Associate Director of Development, Initiative to End Alzheimer’s
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)*, the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking a development professional to support the Initiative to End Alzheimer’s (IEA). The Associate Director of Development will be responsible for qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major gift prospects in collaboration with the Senior Director of Development for the IEA. While employed by WFAA and reporting to the Associate Vice President and Managing Director of Wisconsin Medicine at WFAA, the Associate Director of Development will work in close partnership with the Director of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute (WAI) and the Director of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (WADRC). This position is a hybrid role and will require you to work in the office at least two days weekly.
About Wisconsin Medicine:
Wisconsin Medicine is a collaboration between two of the world’s leading medical institutions, UW Health and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), who have worked together for more than a century on innovative treatments, trailblazing research, renowned education, and compassionate patient care.
This powerful combination is in a unique position to usher in a new era of medicine, one that builds on the cutting-edge breakthroughs and discoveries already achieved. There’s more work to be done — and more lives to be saved.
Wisconsin Medicine, the philanthropic brand for SMPH and UW Health, is an effort to fight debilitating diseases and solve some of the world’s most pressing health challenges through philanthropy. For the 12th consecutive year, US News & World Report ranked UW Health Wisconsin Hospitals as No. 1 in Wisconsin on its Best Hospitals list and the University of Wisconsin SMPH is a world-recognized research and education system. Now, Wisconsin Medicine is preparing for the extraordinary. It’s the Wisconsin Idea in action — making a difference in our state, throughout the nation, and around the world. Learn more about Wisconsin Medicine at https://www.wiscmedicine.org/.
About The Initiative to End Alzheimer’s
Advocating for patients and families experiencing Alzheimer’s disease is a top priority of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. In 2016, the school founded the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s (IEA) as the philanthropic home for the leading Alzheimer’s disease programs on campus. The UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s promotes and supports the complementary goals of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute and the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
The IEA helps sustain a wide range of research projects, community education, caregiver support programs, and training for dementia care professionals and young scientists. To learn more, visit https://iea.wisc.edu/.
Who is WFAA?
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the university and to connect with the UW. In 2014, the UW Foundation merged with the Wisconsin Alumni Association® to better serve a growing population of UW alumni and donors. We believe that private support grows out of good relationships between campus leaders, faculty and program staff who need support, and the alumni and friends who want to invest in UW–Madison. We provide important engagement opportunities to link UW–Madison alumni to each other and to their alma mater, building a strong community of Badgers.
Diversity and Inclusion:
Just as the university community benefits from differing viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences, inclusion and diversity are imperative for the success of our mission. WFAA values people and the differences that they bring to the organization and creates an environment in which all staff members and constituents feel respected and have opportunities to thrive.
Primary Responsibilities
Development
- Build pipeline programs to grow the major gift program for IEA.
- Schedule and conduct initial assessment/exploratory meetings with prospects, following up with correspondence, phone calls and additional visits as appropriate to qualify prospect.
- Plan and conduct trips, events, and other ongoing contact to build relationships with donors, effectively presenting the case for philanthropic support and explaining gift opportunities.
- Implement development strategies with assigned constituencies and build a portfolio of prospects and major gift donors.
- Work with research and prospect management, business intelligence, and development colleagues to identify and qualify a portfolio of major gift prospects from existing and potential donors.
- Develop and write major gift proposals, utilizing both current and planned gift opportunities to best meet donors’ needs, interests, and financial capabilities, including structuring complex or special gifts as appropriate.
- Artfully ask for the right gift, at the right time, in the right way.
Collaboration
- Partner with the Senior Director of Development for IEA to identify fundraising and community engagement opportunities.
- Collaborate with campus leaders, WFAA leaders, and WI Medicine colleagues to discuss major donor prospects, sharing advice/information, and coordinating activities on shared prospects/donors.
- Partner with the Wisconsin Medicine principal gifts (PG) team on principal gift donors and prospects.
- Partner with Wisconsin Medicine divisions (Annual Giving, Stewardship and Donor Relations, Marketing, and Events) to ensure strategic execution of plans to support the IEA development program.
- Work with community partners as a liaison for fundraising events.
Donor Relations/Stewardship/ Recognition
- Plan and implement recognition for donors, including writing thank you letters, making personal calls, arranging meetings, hosting events, etc.
- Plan and implement ongoing communication and stewardship with donors.
- Participate in the external relations activities of the IEA, attend sponsored events, etc., to solicit, encourage, increase the involvement of donors to IEA and Wisconsin Medicine.
Campus Relations
- Work with dean/faculty/staff to develop plans in partnership with the Senior Director of Development for a comprehensive advancement structure and operations.
- Communicate, problem solve, and anticipate needs of campus staff regarding accounting for donor created funds and serve as liaison between WFAA accounting department and campus staff.
- Request data/reports from WFAA staff to meet needs of donors and campus staff.
- Serve as a WFAA liaison with the IEA and other UW entities and groups.
- Communicate, problem solve, and anticipate needs of campus partner programs regarding accounting for donor created funds and serve as liaison between WFAA and medical partners, faculty, and staff.
Requirements and Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional work experience.
- Experience and demonstrated success in fundraising or related activities.
- Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills required.
- Ability to meet travel requirements (@25%).
Other Qualifications:
- Ability to articulate the case for private support with sufficient effectiveness so that individuals understand the vision and strategy of Wisconsin Medicine and choose to make a philanthropic investment.
- Ability to work independently, in addition to as a member of an effective development team.
WFAA is committed to provide our employees with an environment that is inspiring, creative and respectful. We offer competitive pay and an excellent benefits program, which includes a 10% 401k contribution after 1 year of service!
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (supportuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation.