Director of Leadership Giving and Philanthropic Partnerships- AZ- Development and Alumni Relations

Summary

Midwestern University seeks a dynamic, innovative, and results-oriented advancement professional to serve as Director of Leadership Giving, Annual Giving, Stewardship and Philanthropic Partnerships. Reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement, this position is responsible for developing and executing revenue-generating philanthropic programs that strengthen donor engagement, expand donor participation, and build sustainable support for the University.

The Director leads leadership giving, annual giving, donor stewardship and recognition programs, donor societies, alumni engagement initiatives, philanthropic partnerships, and foundational planned giving efforts. The position serves as a key driver of donor acquisition, retention, and pipeline development while creating meaningful opportunities that connect alumni, grateful patients, faculty, staff, parents, friends, corporations, foundations, and community leaders to Midwestern University's mission.

The Director is responsible for developing and managing a year-round fundraising and engagement strategy, including Giving Day, Giving Tuesday, year-end campaigns, leadership giving initiatives, stewardship programs, and other fundraising activities designed to strengthen participation and philanthropic support.

The position is accountable for achieving annual fundraising and participation goals and is expected to contribute at least $1 million annually in philanthropic revenue through leadership giving, annual giving programs, philanthropic partnerships, sponsorships, stewardship initiatives, and related fundraising activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership Giving, Annual Giving and Pipeline Development

• Develop and execute comprehensive leadership and annual giving strategies that increase donor participation, philanthropic revenue, retention, and pipeline growth.
• Establish and grow a Leadership Giving Program and Presidential Society that recognize philanthropic leadership, strengthen donor engagement, and create pathways to major and planned giving.
• Design donor engagement strategies that move supporters through the philanthropic continuum from annual donor to leadership donor, major gift prospect, and long-term institutional partner.
• Manage annual fundraising goals, performance metrics, and revenue objectives related to leadership giving, annual giving, stewardship, partnerships, and donor engagement.
• Develop strategies to identify, qualify, and transition leadership giving donors with major gift potential to the Major Gifts team.
• Maintain a selective portfolio of leadership giving, corporate, foundation, and partnership prospects and personally cultivate, solicit, and steward donors as appropriate.
• Partner with University leadership, deans, faculty, clinicians, and advancement colleagues to advance fundraising priorities and donor engagement opportunities.
• Utilize data, analytics, and emerging technologies to strengthen fundraising performance, donor engagement, and pipeline development.

Fundraising Strategy, Campaigns and Special Initiatives

• Develop and execute a comprehensive annual fundraising calendar that drives participation, revenue growth, donor retention, and donor acquisition.
• Lead the planning and execution of key fundraising initiatives, including Giving Day, Giving Tuesday, year-end giving campaigns, leadership giving initiatives, reunion giving programs, and        faculty and staff campaigns.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to create integrated fundraising campaigns utilizing digital, print, social media, video, email, direct mail, and emerging communication
• Develop compelling fundraising themes, donor stories, stewardship communications, and impact messaging that inspire philanthropic support.
• Establish campaign goals, benchmarks, and performance metrics and implement continuous improvement strategies based on results.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy by engaging academic and administrative leaders as active partners in fundraising and stewardship efforts.

Donor Engagement, Stewardship and Recognition

• Lead a comprehensive donor stewardship and recognition program that demonstrates impact, builds trust, and encourages continued philanthropic support.
• Develop meaningful donor experiences through stewardship, recognition programs, events, impact reporting, and engagement opportunities.
• Oversee donor recognition initiatives, including a new Presidential Society, leadership giving societies, and legacy giving recognition programs.
• Ensure consistent stewardship standards and donor experiences across campuses and donor

Alumni Engagement and Volunteer Involvement

• Partner closely with Alumni Relations to strengthen alumni engagement and increase philanthropic
• Develop engagement opportunities that connect alumni, students, faculty, and the University while supporting fundraising objectives.
• Collaborate on alumni events, volunteer leadership opportunities, affinity groups, reunion initiatives, and mentoring programs that strengthen alumni engagement and philanthropy.

Philanthropic Partnerships and Community Engagement

• Develop and strengthen corporate, foundation, sponsorship, and community partnerships aligned with institutional priorities.
• Collaborate with University leadership, faculty, and advancement colleagues to identify opportunities and develop compelling funding proposals.
• Partner with the Vice President for University Advancement to strengthen Midwestern University's visibility, reputation, and philanthropic presence within Arizona, Illinois, and key stakeholder       
• Represent University Advancement at community, donor, and partnership events to enhance engagement and support for the University.

