Senior Associate Director, University Principal Gifts

Main Work Location: Historic Campus
Schedule:  Hybrid (at least 2 days per week on site) 

To be considered, please submit your résumé and a one-page cover letter along with your online application. 

Stanford University is one of the world’s premier academic and research institutions, devoting tremendous intellectual and physical resources toward the betterment of humanity. As a major Bay Area employer, Stanford seeks people committed to excellence and to improving our world. In turn, the university is committed to supporting its employees as they develop their careers and enrich their lives.  We believe Stanford’s future success will be shaped by the diverse perspectives, unique experiences, and inclusive culture of its community.

Stanford University’s Office of Development seeks a consummately collaborative and intellectually curious fundraiser to join the University Principal Gifts team. The Senior Associate Director will play a key role—individually, collectively, and strategically—in cultivating long-term relationships with donors who have the capacity to make transformative gifts. They will leverage the relationships and vision of university leaders and volunteers to secure support for strategic university priorities and initiatives. 

Position Summary:
The Senior Associate Director will help develop coordinated strategies aimed to maximize the life-time engagement and support of a portfolio of high net-worth households that are mostly based in the Bay Area and its international communities and other areas as assigned. This role works with all aspects and timelines of a transformative gift, from the stages leading up to a successful solicitation to the implementation and stewardship phases that make a virtuous gift cycle. This position has three defining aspects:

• The disciplined management of approximately 30+ relationships that includes: a consistent focus and high-touch engagement, cultivation, and stewardship that leads to successful solicitation strategies; a goal of building a diverse pipeline, with diversity broadly construed; and the patient persistence suited to the long-term nature of building transformational philanthropic relationships. The portfolio will focus on the Bay Area and households with an international presence.
• The ability to work closely with academic leaders, faculty, and volunteers to shape compelling ideas that will attract transformational gifts based on institutional initiatives and presidential priorities.
• The ability to work closely with development colleagues, particularly in the University Major and Principal Gifts programs, and with officers of other schools and units to coordinate cultivation and solicitation of prospects where there are multiple interests.

Our university principal gift work requires understanding the institution’s overarching strategic priorities, as well as the programs and aspirations of all seven of Stanford’s schools and the other large units where Principal Gifts are needed. Consulting, coordinating, and collaborating with colleagues across teams, schools, and units are essential. It is possible this role will also serve as a team liaison to a particular school or priority area.  

The ideal candidate understands how to appreciate and navigate complexity and nuance, whether it’s presented in the form of an innovative academic initiative taking shape, in the layered network of stakeholders amongst whom consensus must be built to be successful, or in mobilizing volunteer ambassadors to activate networks and advise leadership. They’re delighted by accomplishing hard things together and cultivating growth—both in themselves and others. They’re excited to be, or become, a utility player on a collegial team.

In this role you will:

• Manage a portfolio of high potential individual prospects through the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles. Forge long-term relationships with these individuals to cultivate their interest in Stanford that will lead to eight- and nine-figure solicitations. Engage with local regional communities, particularly those who have an international presence.
• Staff academic leaders, key institutional representatives, and volunteers in their contact with Principal Gifts donors/prospects and build their personal relationship with them.
• Work with alumni, parents, and friends of Stanford and their advisors, sometimes behind the scenes through high-level volunteers, both external and internal to the university.
• Collaborate with team members and colleagues, academic leaders, and faculty to develop gift ideas and strategies and to foster relationships that will be productive for Stanford.
• As part of a team-wide effort, significant involvement in Bay Area regional development strategy, with a focus on presidential engagement along with other academic leadership, deep diversity and across generations, alumni + parents + major philanthropists (friends)
• Visit prospects often in tandem with the President and faculty leaders; work proactively to bring prospects to campus for substantive visits and engagements.
• Provide stewardship for certain Principal Gifts donors managed centrally, in coordination with other stewardship units and field fundraisers.
• Oversee the preparation of funding proposals, talking points and scripts, assessments of potential support, briefings, and stewardship reports for assigned prospects. Ensures that all interested parties are involved in key efforts focused on specific prospects.
• A commitment to promoting and supporting an environment of diversity and inclusion.