Assistant Director of Development

Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department:

The University of Georgia School of Medicine was founded in 2024 and received preliminary accreditation in 2026. The establishment of a new public medical school at UGA comes as the state faces a significant shortage of medical professionals. The population of Georgia, the nation’s eighth-largest state, has surged to approximately 11 million residents, straining existing medical infrastructure and resulting in longer wait times for appointments and reduced access to care. Georgia currently ranks 39th in the nation for the number of active patient care physicians per capita and 41st for the number of public medical students per capita. As a top-20 public university with a thriving research enterprise and vast public service network, the University of Georgia is well-positioned to produce more highly trained physicians, alleviate physician shortages, and improve the state’s ability to provide quality health care for its citizens. The School of Medicine is located on UGA’s Health Sciences Campus in Athens. In its inaugural year, the UGA School of Medicine will enroll 60 students per class, but a new $100 million medical school building will enable the UGA School of Medicine to grow to 120 students per class in the future.

College/Unit/Department website: https://medicine.uga.edu/

Posting Type: External

Retirement Plan: TRS or ORP

Employment Type: Employee

Benefits Eligibility: Benefits Eligible

Full/Part time: Full Time

Additional Schedule Information: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Flexibility and some weekends and evenings may be needed at times.

Advertised Salary: $60,000 – $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience

Posting Date: 09/03/2026

Open until filled: Yes

Proposed Starting Date: 11/01/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants: The application packet should include a cover letter detailing how the applicant’s credentials and experience meet the needs, responsibilities, and qualifications for the position, a current resume, and contact information for three professional references (who will not be contacted without further correspondence with the applicant).

Location of Vacancy: Athens Area

EEO Policy Statement: The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement: The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Classification Title: Major Gifts Officer I

FLSA: Exempt

FTE: 1.00

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent

Preferred Qualifications: Two to five years of demonstrated experience in a relationship-based, externally facing role or leadership position, including fundraising, sales, recruitment, admissions, alumni engagement, donor relations, client relations, community engagement, student leadership, volunteer leadership, campus organizations, Greek life, or nonprofit work.

Position Summary: The Assistant Director of Development serves as a frontline fundraiser for the University of Georgia School of Medicine and is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding philanthropic support for the School’s fundraising priorities. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the position manages a portfolio of donors and prospects across the philanthropic continuum, with a primary emphasis on leadership annual giving donors capable of making gifts between $1,500 and $50,000. The Assistant Director also identifies and cultivates individuals with major and planned giving potential and, when appropriate, solicits and stewards these gifts in collaboration with the Senior Director of Development.

The Assistant Director builds relationships with alumni, grateful patients when appropriate, physicians, foundations, corporations, community partners, and friends of the School of Medicine whose philanthropic interests align with advancing student scholarships, faculty excellence, biomedical research, educational innovation, and initiatives that improve healthcare throughout Georgia. The position coordinates annual giving initiatives, including Dawg Day of Giving and other annual fundraising campaigns, and develops targeted fundraising and donor engagement projects designed to increase donor participation, retention, and leadership annual giving. Frequent travel throughout Georgia and the Southeastern United States is expected, with occasional travel beyond the region as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships with diverse constituencies.
• Highly motivated, self-directed professional who demonstrates initiative, sound judgment, and accountability.
• Naturally curious with strong listening skills and the ability to uncover donor interests and philanthropic motivation.
• Emotionally intelligent professional who works effectively with physicians, faculty, academic leaders, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
• Ability to think strategically and develop creative fundraising and donor engagement initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, remain organized, and document activity, follow-up, or outcomes.
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and donor database or CRM systems.

Physical Demands:

• Regularly sit, stand, walk, use a computer, communicate in person and by phone or video, and attend meetings and events.
• Frequent travel, including driving and/or flying to donor and prospect meetings throughout Georgia and the Southeastern United States, with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.
• Occasionally lift or move materials related to events, meetings, or travel.

Is driving a responsibility of this position?: Yes

Is this a Position of Trust?: Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?: No

Does this position require a P-Card? : No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? : No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?: No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications): Yes

Credit and P-Card policy: Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy: Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Frontline Fundraising, Discovery, and Portfolio Management

• Build and manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, with a primary focus on discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors capable of making gifts between $1,500 and $50,000 in support of School of Medicine priorities.
• Conduct frequent donor and prospect visits, including regular travel throughout Georgia and the southeastern United States, to identify philanthropic interests, qualify giving capacity, and build long-term relationships.
• Prepare donor proposals, gift concepts, correspondence, and other follow-up materials resulting from donor and prospect meetings, and coordinate timely next steps to advance relationships and philanthropic opportunities.
• Identify and advance prospects with major and planned giving potential in collaboration with the Senior Director of Development and other development colleagues.
• Maintain timely and accurate contact reports, strategy notes, next steps, and donor information in the University donor database.

Percentage of time: 60

Duties/Responsibilities:

Annual Giving, Leadership Giving, and Donor Pipeline Development

• Coordinate the School of Medicine’s annual giving initiatives, including Dawg Day of Giving, targeted appeals, donor retention efforts, upgrade strategies, and other annual fundraising campaigns.
• Develop targeted fundraising and donor engagement projects designed to increase donor participation, retention, and leadership annual giving.
• Use donor data, giving history, and engagement patterns to identify opportunities for increased giving, renewed support, and deeper donor involvement.
• Collaborate with central Development and Alumni Relations colleagues to align School of Medicine annual giving efforts with broader university campaigns, communications, and best practices.

Percentage of time: 20

Duties/Responsibilities:

Donor Engagement, Collaboration, and Emerging Priorities

• Partner with faculty, students, staff, volunteers, and School of Medicine leadership to identify meaningful opportunities for philanthropic supporters to engage with the School.
• Staff college and university-related events, including donor events, alumni gatherings, receptions, campus programs, and other engagement opportunities.
• Complete special projects and initiatives that support the fundraising, donor engagement, stewardship, and strategic priorities of the School of Medicine.
• Collect, analyze, and present fundraising, annual giving, donor engagement, and prospect data to inform strategy and evaluate progress.
• Participate in professional development opportunities, conferences, trainings, and university advancement activities.
• Assist with additional duties as assigned in support of the School of Medicine’s growing development operation.

Percentage of time: 20

Contact Details: For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.

Recruitment Contact Name: Wendy Gilfedder

Recruitment Contact Email: somhr@uga.edu