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School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs (DHDAA) supports a flexible work environment by offering on-site (in office 5 days a week), hybrid (in office a minimum of 2 days a week or defined by manager), remote (work off-site 5 days a week), and flexible start and end time work arrangements. All team members must reside within a 50-mile radius of our downtown Durham office. 

If working a hybrid or remote schedule, individuals must have access to and maintain a secure home office environment with high-speed internet service and work collaboratively with others using a variety of technologies and tools. With approval from their manager, staff members may work a flexible schedule in terms of start/end times, while working within DHDAA’s core work hours between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (eastern standard). At the discretion of Managers and/or Senior Leadership, staff working a hybrid, remote or flex schedule may be required to be in the office on days and/or times outside of the agreed upon schedule.

Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs is seeking a strategic and relationship-driven fundraising professional to serve as Director of Development.

Be You.

The Director of Development, Duke Health reports to the Executive Director of Development, and is a member of the Duke Health Medicine, Surgery and Clinical Care fundraising team. This team partners with clinical, research, and educational leaders across a broad portfolio of departments, centers, and institutes, including Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Urology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Dermatology, Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, the Heart Center, Transplant Center, Eye Center, Molecular Physiology Institute, and Sports Sciences Institute, to advance philanthropic support for patient care, research, education, and innovation.

The Director of Development serves as the lead major gift fundraiser for the Duke Health Transplant Center, select priority divisions within the Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and other assigned areas. The Director of Development role develops and implements comprehensive fundraising strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward grateful patients, families, and friends in support of institutional priorities.

This individual will be responsible for building and managing a robust major gift pipeline, securing philanthropic support of $100,000 and above, and serving as a strategic fundraising partner to physician leaders, administrators, and colleagues across Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs. The Director of Development will help shape and grow philanthropy across assigned areas through strong relationship building, thoughtful portfolio management, and the development of compelling philanthropic opportunities.

The Director of Development will work collaboratively with colleagues across individual giving, grateful patient fundraising, annual giving, gift planning, principal gifts, and other development teams to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach to donor engagement and philanthropy across Duke Health.

Success in this role requires the ability to operate effectively within a highly collaborative and matrixed academic medical environment, building trusted partnerships across clinical departments, centers, and development teams to advance fundraising priorities and institutional goals.

Work Arrangement - This is a full-time position located in Durham, NC.  This is not a remote position.

DEPARTMENT PREFERENCES / SKILLS

1. Preference for academic medicine, healthcare, higher education, or similarly complex nonprofit fundraising environments.
2. Campaign experience is desirable.
3. A proven track record of success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding meaningful philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, or corporations. Demonstrated success securing major gifts and building productive relationships with donors and key stakeholders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education - Work requires communications, analytical and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a bachelor's degree program.

Experience - Work requires five (5) years of progressive frontline fundraising experience with a proven track record of success in major gift fundraising.

OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Be Bold.

Work Performed

Fundraising 70%

1. Grow and manage a pool of prospects capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more, from identification through stewardship. Portfolio and prospect pool will focus primarily on grateful patients, their families, and friends of the institution.
2. Identify and qualify prospects, develop and cultivate relationships, create and execute gift strategies in partnership with physician and administrative leaders, solicit major and leadership-level gifts, and successfully negotiate and close gifts.
3. Develop compelling philanthropic opportunities and proposals that align donor interests with institutional priorities.
4. Coordinate and ensure effective stewardship and recognition of donors’ philanthropy.
5. Coordinate and collaborate with colleagues across Duke Health fundraising teams to ensure comprehensive coverage of prospects and donors.
6. Write or assist in drafting proposals and other materials as necessary; assist with publicity arrangements on important gifts, programs, accomplishments, or events.

Strategic Planning and Program Implementation 20%

1. Serve as the lead major gift fundraising partner for assigned clinical and research programs, with primary responsibility for the Duke Health Transplant program.
2. Forge strong partnerships with physician leaders, administrators, and faculty to identify philanthropic priorities and develop strategies that advance fundraising goals.
3. Establish and maintain productive relationships with faculty physicians, clinical leaders, and development colleagues to support coordinated grateful patient, major gift, and referral development efforts.
4. Work closely with leadership in assigned areas to develop compelling philanthropic priorities and opportunities that align with campaign priorities and Duke Health’s central missions of research, education, and care.
5. Build annual and long-term fundraising goals and strategies for assigned programs.
6. Assist administrators and faculty in the identification and prioritization of institutional and departmental funding needs; keep abreast of institutional programs.
7. Develop, evaluate, and refine plans and timetables for departmental or theme assignments; assist in planning and directing donor cultivation events and engagement opportunities.
8. Partner effectively with colleagues across Duke Health to advance shared fundraising priorities and ensure coordinated donor engagement.
9. Serve as a member of the Individual Giving fundraising team and help donors understand the relationship between patient care, research, educational needs within Duke Health.
10. Coordinate and collaborate with colleagues across all Duke Health fundraising teams to ensure comprehensive coverage of prospects and donors.

Portfolio Development and Management 10%

1. Successfully maintain and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors.
2. Follow procedures in coordination with the Office of Gift Records to ensure effective collection, recording, accounting, acknowledgement, and follow-up on all private gifts to assigned departments.
3. Develop contact reports and enter moves and data into tracking databases.
4. Work successfully with colleagues across the institution to collaborate on prospects with multiple interests.
5. Follow best fundraising and operational practices for Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Choose Duke.

Don’t wait—apply now and turn relationships into lasting impact.

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $78,161.00 to USD $156,319.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/