About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff. As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value.

Departmental Overview

University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR) strengthens Berkeley's excellence through engagement with alums, parents, undergraduate and graduate students, and friends of the University, raising public awareness about Berkeley, and increasing private philanthropy. UDAR provides overall direction for the campus's philanthropic advancement strategies and works to strengthen unit development in partnership with campus fundraisers. UDAR handles a range of central activities and services encompassing communications, stewardship, prospect development, and gift management.

The Office of Annual Programs is the university's largest fundraising department and is responsible for engaging thousands of alumni, parents, and students as donors and volunteers each year. The goals of this department are to: 1) increase the number of annual donors, 2) significantly raise the amount of discretionary funds for the Chancellor, the deans and program directors, and 3) identify campaign/major donors for the campus. Programs include the Parent and Family Philanthropy program, Pipeline Development, and Direct Response Marketing. The department is made up of 33 employees and raises $13-$15 million in private contributions from 40% of campus donors each year.

The Parents and Family Philanthropy (PFP) Program at UC Berkeley partners with parents and other family members of current students and alumni to empower families to support the university's mission, and particularly the quality of undergraduate life, through their time, talent and treasure. In partnership with the PFP program and units across campus, parents and families give from $50 million to $100 million or more every year to support Cal's work of education, research and public service.

Position Summary

The Assistant Director, Parent and Family Philanthropy raises leadership gifts from parents of current students and parents of alumni to support the Cal Parents Fund (Cal Fund) and other needs across the UC Berkeley campus. This position works with the Cal Parents and Family Philanthropy team in UDAR to support and advance family philanthropy across campus, making families an increasingly significant source of financial support for schools, colleges and other units at Cal. The Assistant Director, Parent and Family Philanthropy proactively manages a portfolio of 200-250 individual leadership and major gift prospects who have the capacity to give between $100,000 and $250,000 over a span of five years. This role makes an average of 10 in-person and on-screen visits per month plus substantive contacts to advance the donor relationship. The Assistant Director, Parent and Family Philanthropy qualifies major gift prospects, solicits gifts directly, and ensures predetermined fundraising goals are met. This position also consults with the Prospect Management liaison to actively identify and add/subtract parent-prospects from the portfolio on an ongoing basis.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is 2026-06-26. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Direct Fundraising & Solicitation

Independently manages a portfolio of 200-250 current and prospective donors who are parents or other family of current or alumni students.
Skillfully moves donors through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and re-solicitation, raising at least $500,000 annually for the university.

Fundraising Programs & Analytics

Provides analysis and information of complex results or activities, and makes recommendations to upper management for program changes or development of new programs as required.
Coordinates and may oversee the work of support staff, volunteers and / or other professionals.

Donor Relations & Development

Develops donor solicitation strategies within existing policy guidelines.
Participates in short- and long-range strategic planning of fund development and donor relations programs.
Collaborates with colleagues throughout the university to develop volunteer opportunities for prospective and current donors at the leadership and major gift levels.

Fundraising Events

Participates in the planning, execution and evaluation of donor events and uses such events to establish and build relationships with current and potential donors.

Required Qualifications

Ability to apply thorough working knowledge of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.
Ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of the Parent and Family Philanthropy program or related program, including its vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements and infrastructure.
Strong knowledge of applicable fundraising laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.
Strong written and interpersonal communication skills to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies.
Strong organizational, analytical and critical thinking skills, including skills in creative and effective decision-making and problem identification / avoidance / resolution, and project management skills.
Strong skills in maintaining confidentiality.

Education / Training

Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.