Director of Development / Senior Director of Development, Gift Planning

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)*, the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking a development professional to support the Office of Gift Planning. As an integral member of the Gift Planning team, performs extensive prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship functions focusing on planned gifts. The position is responsible for increasing new gifts and maintaining/upgrading known commitments coming from bequests, life income gifts, as well as complex outright and blended gift proposals. Also serves as an important gift planning resource for Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) staff and University partners.

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

Who is WFAA?
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association 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. 

Planned Gift Development

• Develop objectives, priorities, and strategies for planned gift/major gift development related to capital campaigns, special programs, and ongoing fund raising in collaboration with University and WFAA personnel.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of prospects and donors strategically through the development process.
• Collaborate with prospect management, WFAA research, and development colleagues to identify and qualify a portfolio of planned and major gift prospects from a pool of existing and potential donors.
• Schedule and conduct initial assessment/exploratory meetings with prospects (virtually and in-person), following up with correspondence, phone calls, and additional visits as appropriate.
• Plan and conduct visits/trips, events, and other ongoing contact to build relationships with donors, effectively presenting the case for philanthropic support and explaining/offering gift opportunities.
• Develop and write gift proposals in conjunction with WFAA constituency staff, WFAA specialized staff, and University personnel, utilizing both current and planned gift opportunities to best meet donors’ needs, interests, and financial capabilities, including structuring complex or special gifts as appropriate.
• Collaborate with colleagues, discussing donor prospects, sharing advice/information, and coordinating activity on shared prospects.
• Properly record information about prospects and donors utilizing appropriate CRM database and report activity in a timely manner.

 Donor Relations/Stewardship/Recognition

• Plan and implement recognition for donors, including writing thank you letters, making personal calls, arranging meetings, hosting events, etc.
• Participate in the external relations activities of various University units, attend WFAA events when appropriate, etc., to solicit, encourage, and increase the involvement of alumni/donors in UW activities.