Associate Director, Major Gifts (Neuroscience)

Target hiring range for this position will be between $95,000 - $97,000per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

The Associate Director, Major Gifts (Neuroscience Team) focuses on securing major gifts from grateful patients, alumni, and friends of Northwestern University for specific program areas within Feinberg School of Medicine. The person serving in this position manages a portfolio of potential donors and oversees all aspects of the fundraising cycle (e.g., conducting qualification visits with possible donors, engaging individuals based on their interests and philanthropic priorities, securing philanthropic commitments, and stewarding donors). The Associate Director regularly interfaces with Feinberg School of Medicine faculty members and other University leaders to prepare them for prospect meetings and solicitations.

Strategic Planning - 20%

1. Gathers data, assesses leads, and develops strategies designed to realize the current and lifetime giving potential of individual prospects.
2. Maintains consistent and appropriate contact with faculty members (e.g., physicians, scientists) and administrators as well as program-specific suspects, prospects, and donors.
3. Facilitates or makes solicitations with a focus on major and planned gift commitments of $100K to $1M.
4. Ensures effective stewardship with all existing and future constituents.

Collaboration - 20%

1. Involves moderate to high level of collaboration with both internal department partners and moderate level of collaboration with broader University partners to identify and integrate resources in order to accomplish strategic goals and objectives.
2. Key partnerships include:
   • Feinberg School of Medicine faculty and administrators in the Feinberg Neuroscience Institute, along with several other departments, institutes, and centers.
   • Work with colleagues within Feinberg School of Medicine Development and Alumni Relations to coordinate:
     • Moves management related to the gift officer's portfolio
     • Donor recognition and stewardship
   • Fundraising staff within Northwestern University (NU) and Northwestern Memorial Foundation (NMF):
     • Collaborates to achieve institutional goals, coordinate program prospects/constituents and fundraising efforts, and support moves management related to the gift officer's portfolio.

Prospects and Gifts - 30%

1. Develops, plans and implements strategies and approaches to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts.

• Maintains responsibility for portfolio management and achieving measurable targets for each fiscal year in the areas of qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects and donors, in order to meet annual fundraising goals.

1. Identifies, researches and personally solicits major gifts of $100K to $1M by managing a portfolio of approximately 50-75 prospects annually.
2. Completes associated stewardship activities.
3. Maintains best practices in the field of philanthropy and evaluates prospects.
4. Recommends changes to enhance innovation, objectives, and goals.

Volunteers - 5%

1. Responsible for management and coordination of volunteer groups.

Events - 5%

1. Responsible for management, planning, and oversight of peer-to-peer fundraising (e.g., crowdfunding) campaigns.

Administration - 10%

1. Gathers, records, and retrieves information about prospects and donors utilizing the Northwestern's donor and alumni tracking database, meetings with development staff, faculty, etc.
   • Ensures compliance with prospect management guidelines for tracking and maintenance of contact and progress reporting.
2. Prepares accurate and timely contact reports on visits and interactions (e.g., phone conversations regarding a gift) with key constituents as they occur.

Supervisory - 5%

1. Assists in oversight of Development Assistant, as well as temporary workers as needed.
2. Provides training to staff within or outside of immediate department or division in regard to function.
3. Performs related duties as required or assigned. - 5%

Minimum Qualifications (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree, or appropriate combination of education and experience.

• Four years of development, marketing, sales, or equivalent experience is required.

• High proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Minimum Competencies (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Knowledge of Feinberg School of Medicine's mission and the ability to effectively articulate (verbally and in writing) our impact on human health to the donor community.
• Strong understanding of fundraising best practices and the ability to cultivate and solicit donations from individuals at major gift capacity.
• Ability to manage one's time - simultaneously balancing multiple projects and prioritizing wisely.
• Ability to synthesize information, read situations, and solve problems using analytical thinking.
• Ability to work independently, collaborate with colleagues, and adapt with change.
• Inclination to learn about medical research studies from our faculty partners.
• Ability to teach faculty members about philanthropy and how to most effectively work with our office.
• Ability to handle sensitive information and situations with discretion, in accordance with the Northwestern Alumni Relations and Development Constituent Information Confidentiality Policy.

Preferred Qualifications (Education and experience)

• Experience working in philanthropy at an institution of higher education, an academic medical center, or a hospital.
• Track record of growing fundraising totals, sales, etc.

Preferred Competencies (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Strong writing skills to ensure that proposals and stewardship reports are succinct, clear, and compelling.
• Professional presence that conveys credibility and engenders trust.
• The ability to build strong collaborative relationships with all members of an operation across Northwestern and a diversity body of alumni and donors.
• Strong work ethic coupled with a sense of humor and perspective.
• Familiarity with planned giving vehicles, private foundations, and trends in grateful patient philanthropy.

This position requires attendance at meetings and management of events outside of normal office hours (evenings, weekends, etc.). May be called upon to drive or provide own transportation to local meetings or events.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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