Job Summary
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your interest in this position, outline skills and experience that are related to this position, and describe your interest in joining the Grateful Patient Programs team and supporting the advancement of Michigan Medicine's mission.
Under the guidance of the Director of Development for the Department of Internal Medicine and as a member of the Grateful Patient Programs team, the Associate Director of Development will advance philanthropic support for the largest department in the University of Michigan Medical School.
Serving as a generalist major gift officer, the Associate Director will partner with department leaders, division chiefs, faculty, administrators, and development colleagues to support a broad range of Internal Medicine priorities, including research, education, faculty support, innovative programs, and patient care. A primary focus will be building the Department's donor pipeline by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding grateful patients, families, alumni, friends, foundations, and other prospective donors.
The Associate Director will manage a portfolio of major, principal, and planned gift prospects and develop donor-centered strategies that align donor interests with Internal Medicine and Michigan Medicine priorities. The position will also help faculty and staff recognize and appropriately refer potential philanthropic opportunities.
This position may be underfilled at the Assistant Director of Development level based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience. Candidates hired at the Assistant Director level will have an opportunity to develop the experience and demonstrated results necessary to advance to the Associate Director level.
The position requires work outside the home office, including donor, faculty, and colleague meetings at least three days per week. Some evening, weekend, and overnight travel is required.
Responsibilities*
Under the guidance of the Director of Development for the Department of Internal Medicine and as a member of the Grateful Patient Programs team, the Associate Director of Development will advance philanthropic support for the largest department in the University of Michigan Medical School.
Serving as a generalist major gift officer, the Associate Director will partner with department leaders, division chiefs, faculty, administrators, and development colleagues to support a broad range of Internal Medicine priorities, including research, education, faculty support, innovative programs, and patient care. A primary focus will be building the Department's donor pipeline by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding grateful patients, families, alumni, friends, foundations, and other prospective donors.
The Associate Director will manage a portfolio of major, principal, and planned gift prospects and develop donor-centered strategies that align donor interests with Internal Medicine and Michigan Medicine priorities. The position will also help faculty and staff recognize and appropriately refer potential philanthropic opportunities.
This position may be underfilled at the Assistant Director of Development level based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience. Candidates hired at the Assistant Director level will have an opportunity to develop the experience and demonstrated results necessary to advance to the Associate Director level.
The position requires work outside the home office, including donor, faculty, and colleague meetings at least three days per week. Some evening, weekend, and overnight travel is required.
Responsibilities
Major Gift Fundraising and Pipeline Development 70%
- Manage a portfolio of major, principal, and planned gift prospects, with responsibility for identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Build a sustainable pipeline of prospective donors by prioritizing discovery and qualification activity across the Department of Internal Medicine.
- Conduct donor and prospect meetings and develop strategies that move relationships toward meaningful philanthropic commitments.
- Create individualized engagement, solicitation, and stewardship plans that reflect each donor's interests, capacity, and relationship with Michigan Medicine.
- Prepare briefings, proposals, gift illustrations, solicitation materials, stewardship reports, and other donor communications.
- Maintain timely and accurate prospect strategies, database documentation, proposals, and portfolio information in the University's donor database.
- Ensure consistent follow-up with donors, prospects, faculty partners, and development colleagues.
- Increase philanthropic support for research, education, faculty, programs, and patient care across Internal Medicine.
Strategic Planning and Faculty Partnership 20%
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Department of Internal Medicine, its divisions, programs, faculty expertise, and philanthropic priorities.
- Partner with the Director of Development to implement short- and long-term fundraising strategies for the Department.
- Work with department leadership, division chiefs, vice chairs, program leaders, faculty, and administrators to identify fundable priorities and prospective donors.
- Help faculty and staff understand their role in philanthropy, recognize appropriate grateful patient referral opportunities, and effectively partner with Development.
- Advise faculty and administrative leaders on donor engagement, including meeting preparation, appropriate follow-up, and solicitation strategies.
- Translate complex clinical, research, and educational initiatives into compelling donor-centered cases for support.
- Match donor interests with priorities across Internal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, and the broader University.
- Assist with strategic events, volunteer engagement, annual giving, stewardship, and communications initiatives that support pipeline development and major gift fundraising.
