Associate Director of Major Gifts

The Darden School Foundation at the University of Virginia seeks a highly motivated, results-oriented fundraising professional to join its Advancement team. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Advancement, the Associate Director of Major Gifts serves as a frontline fundraiser responsible for securing philanthropic investments that advance the Darden School's strategic priorities. This individual will manage a portfolio of approximately 125-150 high-capacity alumni and friends with the potential to make six-and-seven figure major and planned gifts. The successful candidate will develop and execute sophisticated donor engagement strategies, build meaningful long-term relationships, and inspire philanthropic support for scholarships, faculty excellence, thought leadership, innovation initiatives, facilities, and other institutional priorities. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who thrives in a metrics-driven environment, embraces ambitious fundraising goals, and is energized by the opportunity to make a direct financial impact on one of the world's leading graduate business schools. Primary Duties and Responsibilities Manage a portfolio of approximately 125 major gift prospects and donors with the demonstrated potential to make philanthropic investments of $100,000 or more. Develop and execute strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for each assigned prospect. Secure major gifts, leadership-level unrestricted annual gifts, planned gifts, and blended gift commitments in support of the School's highest priorities. Conduct regular travel and in-person donor visits to build meaningful, long-term philanthropic relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of the School. Identify opportunities for planned and blended gifts, confidently incorporating gift planning discussions into donor engagement strategies and partnering with University of Virginia Gift Planning colleagues to structure and secure complex charitable commitments. Collaborate with Advancement colleagues, faculty, and volunteer leaders to advance high-priority fundraising opportunities and strengthen the major gift pipeline. Achieve established fundraising, activity, and revenue goals while maintaining accurate prospect strategies and records. Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree required. Minimum of least five years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including successful solicitation and closure of six-figure gifts. Securing and closing major gifts and advancing prospects through successful cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles. Building productive relationships with high-capacity donors, volunteers, institutional leaders, and colleagues. Developing and executing strategic fundraising plans that drive philanthropic investment. Applying best practices in major gifts, annual giving, and gift planning. Discussing and securing planned, deferred, and blended gifts. Working with complex gift assets, including securities, real estate, and business interests, preferred. Experience in higher education, healthcare, or other sophisticated philanthropic environments, preferred. Communicating effectively through written, verbal, and presentation formats. Exercising sound judgment and maintaining confidentiality with donor information. Managing multiple priorities and achieving goals in a results-driven environment. Collaborating effectively across teams and organizational stakeholders. Using fundraising CRM platforms such as Salesforce, Advance, Raiser's Edge, or similar systems. Skills / Knowledge Demonstrated ability to build trust and cultivate meaningful relationships with high-capacity donors, volunteers, faculty, and institutional leaders. Strong strategic thinking and prospect management skills, with the ability to develop and execute long-term engagement strategies that lead to philanthropic investment. Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills, including the ability to articulate complex institutional priorities and philanthropic opportunities in a compelling manner. Sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism in handling confidential and sensitive donor information. Self-motivated and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and achieve ambitious goals in a metrics-driven environment. Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across teams and build productive partnerships throughout the University community. Knowledge of philanthropic best practices, including major gifts, annual giving, and gift planning principles. Proficiency with constituent relationship management systems and fundraising technologies; experience with Advance, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or comparable platforms preferred. #J-18808-Ljbffr