Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts, Medical Center Development; MCD

Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts, Medical Center Development (MCD)

Thank you for your interest in Stanford University. While we have instituted a hiring pause for non‑critical staff positions, we are actively recruiting for most of the positions currently listed on our careers page. We will update the page when the broader hiring pause is lifted.

Job Summary

• DATE POSTED 3 days ago

• Schedule Full‑time

• Job Code 4787

• Employee Status Regular

• Grade O

• Requisition

Main work location:
Redwood City CA

Schedule:

Hybrid work schedule of at least 2 days per week on‑site

As an academic medical center with a tripartite mission – research, teaching, and clinical care – Stanford Medicine’s history and legacy is one of discovery, innovation, and excellence. Our efforts and initiatives across our distinguished School of Medicine, two hospitals, and Stanford University more broadly aim to shape and define the future of health and medicine.

We believe this is a defining moment for life sciences and biomedicine as catalysts of innovation. It is our vision and our time as we drive toward discoveries and advances at the intersection of biology and biomedicine, information sciences and technology, reimagine cancer research and care, forge new frontiers in AI and medicine, and strengthen the core that underpins our successes and aspirations—our people.

Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President, Medical Center Development, this newly created role of Assistant Vice President (AVP), Principal Gifts offers an exciting and unique opportunity in academic medical philanthropy.

The Assistant Vice President will lead the development, direction, and execution of comprehensive strategies of our Principal Gifts program, working in collaboration with colleagues across the university ecosystem on alignment of school, health care system, and institutional priorities and initiatives. This role will be instrumental in building lasting relationships that amplify the impact of Stanford Medicine.

In this role, you will:

• Lead a seasoned group of Principal Gift professionals, fostering a collaborative environment through learning and mentoring.

• Work closely with the AVP of Cancer Initiatives and AVP of Major Gifts, Corporations, Associations, and Foundations on developing strategies and implementation of key capital and programmatic needs.

• Plan, lead, and implement principal gift strategies for Stanford Medicine, in conjunction with principal and major gifts officers, corporate and foundation officers, and university colleagues.

• Cultivate and manage a portfolio of select individuals, identifying next‑gen donors, focusing on personalized engagement, solicitation, and stewardship of significant philanthropic commitments (8+ figure gifts), often through highly complex gift discussions, assets, and structures.

• Partner with academic leaders, health care executives, and volunteers in devising donor‑centered engagement, including developing big ideas to attract impactful philanthropy.

• Support and collaborate with other development and partner program colleagues within Stanford Medicine and across the broader university to calibrate shared goals and adopt best practices that will enhance donor, prospective donor, and grateful patient relations.

• Oversee hiring, setting individual and team performance goals, and ensuring efficient allocation of resources to meet fundraising objectives.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Bachelor's degree and 12 years of direct or relevant experience, preferably in an educational institution.

• 8+ years of effective management experience highly desired, including history of success in recruiting, mentoring, retaining, and evaluating staff.

• Specialized knowledge of fundraising, solicitation, and gift implementation, with a proven track record of securing significant gifts from individuals, families, corporations and foundations.

• Demonstrated success with a variety of complex and innovative giving vehicles, including traditional and non‑traditional options, to maximize donor engagement and impact.

• An expert ability to cultivate and maintain…