Associate Director of Development / Director of Development - School of Veterinary Medicine

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)*, the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking a dynamic and motivated professional to represent the School of Veterinary Medicine’s (SVM) development program.  Employed by WFAA and reporting to a WFAA Managing Senior Director of Development, this individual will be expected to build, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of major gift prospects who are passionate about advancing animal and human health.  If you are strategic, proactive, highly collaborative, and have a passion for animals and people, we invite you to join us in making a meaningful impact on the veterinary medical profession and those it serves.

 The SVM’s development program has had strong fundraising success for more than twenty years, including a recently completed building expansion and renovation capital campaign which inspired more than $60 million in private support.  The program is a consistent leader on the UW-Madison campus in securing future estate gifts, and excels in securing annual, midlevel and major gifts.  Fundraising success to date stems from several key groups of people, including:  Clients of the school’s world-class teaching hospital, UW Veterinary Care, who are grateful for the compassionate and expert care their pet received; Animal lovers inspired by the school’s mission to help animals live longer, healthier lives; and SVM alumni who reflect with gratitude on the impact the school has made on their lives.

This is an opportunity to increase the development program’s fundraising success by building upon its pipeline of major gift donors, implementing new, innovative fundraising and engagement strategies, and providing outstanding stewardship to enhance the short- and long-term success of the program.  Development staff are members of the school’s advancement team, which is responsible for fundraising and stewardship, marketing, communications, publications, events, alumni affairs and more.

Please note:  This position can be filled at the Associate Director of Development or Director of Development level, depending on skills/experience of selected candidate. 

About the School of Veterinary Medicine / UW Veterinary Care:

Advancing animal and human health with science and compassion.

As Wisconsin’s only veterinary medical school, and one of only 33 in the nation to be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the UW School of Veterinary Medicine provides outstanding programs in veterinary medical education, clinical practice, research and public service which enhances the health and welfare of animals and people and contributes to the economic well-being of the state of Wisconsin and beyond. 

Opened in 1983, the school quickly earned a reputation as one of the leading schools of veterinary medicine in the United States.  The school is home to a world-class veterinary medical teaching hospital, UW Veterinary Care, which offers leading-edge treatment for animals of all sizes across more than 20 different specialties. 

Faculty and staff in the school’s four academic departments train students in a four-year program leading to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree.  The school also provides graduate research training in core areas of animal and human health through its Comparative Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (CBMS).  The DVM and CBMS programs are consistently ranked among the top programs in the nation.

Who is WFAA?

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the university and to connect with the UW. In 2014, the UW Foundation merged with the Wisconsin Alumni Association® to better serve a growing population of UW alumni and donors. We believe that private support grows out of good relationships between campus leaders, faculty and program staff who need support, and the alumni and friends who want to invest in UW–Madison. We provide important engagement opportunities to link UW–Madison alumni to each other and to their alma mater, building a strong community of Badgers.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Just as the university community benefits from differing viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences, inclusion and diversity are imperative for the success of our mission. WFAA values people and the differences that they bring to the organization, and creates an environment in which all staff members and constituents feel respected and have opportunities to thrive.  

Major Gift Development

• In collaboration with WFAA’s development program unit lead for the SVM, develop objectives, priorities and strategies for major gift development related to comprehensive campaigns, special programs, and ongoing fund raising in collaboration with dean/faculty/staff, WFAA leadership and other colleagues.
• Implement development strategies with assigned constituencies, managing a portfolio of prospects and donors in varying stages of involvement to advance them strategically through the development continuum.
• Qualify prospective major gift donors on behalf of the entire University, including those with a specific interest in the SVM and beyond.
• Work with prospect management, WFAA research and development colleagues to identify and qualify a portfolio of major gift prospects from existing and potential donors.
• Schedule and conduct initial assessment/exploratory meetings with prospects, following up with correspondence, phone calls and additional visits as appropriate to qualify prospect.
• Plan and conduct meetings and other ongoing contact to build relationships with donors, effectively presenting the case for philanthropic support and explaining gift opportunities.
• Develop and write major gift proposals, utilizing both current and planned gift opportunities to best meet donors’ needs, interests, and financial capabilities, including structuring complex or special gifts as appropriate.
• Artfully ask for the right gift, at the right time, in the right way.
• Collaborate with colleagues, discussing major donor prospects, sharing advice/information, and coordinating activity on shared prospects.
• Coordinate development efforts with the School of Veterinary Medicine, working closely with faculty and staff to develop and implement strategies related to gift opportunities and optimizing campus involvement in the development process.

Donor Relations/Stewardship/ Recognition

• Plan and implement recognition for donors, including writing thank you letters, making personal calls, arranging meetings, hosting events, etc.
• Plan and implement ongoing communication and stewardship with donors.
• Communicate, problem solve and anticipate needs of school and teaching hospital faculty and staff regarding accounting for donor created funds and serve as liaison between WFAA accounting department and campus staff.
• Serve as a key liaison for select members of the school’s Board of Visitors, an external advisory body to the dean of the school.
• Request data/reports from WFAA staff to meet needs of donors and school faculty and staff.

Administration

• Plan and execute travel arrangements with responsibility for tracking and submitting related expense reports. 
• Utilize WFAA’s customer relationship management (CRM) tool to plan, implement and record all development-related activity in a timely manner.  This includes regular progress reports on prosect qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Collaborate with WFAA and SVM staff to ensure accurate and proper administration and usage of donors funds.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional work experience.
• Experience and demonstrated success in fundraising or related activities.
• Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills required.
• Ability to meet travel requirements (@25%).
• The position will require a combination of in-office, on-campus work environments and remote work. 

Other Qualifications:

• Post high school training, college degree, or equivalent preferred.
• Ability to articulate the case for private support with sufficient effectiveness so that individuals understand the vision and strategy of the school and choose to invest in the vision.
• Ability to work independently, in addition to as a member of an effective development team.Appreciation of the role played by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the SVM and an interest in promoting its programs.

At WFAA, we are dedicated to creating an inspiring, creative, and respectful work environment for our employees. We offer competitive pay and an outstanding benefits program, including a generous 10% 401k contribution after just one year of service! Join us and be part of a team that values your growth and well-being. Click here to learn more about our employee benefits! 

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (advanceuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation.