Senior Major Gifts Officer, Medicine Alumni

Summary:

In partnership with VCU Health and School of Medicine (SOM) leadership and under the Assistant Vice President for Medicine and Health Development and the Senior Director of Development for Medicine Alumni and the Department of Internal Medicine, the Senior Major Gifts Officer position will develop and execute major and principal gift strategies and will personally cultivate and solicit principal and major ($50,000 and above) gifts in support of the fundraising priorities of the alumni giving program and the Department of Internal Medicine. The role may also support related fundraising priorities connected to the VCU and VCU Health’s (VCUH) tripartite mission of research, education, clinical care/physical environment. The position coordinates closely with colleagues at the School of Medicine, leadership and development colleagues at the MCV Foundation, VCU Health, Massey Cancer Center, Monroe Park Campus and Central Development and Alumni Relations (DAR),

The position will work primarily with the medical school’s alumni population including MD alumni, trainees and fellows and graduates of our basic health sciences programs. The position will also serve as a development liaison to one or more clinical departments. In this capacity, the position will partner with physicians and clinical faculty to identify prospective patient donors and will create and deploy fundraising strategies in full compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Duties and responsibilities include managing a portfolio of approximately 100-125 major gift and principal gift prospects, soliciting gifts at the major and principal gifts level through personal appointments, calls and correspondence in order to obtain and/or increase donor contributions for the VCU School of Medicine and VCU Health. Responsible for developing and tracking metrics for accountability and evaluation and tracking all contact reports and strategies in the database of record. In compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), confidentiality is held to the highest standard.

The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to plan, execute, secure and steward major gifts. A strong orientation to collaboration is required along with an enthusiasm for maintaining relationships with medical school alumni, faculty and clinical care teams and an empathy for individuals impacted by health experiences. A background in academic medicine, higher education or health care is preferred but not required for the candidate who enjoys new challenges and is eager to pursue a role in health care philanthropy.

Duties:

• Cultivate, encourage and personally solicit principal, major ($50,000) and annual gifts from medical school and housestaff alumni and faculty as well as grateful patients and families of the Department of Internal Medicine, in accordance with VCU Campaign and annual Med/ Health Development goals.
• Meet annual assigned gift officer performance metrics for development activity and gift closure.

On behalf of the assigned clinical area(s):

• Provide fundraising strategy and drive development activity in alignment with VCU Health, SOM and university campaign objectives.
• Attend departmental/division and faculty meetings (where appropriate) and work closely with faculty and administrators within the school, the health system and the university to promote the coordination of prospect activity and the acquisition of major gifts.
• Serve as a development liaison and subject matter expert for assigned service line(s) to support and enhance relationships and knowledge sharing between MedHealth Development and clinical and academic leaders and campus partners in order to further to strengthen and expand grateful patient fundraising.
• Collaborate with Med-Health teammates to develop and produce stewardship reports on professorships, chairs, scholarships, lectureships, award funds, etc.
  
  

Minimum Hiring Standards:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 5 years professional experience in fundraising, preferably in an academic medical center or higher education (Research I) setting or similar complex environments.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, execute, secure and steward 6 and 7-figure gifts through individual effort.
• Sound judgment, strong interpersonal skills and the professional credibility required to develop relationships of trust and respect with a diverse range of constituents, including donors and prospects, healthcare providers, research faculty, senior administrators, volunteers and stakeholders and development colleagues.
• Emotional intelligence, empathy and ability to relate to individuals impacted by health experiences.
• Highest ethical standards, attention to confidentiality and deep familiarity with and a willingness to fully comply with VCU’s interpretation of HIPAA law as it relates to fundraising.
• The ability to work independently, to meet deadlines and consistently achieve goals while also driving and supporting team success in a matrix environment; demonstrated experience managing fundraising staff is strongly preferred.
• High level of initiative, strong orientation to teamwork and the ability to work effectively in complex environments.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to working in and fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.
• Attention to detail and the ability to use a database to maintain and review records and reports such as donor data, prospect contacts, solicitations, and proposals.
• Working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving.
• Must be able to travel involving automobile and/or airplane.
• Overnight and long-distance travel is necessary.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Hiring Standards:

• Five or more years of demonstrated success identifying, qualifying and soliciting major gift prospects, preferably in the context of higher education and/or healthcare.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in major and planned giving concepts and strategies as well as significant experience in creating and implementing major gift plans; campaign experience is strongly preferred.
• Master’s Degree or work experience at a level that equates to an advanced degree.
• Deep appreciation for the mission and aspirations of VCU and VCU Health and a desire to play a meaningful role in the life of VCU and in the Richmond community.
• Collaboration skills consistent with bringing out the best in a matrix team, instilling pride in a team effort.
  Personal commitment to the fundraising industry as evidenced through work ethic and aspiration to best practices.
  

Department: School of Medicine - Dean's Office - Development
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status:
FTE: 1
Exemption Status: Exempt