Senior Associate Director, Major Gifts

Target hiring range for this position will be between $112,000 - $114,300 per 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.


Please include a cover letter for full consideration.

This position is within Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, based on Northwestern's Chicago campus. Hybrid schedule available.

Job Summary

The Senior Associate Director, Major Gifts 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 prospects, engaging individuals based on their interests and philanthropic priorities, securing philanthropic commitments, and stewarding donors). The Senior Associate Director regularly interfaces with Feinberg School of Medicine faculty members and other University leaders to prepare them for prospect meetings and solicitations.


Principal Accountabilities

Strategic Planning - 20%

• Assesses, leads, and develops strategies designed to realize the current and lifetime giving potential of individual prospects benefitting biomedical research and medical education at NU's Feinberg School of Medicine.
• Maintains consistent and appropriate contact with faculty members (e.g., physicians, scientists) and administrators, as well as program-specific prospects, and donors.
• Facilitates or makes solicitations with a focus on major gift commitments of $100K to $1M.
• Ensures effective stewardship with all existing and future constituents.

Collaboration - 20%

• Involves moderate to high level of collaboration with both internal department partners and moderate level of collaboration with University and Northwestern Medicine partners to identify and integrate resources, and accomplish strategic goals and objectives.
• Key partnerships include Feinberg School of Medicine faculty and administrators in assigned fundraising areas. In addition, the person serving in this position will be in regular communication with fundraising staff within Northwestern University (NU) and Northwestern Memorial Foundation (NMF).
• Work with colleagues within Feinberg School of Medicine Development and Alumni Relations to coordinate:
  • Moves management related to major gifts portfolio.
  • Donor recognition and stewardship.

Prospects and Gifts - 40%

• Develops, plans, and implements strategies, goals and approaches to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts.
• Responsible for portfolio management and achieving measurable targets for each fiscal year in the areas of qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects and donors.
• Identifies, qualifies, and personally solicits major gifts of $100K to $1M by managing a portfolio of approximately 70 prospects annually.
• Completes associated stewardship activities.
• Plans and attends fundraising and/or engagement events, dinners, panel presentations.
• Drafts and executes appeal letters.
• Maintains best practices in the field of philanthropy and evaluates prospects.
• Recommends changes to enhance innovation, objectives, and goals.

Administration - 15%

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

Supervisory - 5%

• Provides training to staff within or outside of immediate department or division in regard to function.

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.
• Six years of development, marketing, sales or the 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 academic medical center, hospital or at an institution of higher education.
• Experience in grateful patient fundraising.
• Track record of growing fundraising totals, sales, etc.

Preferred Competencies : (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Ability to organize and manage multiple projects/tasks simultaneously; must have ability to work independently, collaborate with colleagues, and to adapt to changing priorities.
• 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 colleagues, 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.

May be called upon to attend events, receptions and meetings outside of normal business hours.


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 .