Associate Director for Development, Regional Development

Employees working remotely from outside of Washington are eligible for all University of Washington leave and time off programs such as vacation, sick, parental and shared leave. Eligibility for location specific benefits such as Washington State Paid Family Medical Leave are dependent upon the laws of the state or jurisdiction granting the benefit and personal circumstances (such as number of hours worked in the state).  

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

For over 160 years, the University of Washington has been a hub for learning, innovation, problem solving and community building. Supporting this legacy and important public mission—with the goal of making the UW the world’s greatest public university, as measured by positive impact—guides everything we do in University Advancement . Bringing together development; alumni and stakeholder engagement; marketing and communications; and advancement operations, we advance the UW’s impact by developing meaningful connections that foster pride, advocacy and philanthropic support. 

The mission of the Development team is to facilitate private resources to enhance and protect the University’s reputation and support equitable community building and service. This starts with creating a culture of belonging within our organization that values the diverse experiences and expertise of our team members, allowing everyone to thrive and to contribute their unique talents as we strive to achieve our shared goals.

The Regional Development team has an exciting opportunity for an Associate Director of Development. This is a full-time, permanent position that can be hybrid or 100% remote. We will be filling multiple positions from this recruitment.

The Associate Director of Development will work with the Regional Advancement team, academic leaders, volunteers, and other advancement staff to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects for gifts in support of the University of Washington. The Associate Director of Development will have assigned responsibility for oversight and coordination of fundraising in one or more regions and will be expected to work closely with deans and other academic leaders.

Frequent travel by plane is required.

What You Will Do:

Frontline Fundraising (70%)

•Identify, cultivate and solicit gifts of $50,000+ and steward major gift donors that reside within an assigned region.

•Prepare written proposals, endowment agreements, gift illustrations and other materials needed to secure major gifts.

•In consultation with the Senior Director for Regional Development, establish goals, objectives and strategies for major gift fundraising. Participate in assessing progress toward goals.

•Develop a deep understanding of campus, unit and departmental priorities and goals to accurately present them to donors and prospective donors.

Strategy & Program Development (30%)

•Help inform strategies that promote the philanthropic priorities of the University.

•Participate in creating an annual plan, including goals, objectives and strategies.

•Provide strategic leadership in designing and implementing advancement programs, marketing materials, and donor-centric activities and events to sustain and increase support for the University.

•Evaluate programs, assess progress toward goals and report on results, regularly.

•Develop and manage a budget for outreach, travel and cultivation activities in assigned region(s).

•Plan events and programs designed to engage donors and prospects, often in partnership with other teams including the UW Alumni Association, intercollegiate athletics, schools and colleges.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree AND at least five years of progressively responsible experience in institutional development/advancement, or related field, with an emphasis in cultivating and soliciting major gifts.
• Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

What You Bring:

•Fundraising experience in a higher education setting with knowledge of corporate and foundation fundraising and gift planning vehicles.

•Knowledge of alumni relations/development/advancement principles.

•Ability to develop fundraising strategies that integrate into the organization’s mission, priorities and goals.

•Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite for correspondence, special reports, spreadsheets, databases, forms, etc.

What You Can Expect:

•Frequent local and domestic travel.

•Evening and weekend hours, as necessary, on short or limited notice.

•A work environment visible to the public with visual and audible distractions.

•Ability to lift 20 pounds regularly and up to 40 pounds occasionally for event setup and tear down.

Working Conditions:

• Commuting distance to a major metropolitan airport.

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. 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.

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

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