Collaboration and Management 10%
- Collaborate with colleagues across Michigan Medicine Development, the Grateful Patient Programs team, the Office of University Development, and U-M schools, colleges, and units.
- Coordinate prospect activity and promote an integrated approach for donors with interests spanning multiple programs.
- Represent the Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, and the University in meetings with individuals, families, volunteers, foundations, and other external partners.
- Model collaboration, integrity, discretion, and Michigan Medicine Development's values.
- Participate in development events and other departmental or university activities as appropriate.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications*
Associate Director of Development
- Bachelor's degree.
- At least five years of progressively responsible fundraising, alumni relations, external relations, or comparable experience.
- Demonstrated success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects.
- Experience securing gifts of $100,000 or more or demonstrated experience managing relationships with the potential to result in gifts at that level.
- Demonstrated ability to build a donor pipeline through consistent discovery and qualification activity.
- Experience developing donor strategies and written materials, including proposals, briefings, and stewardship communications.
- Ability to understand complex clinical and research initiatives and communicate them clearly and persuasively.
- Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and strict confidentiality.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in a highly matrixed organization.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing circumstances.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and donor or constituent relationship management systems.
- Commitment to philanthropy and the missions of the Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, and the University of Michigan.
- Ability and willingness to travel and participate in occasional evening and weekend activities.
- Ability to work outside the home office at least three days per week.
- Reliable internet service when working remotely.
Assistant Director of Development- Underfill (MGO Intermediate-102420)
Candidates may be considered for appointment at the Assistant Director level with:
- Bachelor's degree.
- At least three years of fundraising, alumni relations, sales, business development, external relations, healthcare, or other relevant relationship-management experience.
- Demonstrated success establishing relationships, managing a portfolio or pipeline, and advancing individuals toward a decision or commitment.
- Strong interest in developing expertise in major gift fundraising, grateful patient engagement, and academic medicine.
- Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively while exercising discretion and sound judgment.
- Ability to learn complex clinical, scientific, and institutional priorities and communicate them to varied audiences.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn donor management systems.
- Ability and willingness to meet the position's work-location, travel, evening, and weekend expectations.
An Assistant Director will initially focus on discovery, qualification, pipeline development, and emerging major gift opportunities, with coaching and progressively greater responsibility for major gift solicitations.
Desired Qualifications*
- Fundraising experience in an academic medical center, healthcare organization, higher education institution, or other complex nonprofit environment.
- Experience working with physicians, scientists, faculty members, senior leaders, or grateful patients and families.
- Demonstrated success securing capital, programmatic, research, faculty-support, or endowment gifts.
- Experience with planned giving, foundation relations, or volunteer engagement.
- Knowledge of the University of Michigan's organization, policies, and procedures.
- Experience with DART or a comparable donor relationship management system.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Work Schedule
- The Office of Development supports flexibility while recognizing that fundraising is relationship-driven. The gift officer is expected to work outside the home office, meeting with donors, faculty, leaders, or colleagues at least three days per week.
- Flexible work arrangements are subject to departmental approval, reviewed annually, and may change based on business needs.
- Some local and overnight travel, as well as occasional evening and weekend work, is required.
Work Locations
The primary on-site location is the Michigan Medicine Development office suite in the 777 Building, which provides free on-site staff parking.
Underfill Statement
Underfill opportunity: Assistant Director of Development
Additional Information
Performance Expectations
Portfolio size and annual activity expectations will be established based on portfolio maturity, organizational priorities, and the level at which the position is filled. Expectations will include:
Personally maintain a portfolio of approximately 75-100 major, principal, and planned gift prospects, maintaining frequent contact with prospects, university leaders, and volunteers, spending approximately 60- 70% of time on direct fundraising efforts.
Conduct approximately 100-120 face-to-face visits with prospects and donors per year and participate in approximately 20 - 35 solicitations per year.
- Maintaining a strong emphasis on discovery and qualification to expand the Internal Medicine pipeline.
- Developing and executing strategic solicitations.
- Securing major gift commitments and documenting fundraising activity.
- Establishing productive partnerships with faculty and departmental leaders.
- Meeting applicable Michigan Medicine Development and University development community performance standards.
Background Screening
Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.