Executive Director of Individual Giving, Medical Advancement

Job Details

Position Summary

The Executive Director of Individual Giving in Medical Advancement reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Medical Advancement and serves as the strategic leader responsible for driving sustainable growth in annual and leadership-level philanthropy among grateful patients and friends through Individual and Community Fundraising. The primary purpose of this role is to build and execute a comprehensive individual giving strategy that strengthens the donor pipeline, increases philanthropic participation and revenue, and generates a strong base of future major gift support for WashU Medicine. As a member of the Medical Advancement Senior Leadership Team, the Executive Director oversees a team of frontline fundraising professionals and establishes clear performance metrics, data-informed segmentation strategies, and disciplined outreach efforts. Through strong team leadership and cross-functional partnership, this role is intended to expand individual donor engagement and deliver measurable revenue growth aligned with institutional and campaign priorities.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Carry a select portfolio of leadership annual donors and prospects, including individuals with the capacity to make significant multi-year and blended commitments, and develop innovative strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward grateful patients and friends. Drive near-term annual and leadership giving revenue growth while strengthening the long-term pipeline for major and principal gifts across WashU Medicine.
• Responsible for developing, executing, and advancing a comprehensive strategy to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors through clear performance metrics. Establish, track and report on key performance indicators that measure the effectiveness and efficiency of fundraising activities and performance for the Individual Giving team. This role will collaborate closely with colleagues across annual giving, major gifts, communications, events, and stewardship roles to create an integrated donor experience that blends personalized outreach, strategic cultivation, meaningful engagement opportunities, and thoughtful recognition.
• Build and lead the Individual Giving and Community Fundraising team by recruiting, managing, and mentoring reporting Associate Directors, Assistant Directors and administrative staff. Manage, mentor and support Community Fundraising team made up of a Senior Director, Associate Director and administrative support. Serve as a strategic partner to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Medical Advancement and the Medical Advancement Senior Leadership Team, advancing the continued growth and evolution of the grateful patient and friends annual and leadership giving program in collaboration with University Advancement and School of Medicine stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree
• Work Experience: Relevant Experience (8 Years)

More About This Job Preferred Qualifications

• Work Experience: Leadership (10 Years)
• Significant work experience in a matrixed academic medical center setting.
• Major gift campaign experience within a medical advancement setting with a track record of successful major gift solicitation and knowledge of larger gift vehicles such as planned giving.
• A deep appreciation for and an ability to successfully articulate the mission and aspirations of the Washington University School of Medicine.
• A desire to play a meaningful role in the University’s community and to share in the community’s commitment to research and education.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement effective cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for individual giving.
• Desire and ambition to work in an organization that is evolving at an accelerated pace.
• Ability to speak credibly about higher education and the aspirations of the School of Medicine; clarity, crispness and effectiveness in written and oral presentation.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse constituencies within a complex organization.
• Skills: Communication, Complex Systems, Confidentiality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy, Effective Listening, HIPAA Guidelines, Interpersonal Communication, Interpersonal Interactions, Leadership, Learning Quickly, Microsoft Office, Operational Strategies, Problem Solving, Professional Integrity, Relationship Building, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Planning, Work Collaboratively, Work Relationships

This position is located in St. Louis, MO.

Salary Range

Base pay is commensurate with experience.