Senior Director of Leadership Giving
Job Description Summary
The Senior Director of Leadership Giving (Senior Director) position forges philanthropic partnerships to advance the strategic priorities of Rosalind Franklin University. The Senior Director engages donors and prospects, discovers their passions, explores partnership potential, curates customized prospect/donor experiences, and as appropriate, negotiates agreements while consistently demonstrating impact within the alumni, friends, and other supportive constituencies. In so doing, the Senior Director collaborates with RFU administration, faculty, other leaders, and Institutional Advancement colleagues. The Senior Director will be assigned to work with specific schools and programs and is responsible for building working relationships with leaders within those schools or programs as well as with prospective donors.
About Rosalind Franklin University
Rosalind Franklin University (RFU) is named for a pioneer in scientific research. Today, we’re carrying her legacy forward by sustaining an innovative, collaborative environment for advanced healthcare education and research. The faculty, staff, 1,900-plus students,, and 20,000 graduates worldwide carry on Dr. Franklin’s legacy of discovery every single day. We do that through a combination of rigorous academics, with interprofessionalism as a foundation; Advancements in health, wellness, and medicine at our Innovation and Research Park; and Groundbreaking approaches to community service.
RFU provides a place where students, faculty, practitioners, researchers, and entrepreneurs converge around a common goal: to improve the quality and delivery of health and wellness for all. Additionally, we offer a wealth of student support services to ensure we cultivate an inclusive campus.
RFU offers graduate-level health degrees through our six specialized schools:
Chicago Medical School (est. 1912)
College of Health Professions (est. 1970)
College of Nursing (est. 2023)
College of Pharmacy (est. 2011)
Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine (est. 1912)
School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (est. 1968)
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Serves as an ambassador of RFU to outside individuals, groups, and organizations sharing honestly and gracefully the mission and strategic priorities of the university.
Identifies, cultivates, and engages donors and prospects to discover their passions and explores potential partnerships with RFU.
Collaborates with the IA Leadership Team, administration, faculty, and volunteers to grow populations of engaged and involved stakeholders for support (through time, talent, and philanthropy) of the university, assigned schools, and programs.
Actively connects donors and prospects with appropriate RFU personnel and experiences both on and off campus.
Takes responsibility for building relationships with faculty and administrators within the university and in the assigned schools or programs.
Uses strategically the additional divisional resources of data intelligence and stewardship to augment individual prospect and donor plans.
Travels regionally and nationally as required to execute visits with donors and prospects that move them toward greater engagement and philanthropy.
Serves as a collaborative liaison and IA representative of the university, assigned schools, and programs as assigned. In this capacity, the Senior Director will share university/IA strategic directions and provide regular feedback back to the division of issues or strategic priorities in areas under assignment.
Manages and captures individual prospect actions and notes on a timely basis within the Raisers Edge Database and accurate and timely submission (following university procedures) of all work-related expense documentation.
Contributes to the overall success of the Division of IA by performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Conditions of Employment
Must achieve satisfactory results from a background check.
- Compliance with the current COVID-19 vaccination policy.
Required Education & Experience
A bachelor’s degree with a minimum of five years of experience in development, non-profit management, or complementary fields is required.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal). characterized by the ability to listen, to speak, and to write with integrity and a strong commitment to customer service. Excellent organizational skills and a high degree of flexibility and initiative. Ability to complete tasks in a timely and accurate manner. Ability to multi-task, to work independently and collaboratively with a team of highly motivated individuals. Ability to complete tasks in a timely and accurate manner. Ability to maintain professionalism in situations. Able to deal with periodic timetable changes, detail job tasks with accuracy and efficiency, and provide a strong customer service orientation. Ability to travel and attend evening and weekend functions when necessary is required. Ability to authentically represent well the mission of RFU to external constituencies and communities. Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the university as well as the technology tools available to the Division of Institutional Advancement is required.
Typical Physical Demands and Working Conditions
Selected candidates must have the mental and physical capabilities to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation. Work is of light physical demand in an office setting with duties performed while sitting, standing, or occasionally stooping. Work requires occasional lifting of boxes 25 pounds or less. Some evenings, and weekends as well as local and national travel required.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in Academic Medicine, university, or a similarly complex institution.
Experience successfully managing a portfolio of donors.
An exceptional work ethic and track record of personal initiative is preferred
Reports To: George Rattin, Executive Director of Development
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with a disability. All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action employer and is dedicated to creating and fostering a diverse academic environment. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is especially seeking and encouraging nominations and applications from individuals belonging to groups underrepresented in their respective fields, as well as others who would enrich and add unique perspectives to the University.