Assistant Vice President of Development, UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute and Clinical Programs

At the University of Cincinnati Foundation, we commit ourselves to providing a place where everyone belongs. We care deeply about those in our community, while also taking care to nurture new relationships. We have the courage to dream big, drive excellence and uphold integrity in our work.

The Assistant Vice President for Development, UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute and Clinical Programs is an exempt (salaried) position employed by the University of Cincinnati Foundation (UCF) and reports to the Vice President for Development, Academic Health Enterprise.

The Assistant Vice President for Development, UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute (UCGNI) and Clinical Programs is a strategic, results-oriented advancement leader responsible for creating and executing comprehensive philanthropic strategies that advance the priorities of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute and the University of Cincinnati’s clinical enterprise. This position provides vision, leadership, and management for fundraising programs supporting neuroscience and designated clinical service lines, with an emphasis on securing major, principal, and transformational gifts that accelerate research, patient care, education, innovation, and programmatic growth.

The Assistant Vice President leads and develops a team of fundraising professionals dedicated to the UCGNI and Clinical Programs, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and high performance. The position works closely with physician leaders, clinical executives, researchers, and foundation colleagues to identify philanthropic opportunities, strengthen donor engagement, and expand grateful patient and family philanthropy initiatives. The Assistant Vice President also plays a critical role in physician engagement and education related to philanthropy and serves as a key partner in aligning fundraising priorities with institutional strategic goals.

In addition to providing leadership and oversight of the fundraising team, the Assistant Vice President personally manages a portfolio of high-capacity major and principal gift prospects and donors, cultivating relationships that result in significant philanthropic investment. Activities of the Assistant Vice President are coordinated with other UC Foundation fundraising initiatives to ensure a unified and integrated advancement strategy across the Academic Health Enterprise.

• Work with the Vice President for Development in the preparation of annual plans and the setting of all goals; developing and executing strategies and plans for achieving goal targets.
• Provide strategic leadership for a comprehensive grateful patient fundraising program aligned with industry best practices and institutional values.
• Personally manage a portfolio of major gift prospects ($100,000+); cultivate and solicit major and special gifts by making personal visits within and outside the Cincinnati region in conjunction with the UCF development program.
• Recruit, lead, motivate and manage a team of development professionals; establish objectives, set performance standards and productivity metrics, and evaluate performance; provide appropriate levels of training, mentoring and professional development. Assign and direct projects and oversee day-to-day operations of the team.
• Partner strategically with clinical leadership, faculty, staff, and colleagues on prioritizing fundraising initiatives and activities.
• Lead physician engagement and training designed to introduce and educate physicians on the principles of grateful patient and family philanthropy.
• Build trusted relationships with physicians, department chairs, and service line leaders.
• Serve as a bridge between clinical leadership with advancement teams, aligning philanthropic opportunities with clinical priorities.
• Collaborate with clinical, compliance, legal, and advancement partners to sustain a respectful, donor-centered grateful patient program.
• Use data and prospect analytics to strengthen identification, qualification, and engagement efforts.
• Work collaboratively with UCF departments and fundraising specialists (prospect development, gift planning, and corporate and foundation relations) to enhance fundraising revenue and donor impact.
• Ensure adherence to compliance, privacy, and ethical standards related to patient-based philanthropy.
• Ensure appropriate stewardship of gifts and donors, developing and maintaining strong relationships with major donors, stakeholders and partners.
• Prepare timely contact reports and ensure the accuracy of monthly reports.
• Participate fully in the UCF prospect and clearance process.
• Other duties, as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including a demonstrated record of success in major gift fundraising ($100K level and above) and direct experience with grateful patient and family philanthropy, or advanced degree preferred with 7-10 years of experience.
• Prior fundraising experience within an academic medical center, health system foundation, or academic health advancement environment is preferred.
• Demonstrated success in coaching and mentoring fundraising team members.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact favorably with a diverse group of individuals to build strong, productive relationships, such as with physicians, clinicians, donors, and senior leaders.
• Understanding of basic scientific principles and familiarity with healthcare compliance, and HIPAA considerations.
• Willingness to travel and attend evening and weekend activities as needed. Valid driver’s license required for travel.
• A commitment to and passion for the role of development in advancing the mission of the University of Cincinnati and UC Health.

The UC Foundation seeks talented, collaborative and mission-focused individuals to join our advancement team in driving philanthropic support for the University of Cincinnati and UC Health. All offers of full-time employment are contingent upon passing a criminal background check and drug test. Positions requiring a degree are also contingent upon education verification. 

This position is considered to have light work. Exerting up to 10lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up a negligible of force constantly to move objects. This position requires the operation of a motor vehicle. This position also requires:

• Finger use
• Talking
• Hearing
• Repetitive motion of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers

While performing the duties of this job, this position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work).