Assistant Vice President or Senior Director of Development

POSITION SUMMARY & JOB SUMMARY

The Lundquist Institute (TLI) seeks an Assistant Vice President or Senior Director of Development ("AVP") who is a dynamic, collaborative, and intellectually curious leader to guide the Development office through its next phase of growth, fostering strong donor relationships and advancing TLI's mission through impactful fundraising strategies. The AVP will have the unique opportunity to build and lead a high-performing team within a globally recognized institution committed to pioneering research and development, ensuring TLI's financial health and ongoing success in large-scale philanthropy.

Reporting to the SVP, Advancement ("SVP") and serving as a key member of the Advancement leadership team, the AVP will operate at both strategic and operational levels to ensure that all fundraising activities align seamlessly with the Institute's strategic plan. In this critical role, the AVP will serve as TLI's primary major gift fundraiser as well as oversee a comprehensive fundraising program that emphasizes relationship-driven strategies to expand the Institute's fundraising potential.

The AVP will oversee a team currently comprised of four staff:  a Director of Advancement Services, a Director of Corporate Philanthropy and Foundation Relations, a Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship, and an Annual Giving Manager.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Fundraising & Leadership

• Provide strategic vision and leadership to design and implement a comprehensive advancement program that supports TLI's long-term sustainability and research goals.
• Lead and execute TLI's fundraising strategy across major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, and annual giving with a focus on securing major gifts.
• Oversee the development and engagement of a diversified portfolio of major donors (individual and institutional) and community partners to expand TLI's donor base in alignment with the Institute's strategic plan.
• Collaborate with Communications and Marketing to ensure brand consistency and visibility, while overseeing financial stewardship, budgeting, and compliance for strategic fundraising initiatives.
• Implement effective donor engagement strategies, including major fundraising activities and targeted stewardship programs in collaboration with TLI investigators, and assess fundraising activities for best practices and continuous improvement in achieving institutional goals.

Portfolio management of current and prospective donors

• Manage a portfolio encompassing some of the Institute's highest-capacity donors and prospects, including Board members and senior volunteers. Lead strategic engagement with approximately 50 major donors, fostering relationships from initial cultivation through to securing six- and seven-figure commitments, generating over $2 million annually in endowment and current-use gifts in alignment with TLI's mission and goals.
• Record all interactions, strategies, and outreach activities in TLI's CRM (Salesforce) while maintaining ethical standards and personalized stewardship.
• Implement effective, long-term relationship-building strategies that foster significant, ongoing support from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Collaborate with the SVP and senior leadership to engage donors and execute giving strategies that align with TLI's mission and priorities.

Team Leadership & Development Operations

• Manage and mentor the Development team by setting clear performance goals, priorities, and accountability standards aligned with TLI's strategic objectives.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture, providing coaching and professional development to promote an internal culture of philanthropy and excellence in prospect cultivation and stewardship.
• Develop and oversee the departmental budget, ensuring resource allocation aligns with TLI's priorities for maximum impact.
• Establish and track key performance metrics (KPIs) to drive team and fundraising success, regularly reporting progress to leadership.
• Establish structured timelines, set clear expectations, and address performance issues constructively to ensure effective daily operations and foster a high-performing team culture.

Board and volunteer engagement

• Partner with the SVP, Advancement, President/CEO and Governance/Nominating Committee to recruit new Board directors with leadership experience and significant financial capacity.
• Engage Board members, campaign committees, and volunteers in fundraising efforts, providing training, guidance, and regular progress updates on development goals.
• Oversee Corporate and Community Ambassador Boards in collaboration with the Senior Director, Communications and Marketing as well as the Director of Corporate Philanthropy and Foundation Relations, managing related development projects.
• Support development-related events that involve Board members and major donors, offering strategic direction to enhance engagement and philanthropic outcomes.

EDUCATION

*Bachelor's degree

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will bring broad fundraising expertise in strategic donor relations, philanthropic communications, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven analytics, with a proven track record in a comprehensive advancement environment of building 1:1 relationship and securing philanthropic gifts.

• At least 5 years of increasingly responsible development experience, with a demonstrated history of securing six- and seven-figure donations.
• Extensive knowledge of donor cultivation best practices, concepts, and techniques, with demonstrated success in fundraising.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and engage diverse stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Advance, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce).
• Experience in complex environments, ideally within higher education, research, or health sciences, with a strong commitment to ethical fundraising practices.
• High personal integrity, professional judgment, and adaptability, with a collaborative and positive team management approach.
• Intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence, and the ability to engage in high-level strategic discussions with varied stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to set and meet ambitious goals while managing multiple initiatives.
• Demonstrated collaboration skills with experience supporting volunteer and organizational leadership, including Board members, senior leaders, and faculty, to advance fundraising objectives and build an Institute-wide culture of philanthropy.
• Deep interest in medical research and a commitment to TLI's mission.
• Sense of humor.

Preferred Qualifications - Senior Director

• Successful track record of meeting or exceeding annual fundraising goals, including experience in comprehensive or capital campaigns.
• Strong ability to convey complex scientific information in a clear, accessible manner to non-specialist audiences, with experience partnering with communications and marketing teams in health sciences, research, or biomedical fundraising efforts.
• Skilled in contributing to a positive team culture centered on engagement, accountability, and goal achievement.
• Experience mentoring and supporting development professionals, building a collaborative and results-oriented team environment.

Preferred Qualifications - Assistant Vice President

• All minimum qualifications and preferred qualifications indicated for Senior Director candidates.
• Minimum of 7 years of development experience, including at least 2 years of direct supervisory experience, with a proven record of leading, mentoring, and motivating a high-performing, data-driven team focused on goal achievement in a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Proven experience with high-level relationship management and stewardship with principal gift prospects and donors.
• Extensive experience in health sciences, research, or biomedical environments, with the ability to engage scientists and academics and communicate complex scientific research to donors and prospects for positive philanthropic outcomes.
• Experience collaborating with communications and marketing teams to ensure cohesive messaging, brand alignment, and enhanced visibility of fundraising initiatives.
• Proven expertise in planning and executing comprehensive or capital campaigns, with a successful track record in coordinating development and campaign consultants to optimize strategic outcomes and achieve fundraising objectives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies and initiatives to meet the organization's financial goals.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, sponsors, and other key stakeholders to secure financial support for the organization.
• Meet with TLI investigators to understand their needs as well as to understand important contacts that could result in support for their work through private venture, or foundational philanthropic gifts.
• Lead and manage a team of development professionals to execute fundraising activities and campaigns effectively.
• Monitor and evaluate the success of fundraising activities, making adjustments as needed to maximize results.
• Collaborate with other departments within the organization to ensure alignment and integration of fundraising efforts with the overall mission and goals.
• Stay informed about trends and best practices in fundraising and philanthropy and incorporate this knowledge into the organization's development strategy.
• Represent the organization at events, conferences, and other networking opportunities to promote awareness and support for the organization's mission.
• Provide regular reports and updates to senior leadership and the board of directors on the status of fundraising activities and progress towards financial goals.
• Serve as a key spokesperson for the organization, advocating for its mission and values to external audiences.