Philanthropy Executive Director

Overview

Working Title
Executive Director for Departments, Centers and Institutes

Job Title
Philanthropy Executive Director

Requisition Number
RE52654

Working Title
Executive Director for Departments, Centers and Institutes

Department Name
14000:

Office Of Philanthropy

Work Location
Lexington, KY

Grade Level
52

Salary Range
$,581/year

Type Of Position
Staff

Position Time Status
Full-Time

Required Education
BA

for more information about equivalencies
(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./equivalencies

Required Related Experience
9 yrs

Required License/Registration/Certification
None

Physical Requirements
Sitting at a computer workstation for extended periods of time; repetitive motion tasks. Ability to attend meetings on and off campus; intermittent job-related travel as needed.

Shift
Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm. As an exempt level position, additional hours will be required to meet business needs.

Job Summary

UK Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement and UK Health Care invite applications for the position of Philanthropy Executive Director for the Departments, Centers, and Institutes (DCI) Team
. This senior leadership role offers an opportunity to shape transformational philanthropic investment across some of UK Health Care’s most impactful clinical and academic areas.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Philanthropy–Health, the Executive Director provides strategic direction and leadership for all philanthropy activity within the Departments of Surgery, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Programs, Neurosciences, and Ophthalmology, while partnering closely with philanthropy programs in the UK College of Medicine.

The Executive Director serves as the senior fundraising officer for this portfolio, responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gift donors who are committed to advancing UK Health Care’s mission of exceptional patient care, innovative research, and world-class education. The ideal candidate is an experienced, relationship-focused fundraiser who excels at engaging donors in complex, meaningful giving conversations and building long-term philanthropic partnerships.

This role plays a critical part in connecting grateful patients, families, and community members with opportunities to make significant, lasting investments that shape the future of health care in Kentucky and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for philanthropy across assigned clinical departments and programs.
• Build and manage a robust portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, leading efforts to cultivate, solicit, and close major and principal gifts.
• Translate medical, clinical, and research priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
• Maintain a visible presence across UK Health Care’s hospitals and clinics, fostering strong relationships with physicians, administrators, and academic leaders.
• Serve on the UK Philanthropy–Health senior leadership team, providing counsel on fundraising strategy and institutional priorities.
• Lead and mentor a team of five development professionals, including four major gift officers, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence.
• Partner with campus and hospital leadership to advance key initiatives that strengthen grateful patient engagement and academic medicine fundraising.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A strong record of success in major and principal gift fundraising, preferably within health care or academic medicine.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to inspire confidence, navigate complex organizations, and engage effectively with donors, faculty, and clinical leaders.
• A strategic mindset, coupled with a collaborative and team-oriented leadership approach.
• A passion for advancing UK Health Care’s mission and improving the health of communities across Kentucky.
• The culture within the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement (PAE) is built on our shared core values CoMMIT – Collaboration, Communication, Mission Driven, Mutual Respect, Innovation and Transparency.

By applying for a position within UK PAE, you are indicating your commitment and…