Director of Advancement, Cardiovascular Initiatives

Company: University of Utah
Location: Salt Lake City
Posted on: April 9, 2025

Job Description:

Director of Advancement, Cardiovascular Initiatives

Be one of the first applicants, read the complete overview of the role below, then send your application for consideration.

Job Summary

The Development Director for Cardiovascular Initiatives (DDCI) has responsibility for raising philanthropic funds for Cardiovascular Initiatives - including the Divisions of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Vascular Surgery in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, the Cardiovascular Clinical Service Line at University Hospital and Clinics, and the Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute at the University of Utah. This important and highly visible position will manage relationships with a portfolio of donors who have the capability of making annual leadership, major, principal, and legacy gifts.

This DDCI directs development activities and events involved with the solicitation of donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. This may include leading and coordinating efforts to solicit and secure gifts at all levels, including gifts of significant value and/or developing, planning, and coordinating major gifts, annual giving programs, and legacy giving across the Cardiovascular Initiatives. The DDCI will build a robust community of philanthropic support by engaging and involving physician leadership, faculty, administrators, and their care teams. In collaboration with their supervisor, the DDCI will articulate and execute an advancement plan focused on best practices, including goals and metrics, and well-articulated departmental philanthropic priorities, leading to the procurement of private support for the clinical, research, and educational areas.

The DDCI will be responsible for identifying areas of strength and opportunity for the Cardiovascular Initiatives. The incumbent will work with leaders in the Cardiovascular Initiatives and University Advancement to identify and implement strategies for key constituency groups, including grateful patients and families, community partners, growing industry partnerships, and resident/fellow alumni.

The DDCI will also develop and implement programs related to public relations, communication, and resident/fellow alumni engagement. Alumni engagement responsibilities include supporting discovery, qualification, cultivating and stewarding School of Medicine alumni, resident/fellow alumni, supporting annual giving efforts, and coordinating events for alumni and institutional advancement. The DDCI will collaborate with Cardiovascular Initiatives administrative staff, including marketing, finance, research, etc. as required, including the development and execution of in-person and virtual events, annual reports, and more.

The DDCI also participates in preparing budgets and consulting with appropriate leadership in setting goals.

The DDCI works closely with colleagues in University Advancement , Cardiovascular leadership, administrators, faculty, and others to build and implement effective strategies and collaborative partnerships that will lead to bene---cial long-term relationships and signi---cant gift support.

The DDCI reports to University Advancement, with input from the Cardiovascular Leadership.

About University of Utah Advancement:

Mission:
We generate engagement and philanthropic support to advance the University of Utah's priorities

Vision:
By 2028, we will be a top 10 public advancement organization and a premier place to work, engage, and support.

Core Values:

Belonging
We are a safe community for our best selves;
We honor and embrace our varied experiences;
We connect with, listen to, and learn from one another.
Collaboration
We are one advancement community, and we partner with each other;
We are united in decision-making processes and information sharing;
We respect and utilize one another's expertise, talent, and skills.
Empowerment
We are entrusted to make informed decisions and move forward;
We encourage and advocate for ourselves and one another;
We have access to resources for professional growth and development.
Integrity
We commit to follow professional and ethical standards;
We respect personal values;
We communicate with transparency and accountability.

Responsibilities
1. In consultation with advancement and department leadership, the DDCI establishes the department fundraising vision and priorities, as well as short and long-term fundraising goals. Sets fundraising objectives that are meaningful, challenging, realistic, and metric and action oriented. In concert with University Advancement colleagues, establishes well-defined strategies for a program that includes physician engagement and grateful patient fundraising, leadership annual giving, major gifts, legacy giving, corporate and foundations relations, a robust stewardship program, and grows resident/fellow alumni engagement.

2. Develops a strong working knowledge of the various areas within the Cardiovascular Initiatives, including research, clinical, and operational priorities. The incumbent will make recommendations on strategy, e.g. expanded grateful patient work and/or resident/fellow alumni engagement, based on their knowledge of the department's strengths and priorities.

3. The majority of the DDCI's time is focused on major gifts ($25,000+) from individuals (including family foundations and donor advised funds); however, the position will also require interaction with corporate and foundation entities, including growing industry support where applicable. An emphasis will be placed on identifying and soliciting major gifts.

