Executive Director, Philanthropy (Strategic Partnerships)

Position Description: The Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships provides strategic leadership for securing transformational principal gifts and advancing high-impact partnerships that support the University of Louisville's academic, research, health, and community priorities. Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President (SAVP) of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement (PAE), this position is responsible for the development and execution of a comprehensive philanthropic agenda to secure gifts of $1,000,000 and above while cultivating long-term, institution-level relationships with donors and other strategic constituencies.

The Executive Director, in conjunction with the Vice President of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement and the Sr. Associate Vice President, serves as a senior thought partner to university leadership, including the President, Provost, Deans, and Health leadership, and collaborates closely with Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement colleagues to align donor interests with institutional priorities. The role manages a limited portfolio of top-tier principal gift prospects and provides leadership, coaching, and strategic guidance to development professionals engaged in complex, multi-unit fundraising and partnership efforts.

Duties & Responsibilities

Gift Strategy & Fundraising Leadership

• Lead the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of principal gift prospects, typically at the seven-figure level and above, with a focus on transformational impact.
• Develop and execute individualized engagement strategies for the university's highest-capacity donors, including complex, multi-year, and multi-unit gift opportunities.
• Personally manage a select portfolio of principal gift prospects and donors, including in-state and out-of-region travel for donor engagement.
• Partner with the Senior Associate Vice President and Vice President for Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement in campaign planning, execution, and principal gift pipeline development.

Strategic Partnerships

• Identify opportunities for integrated partnerships that may include philanthropy, sponsorships, research collaboration, naming opportunities, or programmatic alignment.
• Serve as a central strategist for institution-level partnerships that cut across academic units, health initiatives, and community engagement priorities.

Collaboration with University Leadership

• Work closely with the President, senior administrators, deans, and volunteer leaders to develop compelling principal gift strategies and proposals aligned with institutional priorities.
• Support presidential and executive-level donor engagement, including briefing materials, strategy development, and follow-up.
• Collaborate with academic and clinical leadership to articulate funding priorities and identify transformational funding opportunities.

Team Leadership and Internal Partnerships

• Provide strategic support to development professionals engaged in major and principal gift fundraising.
• Collaborate with Prospect Management, Donor Engagement, Gift Planning, Corporate and Foundation Relations, PAE Communications, and Operations to ensure a coordinated, donor-centered approach.
• Contribute to best practices, training, and shared accountability related to principal gift fundraising across the organization.

Stewardship, Accountability, and Professional Standards

• Ensure the highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and donor stewardship in all interactions.
• Contribute to fundraising projections, reporting, and performance assessment related to principal and transformational giving.
• Uphold and model the University of Louisville's values of integrity, collaboration, equity, and service.

Frequent travel and the availability for evening and weekend donor and university events will be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Significant progressive experience in major and/or principal gift fundraising, preferably in higher education, or a complex nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated success in securing principal gifts and managing sophisticated donor relationships.
• Proven ability to work effectively with senior leaders, volunteers, and donors at the highest levels.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and strategic thinking skills.
• Experience working in a comprehensive campaign or institution-wide fundraising initiative.
• Demonstrated success in developing complex partnerships involving multiple stakeholders.
• Leadership experience guiding or mentoring development professionals.

Competencies

• High level of energy.
• Well-organized with the ability to multitask effectively and work with a sense of urgency.
• Detail-oriented.
• Effective leadership skills.
• Good communicator and listener.
• Ability to build trust with colleagues and external constituents while fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Passion for higher education.
• Ability to make decisions independently with the best interest of the institution in mind.
• Supportive of teammates and celebrating their successes.

*Please include a cover letter along with your resume.*

Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement is committed to creating campus environments that support the success of all students and employees. We believe that employees who feel valued and respected will create policies, programs, practices, research agendas, and services that effectively meet the needs and exceed the expectations of our student populations.

Benefits - The University of Louisville has an exceptional benefits package; to learn more about our benefits, please visit here

Compensation will be commensurate to candidate experience.