Associate Director for Philanthropy - UW Medicine Advancement

Job Description

UW Medicine Advancement is a passionate, 95-person team that works collaboratively to connect donors with meaningful opportunities that enhance patient care, expand educational opportunities, and advance research across UW Medicine. 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 this mission.

UW Medicine has an exciting opening for an Associate Director for Philanthropy. This is a full-time permanent position.

The Associate Director for Philanthropy qualifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards major gift prospects from current donors and grateful patients in UW Medicine Advancement’s fundraising pipeline. This role is ideal for a collaborative, curious and mission-driven fundraiser who enjoys building relationships, translating complex medical and scientific priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities, and helping donors make a meaningful impact on patient care, education and discovery.

At UW Medicine Advancement, you will join a mission-driven team connecting donors and alumni with opportunities that enhance patient care, expand educational opportunities, and advance research. This role is ideal for an organized relationship-builder who enjoys turning data-informed insights, thoughtful outreach, and cross-functional collaboration into stronger donor communities and lasting impact.

What You Will Do

Direct Fundraising Responsibilities (85%)

• Manage a portfolio of major gift and private foundation prospects, with annual goals that include 75–125 substantive donor contacts, 25 major gift qualifications, 4–10 major gift solicitations and $500,000–$1 million raised annually.
• Identify and qualify prospective major gift donors through grateful patient data, research tools, faculty referrals and donor history; initiate outreach through email, phone and personal meetings to build authentic, donor-centered relationships.
• Develop and execute cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies that connect donor interests with UW Medicine priorities in research, patient care and education, including preparing proposals and materials that inspire philanthropic investment.
• Partner with faculty, clinicians and advancement colleagues to identify giving opportunities, build donor pipelines and determine when to advance, collaborate on or transition prospect relationships.
• Document donor engagement and strategy in the University’s prospect management system, ensuring timely, accurate and coordinated relationship management.

Activities in Support of Direct Fundraising (15%)

• Contribute to annual operating plans, including quantitative and qualitative fundraising goals, and help strengthen team-wide systems that support major gift success.
• Build and maintain broad fluency in UW Medicine’s clinical, research and educational priorities in order to translate complex information into clear, compelling donor communications.
• Prepare written proposals, gift illustrations, briefings and informational materials that support effective donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Ensure all fundraising activity involving patients is conducted with the highest standards of confidentiality, professionalism, ethics and HIPAA compliance.
• Pursue professional development, complete annual performance self-assessment activities and perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, your application must demonstrate that you meet 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

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

Bachelor’s degree in any field and four or more years of increasingly responsible experience in institutional advancement, with a preference for experience cultivating, soliciting and stewarding leadership gifts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with face-to-face cultivation and solicitation activities.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely, including the ability to distill complex scientific, medical and/or data-driven information for donor audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, with the ability to communicate openly, directly and professionally to foster dialogue and resolve differences effectively.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills, including the ability to navigate ambiguity and perform effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidence and protect confidential information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams, with the willingness and ability to learn the UW donor CRM and other proprietary systems.
• UW Medicine values professionalism. Employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with the UW Medicine Policy on Professional Conduct; professionalism is considered in performance reviews, salary adjustments and promotion.
• Alignment with the University of Washington’s standards for preventing and responding to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct and retaliation, including compliance with applicable federal and state laws.
• Fundraising experience in a health care, medical research and/or higher education setting.
• Experience with grateful patient fundraising.

Additional Application Requirement

This recruitment requires a cover letter. Applications that do not include a cover letter will not be forwarded to the hiring department. 

Please address the following in your cover letter: 

• Explain how your experience and qualifications align with an Associate Director for Philanthropy position with an emphasis on frontline fundraising, donor discovery and qualification, cultivation and solicitation, relationship management, and cross-functional collaboration to build and advance a major gift pipeline.
• Include your interest in the role and UW Medicine Advancement.

What You Can Expect

• This position is based in Seattle, Washington at UW Medicine’s South Lake Union campus and operates on a hybrid schedule, with an expectation of at least 2 days per week onsite and up to 3 days of telework.
• Work is performed primarily in a shared office/cubicle environment with standard office noise and activity, including calls, meetings and in-person conversations.
• Frequent local and regional travel, some national travel and regular evening and weekend meetings and events are required.
• Access to regular, reliable transportation for local travel is expected, along with willingness to travel when necessary.

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Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

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About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or

dso@uw.edu

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.