Development Officer, Strategic Partnerships & Signature Philanthropy

The Development Officer for Strategic Partnerships and Signature Philanthropy, is responsible for securing significant philanthropic support for medicine and health priorities. This position will focus on the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and community partners through the assessment of potential cash and in-kind giving for adult and children's health.

As a member of the strategic partnerships team this position is responsible for securing philanthropic support from key audiences including grateful families, faculty, corporations, and community partners; communicating regularly and effectively with leadership, staff, prospects, grateful families, volunteers; and collaborating with University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) advancement services, IT, and marketing and communications programs, as appropriate, to ensure cohesive, organized fundraising-related activities and messaging.

Hybrid Work Model:

The University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) operates under a hybrid work model, with the expectation that all staff be onsite at least 2-3 times per week. Our office is located in McNamara Alumni Center on the East Bank of the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus.

Responsibilities:

Development/Fundraising- 50%

• Work with the Sr. Director of Development, Strategic Partnerships and Signature Philanthropy, foundation leadership, prospect research team, faculty, and hospital staff(s) to identify appropriate prospects to qualify for all related health system facilities.
• Qualify and assess new and lapsed donors including corporations, event sponsors, and hospital partners.
• Work with health system partners, vendors, UMF and volunteers with the purpose of securing support for programs.
• Develop and coordinate proposals for major gifts individually and in coordination with medicine and health development officers.
• Qualify, cultivate, and solicit prospective donors with a specific focus on major gift prospects in assigned focus areas; provide stewardship for assigned donors and secured gifts. Take timely and strategic steps in moving prospects along the development continuum of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Build and independently manage a portfolio at or near 100 major gift prospects (giving capacity of $50,000 and above).
• Work with Foundation development research to identify potential major gift prospects.
• Serve as a member of the overall development team by collaborating with colleagues across the foundation priority areas on donor strategies, maintaining timely, accurate reports and information.
• Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of the health system, and related other philanthropic priorities to effectively and compellingly present its case to prospects and donors.
• Working in conjunction with UMF central services staff, initiate and oversee the development of proposals, reports, and written material in support of specific major gift fundraising initiatives.
• Work with faculty and administration as necessary to inform donor strategies and collateral.
• Build new and enhance existing relationships with corporate and community partners with a goal of soliciting gift commitments
• Develop and implement strategies for each prospect, including ways to increase involvement of donors and prospects in the activities of the Hospital and the University.
• Clears and coordinates prospective donors with University leadership and through the University of Minnesota Foundation's procedures prior to direct contact to ensure effective solicitation of the donor staff that maximizes the gift to the University and the donor's satisfaction with the institution.
• Recruit, organize, train and work with volunteers as needed in support of fundraising and community partnership activities.

Benefit Event Liaison and Related Donor Cultivation and Stewardship - 40%

• Help to build new and enhance existing relationships with community and health system partners, vendors, and businesses with the purpose of securing cash and in-kind support for children's health benefit events and hospital programs.
• Serve as a liaison of the event development strategies and tactics to ensure that they are consistent with the overall medicine and health plan. This may include recommending marketing, public relations, cultivation, and stewardship strategies; identifying audience communication needs; defining the experience for donor/sponsor attendees through development of the program, solicitation materials, and event gifts.
• Work with medicine and health benefit event development officers to strategically plan, solicit and manage sponsorships of assigned events, including WineFest - A Toast to Children's Health, Champions for Children Celebrity Golf Tournament, FashionFest, and other benefit, cultivation and stewardship events as needed.
• Coordinate hospital faculty participation where/when appropriate-determine how their participation would be beneficial and advise them concerning their roles and responsibilities.
• Assist children's health development officers in staffing event volunteer committees.
• Work with development team members to manage special event fundraising appeals, secure lead gifts for these needs, and develop and implement strategies for event donors and prospect, including ways to increase their involvement from events to health system and University activities.

Organizational - 10%

• Develop an annual plan of work, including specific fundraising, prospect development, and programmatic goals with an emphasis on achieving established standards and metrics for the position.
• Prepare reports and other required information as requested.
• Complete and file timely reports. Maintains accurate and relevant records within the University of Minnesota Foundation database.
• Participate in special projects, as assigned. Handle other duties and assignments as might be required.
• Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends, as necessary.
• Must have access to reliable transportation as this position requires regular travel on behalf of the Foundation.
• This position requires some weekend and evening attendance at various University and external functions and occasional travel.
  

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and four years' demonstrated ability to successfully solicit major gifts; or experience in marketing, sales, public relations, financial advisement or related field with emphasis on relationship cultivation and solicitation of individuals/businesses.
• Demonstrated success in working independently but also collaboratively in a team setting.
• Solid relationship-building skills with a diverse constituency of donors, faculty, strategic partners, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic business terminology, financial matters and the ethical, legal, and tax-related issues regarding the solicitation, transfer, and management of charitable gifts.
• Outstanding oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including effective presentation skills.
• Ability to maintain confidential information; knowledge of healthcare regulations helpful.
• Proficient in the use of PC software, such as Microsoft Office, and current technology.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Development experience, including campaign experience, in higher education, health care and/or research, or disease-related institution.
• Demonstrated experience in identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major gifts prospects and donors. Quantifiable summary of major gifts productivity.
• Experience in coordinating volunteers; demonstrated ability to motivate and lead people and to work collaboratively.
• Knowledge of or experience with planned giving programs.
• Knowledge of or experience with grateful patients and/or families or alumni.
• Experience working with faculty, physicians and/or medical personnel, or program administration.
• Strong commitment to a major, land-grant/research university in an urban environment.

At the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF), our mission is to connect passion with possibility, inspire generosity, and support greatness at the University of Minnesota by placing donors at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make. UMF is a nonprofit organization responsible for raising and managing gifts to the University of Minnesota.

For more information about UMF, please visit https://give.umn.edu/about/about-umf.

Pay Range: $85,000- $100,000/ year ; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).