Associate Director of Development for Neurosciences

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VCU’s Office of Medical Philanthropy and Alumni Relations seeks a motivated, collaborative fundraiser who is looking for a rewarding role in major gift healthcare fundraising. Under the direction of the Sr. Director of Development for Neurosciences, the Associate Director of Development will join a team supporting the departments of neurology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, anatomy, neurobiology, and psychiatry at VCU. This position will play a central role in developing philanthropic support through the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of grateful patients and families, community members, faculty and trainees of the VCU School of Medicine. The Neurosciences team supports the clinical care, program needs and research enterprise for five separate departments.

Supporting the priorities identified by the neurosciences faculty and clinical teams, chairs, Sr. Director of Development and Sr. Associate Vice President for Medical Philanthropy, the incumbent will work primarily with community members, patients and families interested in making gifts in gratitude for the care they received at VCU Health and in support of research, education, and clinical care. 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. A previous background in healthcare fundraising or national voluntary health experience is a plus. Initiative and self-starter, entrepreneurial mindset is encouraged as the incumbent will build out their portfolio with discovery actions and new collaborative engagements.

As Associate Director of Development, the incumbent will:

•  Manage a portfolio of approximately 75 major and leadership annual gift prospects;
• Solicit gifts at the major gifts level (at or above $50K) through personal appointments, calls and correspondence to obtain and/or increase donor contributions in support of the Institute;
• Partner with clinical physicians and research faculty to identify prospective patient donors and to create appropriate fundraising strategies;
• Develop and track metrics for accountability and evaluation;
• Work in collaboration with the Sr. Director of Development, Sr. Associate Vice President for Medical Philanthropy, VCU’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations and School of Medicine leadership and faculty to meet or exceed fundraising goals;
• Successfully conduct a high number of quality engagement interactions through personal visits requiring travel, telephone and zoom solicitations, and coordinated personal written proposals in order to obtain and/or increase major gift contributions;
• Provide assistance to donors regarding tax laws, policies and procedures and in resolving questions with university administrators and faculty;
• Maintain prospect records and contact reports in order to facilitate repeated donations and establish gift histories;
• Work with prospect development staff to identify prospective donors; 
• Provide guidance and assist with stewardship events and correspondence in coordination with the Neurosciences team, Medical College of Virginia Foundation, University’s Office of Donor Relations;
• Partner with the Gift Planning team to market and secure planned gifts on behalf of Institute priorities.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, ethics and practices of successful fundraising
• An outgoing and positive personality, strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style
• Strong written, oral, and data-analysis skills
• Familiarity with technology, software, and digital tools to communicate and engage with others
• Experience working in academic medicine, healthcare, or higher education fundraising, as well as experience with campaigns
• Demonstrated experience securing gifts at the annual and major giving levels
• Ability to work and navigate within a complex organization and diverse constituencies
• Willingness to learn, collaborate, and grow within a high performing fundraising team 
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a university professional at VCU
• Willingness to actively participate in discovery work
• Willingness to engage in ongoing learning and training sessions

Preferred qualifications:

•  Master’s degree in a related field
• Three or more years of professional fundraising experience, preferably in an academic medical center, healthcare, or higher education (Research I) setting or similar complex environments
• Demonstrated success securing five to seven figure gifts
• Demonstrated ability to execute objectives and goals aligned to the mission of a complex, urban university and the ability to persuasively represent its goals to multiple constituents
• Demonstrated knowledge of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Ability to plan and execute travel for donor visits that may include overnight trips 
• Experience with grateful patient fundraising
• CFRE certification
  
  

Izzy Kane
irkane@vcu.edu