Planned Giving and Legacy Engagement

• Integrate planned giving strategies into leadership and annual giving programs to identify and cultivate future legacy donors.
• Promote charitable gift planning opportunities through donor communications, educational outreach, and stewardship initiatives.
• Support recognition and engagement efforts for legacy society members and planned giving donors.

Innovation and Emerging Technologies

• Identify and implement innovative fundraising, stewardship, and donor engagement strategies that improve performance and enhance philanthropic outcomes.
• Explore and leverage artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, automation, and digital engagement tools to improve donor acquisition, retention, personalization, and pipeline development.
• Monitor emerging trends and best practices in philanthropy, higher education advancement, and healthcare fundraising.

Additional Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Vice President for University Advancement in advancing fundraising, donor engagement, and philanthropic growth initiatives.
• Represent University Advancement with donors, alumni, volunteers, community leaders, and philanthropic partners.
• Participate in University committees, events, and special initiatives that support institutional
• Maintain awareness of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in philanthropy, donor engagement, and higher education advancement.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and strategic goals of Midwestern University and University Advancement.

Supervisory Responsibilities                                               

This position has supervisory responsibilities. 

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner and have regular, predictable, in-person attendance.  Candidate must have very strong written and verbal communication skills.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience                                             

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications, Public Administration, or a related field required.
• 7-10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in advancement, fundraising, donor engagement, alumni relations, nonprofit development, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success in annual giving, leadership giving, stewardship, donor engagement, fundraising program development, or related revenue-generating activities.
• Experience developing and executing multi-channel fundraising campaigns and donor engagement strategies.
• Demonstrated success in increasing donor participation, philanthropic revenue, donor retention, and pipeline development.
• Experience collaborating with senior leadership, faculty, clinicians, donors, alumni, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, organizational, project management, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience utilizing fundraising technology, analytics, and reporting tools to support strategic decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Experience in higher education, healthcare, academic medicine, health sciences, or complex nonprofit organizations.
• Experience leading Giving Day initiatives, leadership giving programs, donor societies, stewardship programs, alumni engagement initiatives, or community partnerships.
• Experience establishing donor recognition programs, Presidential Societies, or leadership giving
• Familiarity with artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, fundraising technologies, and donor engagement platforms.
• Experience working with corporate and foundation partners and sponsorship programs.

Key Attributes

• Entrepreneurial and self-directed with the ability to build programs from concept to execution.
• Strategic, innovative, and results-oriented.
• Collaborative leader who inspires trust, confidence, and engagement.
• Data-informed decision maker with strong judgment and problem-solving abilities.
• Passion for philanthropy, higher education, healthcare, and Midwestern University's mission.

Computer Skills                                           

Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).  Fundraising Database experience required.

Language Skills                                            

Intermediate skills:  Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Reasoning Ability                                                     

Intermediate skills:  Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Mathematical Ability

Basic skills:  Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to interpret bar graphs. 

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear.  The employee must occasionally lift and /or move up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Midwestern University is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides graduate and post-graduate education in the health sciences. The University has two campuses, one in Downers Grove, Illinois and the other in Glendale, Arizona. More than 6,000 full-time students are enrolled in graduate programs in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, cardiovascular perfusion, podiatry, optometry, clinical psychology, speech language pathology, biomedical sciences and veterinary medicine. Over 500 full-time faculty members and 400 staff members are dedicated to the education and development of our students in an environment that encourages learning, respect for all members of the health care team, service, interdisciplinary scholarly activity, and personal growth.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans as well as life insurance, short/long term disability and pet insurance.  We offer flexible spending accounts including healthcare reimbursement and child/dependent care account.  We offer a work life balance with competitive time off package including paid holiday’s, sick/flex days, personal days and vacation days.  We offer a 403(b) retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, child care subsidy reimbursement program, identity theft protection and an employee assistance program.  Wellness is important to us and we offer a wellness facility on-site with a fully equipped fitness facility. 

Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race; color; religion; creed; national origin or ancestry; ethnicity; sex (including pregnancy); gender (including gender expressions, gender identity; and sexual orientation); marital status; age; disability; citizenship; past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services; genetic information; or any other protected class, in accord with all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Midwestern University complies with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. 36-601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/).  Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts.