Client seeks an inaugural Assistant Vice President of Individual Giving to provide strategic oversight and leadership for grateful patient fundraising. The role will support the growth and expansion of an existing grateful patient program by developing and refining performance metrics and ensuring a results-oriented, relationship-driven approach. The Assistant Vice President will serve as a primary liaison and central resource between frontline fundraisers and other fundraising teams operating across a complex, matrixed environment that includes a separate health system.
Reporting to the relevant leadership, the Assistant Vice President will lead, mentor, and develop a team of frontline fundraisers and related staff, providing clear strategic direction and day-to-day guidance. The role will establish ambitious yet achievable fundraising goals, drive accountability through effective use of performance metrics, and develop strategies to increase philanthropic revenue by expanding grateful patient efforts. The Assistant Vice President will partner with development leadership to set fundraising direction, identify needs, and align them with gift opportunities, while coordinating with key administrative offices across campus as appropriate.
The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of development experience in a complex organization, typically including academic medicine and/or research settings and experience connected to a grateful patient fundraising environment. The role requires strong managerial, strategic planning, and motivational skills, along with a demonstrated track record of growing fundraising programs and personally securing significant gifts. Preferred strengths include the ability to build bridges and collaborate across a university with a range of donors and stakeholders, and strong interpersonal skills to engage faculty, staff, and leaders; a bachelor’s degree and 10 years of related work experience in an academic institution are expected, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.