4. Plans, implements, and manages a major gift fundraising program to meet the priorities by:
a. Working closely with cardiovascular and advancement leadership to establish major gift and annual fundraising goals based upon assessment of the qualified donor portfolio and the initiative's defined priorities;
b. Identifying and evaluating the giving potential of prospects while developing innovative strategies for cultivation and solicitation;
c. Developing in consultation with supervision, an annual work plan, a schedule of fundraising goals and proposals to be presented, and planned visits in accordance with institutional performance standards;
d. Scheduling and arranging on-site and off-site regional meetings and cultivation recognition events such as chair and laboratory dedications, cultivation and stewardship visits to major gift donors and prospects; developing agendas and coordinating the participation of faculty, administration leaders, and volunteers;
e. Personally communicating with and visiting major prospects and donors; working with the Legacy Giving team to provide information on specific gifting techniques for both current and deferred gifts, to maximize impact and associated tax benefits;
f. Preparing and directing the preparation of leadership, principal and major gift proposals, solicitation, cultivation materials, and stewardship information for major gift prospects and donors;
g. Identifying, enlisting, motivating, guiding, and supporting faculty and volunteers for participation in major gift solicitations;
h. Managing and sta---ng any volunteer advisory boards; Just as a question, do any exist currently that we could call out? If not, is this needed?
i. Preparing and delivering presentations as they relate to fundraising;
j. Providing education and training to faculty and volunteers about the dynamics of major gift fundraising;
k. Participating in administrative and departmental meetings across the Cardiovascular Initiatives, as well as participating in administrative and staff meetings in the O---ce of Advancement;
l. Leads and engages in special event planning, including the coordination of virtual and hybrid events.
5. Communicates routinely and effectively with appropriate University Advancement colleagues, department leadership and other senior leaders who are actively involved with pending and/or outstanding solicitations with major donors.6. Submits regular reports to institutional leaders as required.
7. Works with leadership and advancement staff to ensure endowment and contact reports are completed on time; research any questions related to the reports.
8. Works collaboratively with the University of Utah's academic fundraising team, alumni relations team, and other university fundraising professionals to support donors whose philanthropic interests span research, education, and health care.
9. Seeks appropriate training opportunities, including training necessary for proficiency in the use of gift planning techniques, and partners with the Legacy Giving team to build a robust program.
10. Cultivating and soliciting gifts for larger Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine priorities or projects, in collaboration with other SFESOM advancement team members.
Ability to work evening and weekend hours, as necessary, on short or limited notice.

Must have regular and reliable transportation for local travel and be willing to travel when necessary.

Frequent local travel expected. Travel beyond the local area may be required.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience (One year of education is equivalent to two years of experience).
Six years of related experience.




Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Business, Communication, Public Relations, English, or a related field, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years or related work experiences. Six years in fundraising, marketing, sales, business, public relations, annual, corporate or foundation giving which includes two years of budgeting and supervisory experience. Demonstrated human relations and effective communications skills.
Ideal candidate will have at least six years of experience with progressively more responsibility in higher education fundraising, with a strong preference for experience in academic medicine, with an emphasis on cultivating and soliciting major gifts.
Significant experience closing six-figure, and ideally seven-figure, gifts.
Demonstrated increase in fundraising responsibilities and/or management experience.
Demonstrated ability to establish, cultivate, and steward meaningful relationships with donors.
Management experience, demonstrated interpersonal skills, background knowledge of fundraising best practices, alumni relations, copywriting, editing, event planning, and interviewing/reporting experience are highly favored.
Experience in grant or proposal writing, public speaking, and a background working with print and/or electronic media.
Superlative interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work well with people at all levels of an organization, across a diverse range of educational and social backgrounds and to demonstrate honest respect for each individual.
A broad understanding of multi-faceted campaign planning, implementation and management.
This position is not responsible for providing patient care. This position is patient-sensitive and must fulfill all associated requirements.
Knowledge of corporate and foundation fundraising and gift planning vehicles.
Knowledge of physician engagement/grateful patient programs.



Preferences


Special Instructions


Requisition Number: PRN41562B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary:
Department: 00972 - Advancement-Univ Utah Health
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: $110,000 to $120,000
Close Date: 7/3/2025
Open Until Filled:

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/180653




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Keywords: University of Utah, South Jordan , Director of Advancement, Cardiovascular Initiatives, Executive , Salt Lake City, Utah