Director of Development Strategy | WHSC

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Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world‑class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the excellence of our academic community.

The Division of Advancement and Alumni Engagement utilizes resources, technology, and business for the purpose of constituent engagement, donor research and solicitation, and stewardship throughout Emory University and Health System. Our mission is to inspire and steward meaningful, lasting relationships that elevate engagement and giving to fulfill Emory’s mission to serve humanity. We are currently seeking a Director of Development – Strategy.

The Director of Development Strategy position will report to the Associate Vice President of Advancement of Clinical, Research and Alumni Programs.

• Directs and implements strategies for identifying, cultivating, and successfully soliciting individuals for gifts of $100K – $5M to support education, patient care, and research programs for a department, school, or unit.
• Solicits gifts of $100K – $5M in support of the school/unit.
• Manages a portfolio of prospects through an active schedule of solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship calls to donors and new prospects.
• Builds relationships among prospective donors, alumni, and volunteers to support programs and priorities.
• Partners with faculty and administrators to align priorities of the school/unit with donor goals/interests.
• Works with central advancement offices to ensure that potential gift prospects are properly qualified, cultivated, and stewarded.
• May coordinate or write/produce appropriate fundraising materials including, but not limited to, case statements, brochures, solicitation letters, gift proposals, appreciation letters, donor reports, and campaign status reports.
• Maintains information on selected donors and prospects including contact reports in the CRM system.
• Communicates in ways that are donor‑centric, while furthering the mission of Emory.
• Travels to meet with donors as needed.
• May supervise staff.
• May manage a budget.
• Performs related responsibilities as required.

• Creates and directs strategies for engaging, cultivating, and successfully soliciting individuals for gifts of $5M+ to support Clinical, Research and Alumni Programs within Woodruff Health Sciences.
• Liaison with Emory Healthcare/Medicine leadership faculty and executive administrators to understand and articulate Emory Healthcare and School of Medicine’s top current and burgeoning $5M+ philanthropic priorities.
• Subject matter expert on $5M+ philanthropic priorities (as above), translates these priorities into donor‑facing content (talking points, materials, etc.), partners with gift officers to create individual donor strategies for principal gift prospects in their portfolios, and equips gift officers with tools to have qualification, cultivation, and solicitation conversations.
• Works with central advancement offices, including Pipeline Optimization and Donor Relations to ensure that potential principal gift prospects are properly qualified, cultivated, and stewarded.
• May coordinate or write/produce appropriate fundraising materials including, but not limited to, case statements, brochures, solicitation letters, gift proposals, appreciation letters, donor reports, and campaign status reports.
• Maintains information on selected donors and prospects including contact reports in CRM system. Communicates in ways that are donor‑centric, while furthering the mission of Emory.
• This position requires coming in person two days a week.

• A bachelor's degree and five years of experience in fundraising or related field.

• Successful candidates will possess experience as a lead solicitor, closing gifts of $100,000 – $5M from prospects.
• Prior experience working with comprehensive campaigns, grateful patient fundraising, alumni engagement, or in a university setting.
• Experience working with various technologies including advanced knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite,…