Announcement
Details
Open Date 04/06/2026 Requisition Number PRN44655B Job Title Director, Development Working Title Director of Major Gifts Career Progression Track H Track Level FLSA Code Executive Patient Sensitive Job Code? No Standard Hours per Week 40 Full Time or Part Time? Full Time Shift Day Work Schedule Summary VP Area President Department 00289 - Development Location Campus City Salt Lake City, UT Type of Recruitment External Posting Pay Rate Range 95000 to 120000 Close Date 07/06/2026 Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time) Job Summary
The Director of Major Gifts position plays a crucial role in fundraising activities, particularly in soliciting major gifts, and will be specifically focused on building key relationships for the benefit of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI) and the Huntsman Mental Health Foundation (HMHF). This role involves establishing and nurturing relationships with high-profile prospects to support initiatives critical to the HMHI and the HMHF. The Director role will identify and manage an appropriately-sized portfolio of predominantly major gift prospects capable of making gifts of $50,000 and greater. The role will identify, cultivate, and solicit major gifts utilizing strategic prospect and donor engagement plans, while also collaborating with senior administrators, Huntsman Mental Health Foundation and University Advancement staff, and others to align fundraising efforts with the organization's goals and objectives. By expanding the donor base and creating effective engagement pipelines, this position will contribute to the success of the HMHI and HMHF missions and initiatives.
The role reports jointly to the Chief Philanthropy Officer/Deputy Chief Philanthropy Officer at University Advancement and the VP of Philanthropy at the HMHF, providing regular updates and reports on the progress of fundraising activities consistent with the overall fundraising goals and objectives of both entities.
Responsibilities
Utilizes fundamentally sound fundraising practices to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects for the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and Foundation through the development cycle.
Establishes and effectively manages relationships within a portfolio of at least 75 major gift prospects and donors capable of predominantly making gifts from $50,000 - $1M (University Advancement's prospect management system is Unite and run on a Salesforce platform).
Expands the donor base and creates effective engagement pipelines for both new and existing major gift prospects and donors.
Collaborates with senior administrators, HMHF staff, University Advancement colleagues, and others, to align fundraising efforts with the overall goals and objectives of the HMHF and HMHI.
Ensures that predetermined fundraising goals and performance metrics are met.
Serve as a passionate and informed ambassador for Huntsman Mental Health Foundation and Huntsman Mental Health Institute.
Prepares donor briefings, proposals, and follow up communications to support solicitation and stewardship efforts.
Supports donor engagement activities, events, tours and other cultivation opportunities as appropriate, assisting with events as needed.
Performs other duties and supports special initiatives as appropriate.
Minimum Qualifications
The ideal candidate for this position must have a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience), along with five to seven years of demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, sales, relationship management, business development, or a related field. The candidate should possess skills in planning, organization, execution, and accountability to meet predetermined performance goals and metrics. Strong human relations and effective communication skills are also essential.
Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform the essential functions of the job, which include identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gift prospects, establishing and managing relationships with high-profile prospects, designing and implementing strategic fundraising campaigns, and expanding the donor base through the active management of an appropriately sized major gift prospect and donor portfolio. The Director will also collaborate with senior administrators, HMHF and HMHI staff, University Advancement staff and others to align fundraising efforts with the organization's goals and objectives for philanthropy.
Preferences
Experience in major gifts fundraising within a higher education or nonprofit setting. Demonstrated ability to build relationships and engage donors or stakeholders in meaningful ways. Possess strong communication and interpersonal relationship skills, including comfort engaging with high-net-worth individuals. Team player with a positive attitude who will immerse themselves within the Utah community and connect high-wealth prospects and donors to the institution's mission. Experience with capital campaigns or large-scale institutional fundraising initiatives. Proficiency in and dedication to utilizing constituent relationship management software to track engagement activity and progress. Demonstrated critical thinking skills, sound reasoning, and judgment.
Type Benefited Staff Special Instructions Summary Additional Information
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS' post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
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As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.
Posting Specific Questions
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Yes
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Less than 2 years
2 year or more, but less than 4 years
4 years or more, but less than 8 years
8 years or more, but less than 12 years
12 years or more
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The state’s oldest and largest institution of higher education, the University of Utah is the flagship university of the state. The University offers more than 100 undergraduate and 90 graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students (23,500 undergraduate and 7,500 graduate). The University is noted for its high research profile, its diversity of ideas and people, its stunningly beautiful setting and the warmth, friendliness, and collegiality of its faculty staff, and students. Imagine yourself working in a collaborative, creative, respectful environment where everyone’s contribution is needed and appreciated – University of Utah!