Purpose
As one of the University’s most experienced principal gift strategists, the Senior Director will contribute to the goal to increase the opportunity for principal giving level of philanthropic support for UW priorities.  Through transparency, intentional communication, strategy development, personal leadership and other means, we ensure the development of powerful, life-long relationships between the UW and individuals and families who are part of the UW’s Principal Gift Prospect pool. This position will identify, steward, cultivate, and solicit principal giving prospects, individuals or families who typically have rated capacity of $1M or greater and will most benefit from a high-touch, life-long relationship. Develop and implement a solicitation strategy for each assigned prospect. Understand their philanthropic passions and align to University priorities. This work is done collaboratively with many units across campus, and the Senior Director will be a key strategist, ensuring that we are focusing on the development of meaningful relationships and the opportunity for transformational giving.

Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting to Assistant Vice President for Principal Giving Programs (PGP), this position is a senior partner and works with UW advancement colleagues at all levels, responsible for socializing and implementing the PG vision and mission. This position will manage a portfolio of high capacity principal gift prospects and will focus on developing long and short term strategies to ensure effective cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of this targeted group of principal gift prospects and donors. Coordinate planning and execution of activities necessary to successfully align the prospects deepest interests and philanthropic objectives with the UW’s current or future projects/programs. Serve as subject matter expert in development, evaluation, improvement and management of systems for identifying top prospective donors.  Develop and implement a strategy for each assigned prospect, including proposal development and solicitation of gifts of seven figures and above. Prepare written proposals, informational materials, endowment agreements, gift illustrations and other materials needed to secure gifts.

Place primacy on the quality of relationship we aim to build with members of this prospect pool, to ensure that we remain focused on advancing the donor relationship toward meaningful philanthropy aligned with of University priorities. Establish relationships to donors and prospective donors via personal visits, phone calls, email, etc. to build and support life-long relationships and provide “concierge” or honest broker service. Provide thoughtful and skillful articulation of unit and University-wide priorities.

Actively collaborate and support the University Initiatives (UI) effort, UW’s evolving vision to create multi-disciplinary initiatives tackling some of society’s intractable issues. Partner with Senior Director of UI and other PG Team members in creative discussion and development of engagement strategies around likely prospects with a goal of generating transformational level gifts of impact.

Actively contribute to the goal to identify and develop relationships with future Principal Giving level donors through strategic and targeted outreach to new or undiscovered prospects.

The Senior Director will act as a convening partner in facilitating key stakeholder roles across all University programs and departments, and work closely with a broad spectrum of individuals to build consensus and create pathways for sophisticated gift conversations and outcomes. This position provides strategic vision and leadership and coordinates the participation of Academic leadership including the University President as well as deans, faculty, volunteers, advancement staff, and administrators in designing and implementing steps. Provide strategic leadership driving relationships at the Presidential and unit level. Provide briefings and tactical support on donor visits and events with university representatives, including the President, Provost, deans, directors, faculty and students.  Proactively work with colleagues across UW, including the Vice President for Development, Senior Vice President for Development, Advancement leadership, academic leaders, volunteers and other staff to prepare written proposals, informational materials, endowment agreements, gift illustrations and other materials needed to secure gifts.  Work cooperatively and in partnership with colleagues in the Development Programs unit, including but not limited to the Planned Giving, Regional and International Giving, Corporate and Foundation Relations, and Development Services teams.

Collaborate with school/college/program Chief Advancement Officers and their staff members to creatively and appropriately cultivate, solicit and steward donors.  Support senior fundraisers and their academic leaders throughout the UW with respect to PGP’s and spotlight the opportunity to generate gifts of impact. Convene regular meetings with fundraisers to review and revise individual prospect plans and/or strategies. Provide ongoing advice, counsel, and support to unit partners and regularly coordinate with front-line fundraisers across campus to ensure that the strategies we have constructed are implemented or updated. Hold multi-unit strategy sessions and similar meetings as needed to coalesce around a donor pathway. Ensure transparent communication to all colleagues across campus concerning developments and aspirations the institution may have for any given supporter. Serve as liaison between schools/colleges/units and programs and prospective donors.  Become familiar with individual unit programs, priorities and goals in order to represent them to donors and prospective donors. 

Lead the development and management of engagement or stewardship events and activities, existing or new, typically in service to our charge of building the strongest relationships, engaging donors in the ideation of UW initiatives, stewarding impactful gifts, and/or cultivating pipeline/future principal giving prospects.

Participate cooperatively in the University’s prospect management and tracking system, including consistent and timely documentation of prospect activities, proposals, and communications.

In consultation with the AVP, establish goals, objectives and strategies to guide activity.  Participate in assessing progress toward goals.  Develop and manage a budget for appropriate activities.

Participate in the development of:
(i) Policies and procedures relating to the Principal Giving program;
(ii) Any materials that may be needed

Other duties as assigned by the AVP Principal Giving.

Minimum Requirements
A bachelor’s degree is required.

Candidates must have at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in institutional development, with an emphasis on cultivating and soliciting major gifts and the development of strategies focused on long-term relationship building, although comparable skills acquired in other fields such as marketing or sales may substitute for prior development experience.

Demonstrated experience in successfully soliciting gifts of at least $1M and up, particularly complex gifts or gifts to multiple areas and with a preference for experience with gifts at higher levels.

Strong interpersonal skills, leadership abilities and customer service. Poised, professional manner with the ability to express oneself clearly and empathetically in interactions with others in all forms of communications, verbal and written, one-on-one and group, etc.  Ability to communicate in a direct and professional manner that resolves differences.

Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships and actively contributes as a member of working teams to achieve results.

Ability to provide leadership to staff and faculty across the institution. Ability to staff Academic and Advancement leadership (president, provost, deans) on donor interactions, including personal visits. Ability to provide credible advice and counsel to colleagues and be an experienced resource for philanthropic strategies.

Ability to work independently, problem solve, take initiative, set priorities and handle multiple projects efficiently and effectively. Takes responsibility and initiative to set and meet the goals, objectives and obligations while representing the mission, visions and values of the organization.

Demonstrated creativity, organizational ability, and strong attention to detail.
Ability to make decisions in ambiguous situations, exercise good judgment based on information and analysis in a fast pace, dynamic, deadline driven environment in an organized and professional manner.  Responsibilities require considerable professional independence, personal initiative, and the ability to effectively and quickly respond to a variety of situations involving University constituencies.

Demonstrated ability to maintain confidences and protect confidential information; acts in a selfless manner and models ethical values of the UW.

Values the UW’s commitment to inclusiveness.  Demonstrates respect and commitment to diversity.

Conditions of Employment
Cubicle/Open workspace environment which may result in additional or higher levels of noise and visual distractions.

Ability to work evening and weekend hours, as necessary, on short or limited notice.

Must have regular and reliable transportation for local travel and willing to travel when necessary.

Frequent local travel expected.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.



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