Associate Director of Development / Director of Development - UW Health / American Family Children's Hospital - Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)*, the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW Health, is seeking a dynamic and motivated professional to represent the UW Health Kids program including the American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH) and the Department of Pediatrics. While employed by WFAA and reporting to the Senior Managing Director of Development of the UW Health Kids/AFCH development program, this individual will be expected to build, cultivate, and manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects in support of the program.  If you are strategic, proactive, highly collaborative, and strong leader with a passion for advancing healthcare and community engagement, we invite you to join us in advancing the UW Health Kids/AFCH program and making a meaningful impact on children's lives.  

The UW Health Kids/AFCH Development Program has had strong fundraising success over the years through various capital campaigns and fundraising efforts and is considered one of the most mature fundraising programs within Wisconsin Medicine.  There yet remains an opportunity to not only increase the program’s annual fundraising efforts, but to implement innovative new fundraising and engagement strategies to enhance short- and long-term success of the program.

About UW Health Kids/ American Family Children’s Hospital

UW Health Kids includes all pediatric services and programs at UW Health.  Locations include American Family Children’s Hospital and our partner and regional clinics across Wisconsin and Illinois.   Named for a generous gift from American Family Insurance and designed around the needs of children and families, it is home to some of the nation’s foremost experts in medicine and surgery.  American Family Children’s Hospital is a world-class children’s medical and surgical level I trauma center offering level 4 neonatal intensive care, a pediatric intensive care unit, leading transplant program, level 4 epilepsy center, verified pediatric burn center and one of nine institutions in the pediatric cancer Dream Team, all housed in a family friendly child-centric facility. Named a Best Children’s Hospital in 2 specialties by US News & World Report, this modern facility offers patients and families access to cutting-edge treatments in a child-centric and family friendly environment optimal for healing. We are a full-service, comprehensive children’s hospital, caring for the sickest and most seriously injured infants, children, and adolescents. Our patients are referred from throughout Wisconsin, the United States, and beyond. In addition, we have a strong local primary care network and child health advocacy program that is essential in maintaining and promoting good health and well-being for kids of all ages.

Many pediatric services within UW Health Kids and at American Family Children’s Hospital are provided by faculty physicians and surgeons across several different departments within the University of Wisconsin SMPH, with the primary partner being the Department of Pediatrics.  This important partnership works to promote and enhance the health of children through outstanding clinical care, exemplary education of pediatric trainees, performance of cutting-edge research, and vigorous advocacy. 

Please note:  This position can be filled as a Associate Director of Development or Director of Development, depending on skills/experience of selected candidate. 

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.

Major Gift Development

• Develop objectives, priorities and strategies for major gift development related to capital campaigns, special programs, and ongoing fund raising in collaboration with dean/faculty/staff, WFAA vice president and colleagues.
• Implement development strategies with assigned constituencies, managing a portfolio of prospects and donors in varying stages of involvement to advance them strategically through the development process.
• Work with prospect management, WFAA research and development colleagues to identify and qualify a portfolio of major gift prospects from existing and potential donors.
• 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 visits/trips, events, and other ongoing contact to build relationships with donors, effectively presenting the case for philanthropic support and explaining gift opportunities.
• 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.
• Collaborate with colleagues, discussing major donor prospects, sharing advice/information, and coordinating activity on shared prospects.
• Coordinate development efforts with AFCH, working closely with providers and faculty to develop and implement strategies related to gift opportunities and optimizing campus involvement in the development process.

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.
• Develop and maintain volunteer involvement, recruiting, organizing, staffing and training volunteers as needed to support fund raising activities and coordinating the involvement of deans, faculty and staff in organizing volunteers for unit activities.
• Work in collaboration with affiliated boards and organizations, including the Community Around the Children’s Hospital (CATCH) board and membership program.
• Participate in the external relations activities of UW Health and AFCH, attend sponsored events, etc., to solicit, encourage, increase the involvement of donors in activities.
• Communicate, problem solve, and anticipate needs of hospital faculty and 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 hospital faculty and staff.
• Serve as WFAA liaison with the college/school/program and other UW entities and friends/booster groups.
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Administration

• Make travel arrangements for self.
• Write regular progress reports on prospect cultivation and solicitation, completing and filing thorough reports of all contacts in a timely manner.
• Write scripts for promotional brochures, invitations, announcements, and other written materials, in collaboration with the WFAA and UW Health marketing and communications staff.

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

• Post high school training, college degree, or equivalent preferred.
• Ability to articulate the case for private support with sufficient effectiveness so that individuals understand the vision and strategy of the College and choose to invest in the vision.
• 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.