Departmental Overview

University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR) increases support for UC Berkeley and enhances knowledge of the university through communications, public outreach, and fundraising. UDAR is responsible for fundraising and donor engagement, and works to strengthen unit development offices by consulting and partnering with campus fundraisers. UDAR also handles a range of central activities and services encompassing events, communications, stewardship, prospect development, gift management, database management, and more.

The Major Gifts team within UDAR works to secure philanthropic support from University alums, parents, and friends across multiple geographic regions, with a focus on gifts in the $100K - $5M range. Geographically, the team's regional areas of focus are Southern California, the greater Bay Area/Northern California region, and the East Coast / Emerging Regions (Texas & Florida). There are 18 staff members on the Major Gifts team, including one executive director, one deputy director and three senior development directors, each responsible for one of the three regions, as well as gift officers and professional administrative staff.

Position Summary

The Associate Director, East Coast and Emerging Regions is a regionally-based position focused on major gift and principal level fundraising from alumni, parents, and friends on the East Coast and Emerging Regions, with a focus on the East Coast and on behalf of all of campus.

This position will be a leader with a high degree of knowledge in the overall field and recognized expertise in fundraising. This position includes formulating fundraising strategies including planning, organizing, and directing complex large-scale fundraising strategies which include multiple components. These results have a major impact on the overall program goals and assignments and are typically at the major gifts level, including managing a portfolio of donors capable of giving gifts of $250k+, with many solicitations focused on $1M+. This position may attend functions, meetings, and serve on internal / external committees as a location representative. This position is expected to raise gift dollar amounts as established with an overall goal to achieve a minimum of $3M per year, and actual goals will be determined based on the portfolio pipeline.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is September 16, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Fundraising and Portfolio Management - 40%

• Develops and manages a dynamic portfolio of 100 - 125 university prospects based on the East Coast to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective and current donors. Prospects may include alums, parents, friends, and corporate and foundation prospects.
• Plans, organizes, and directs large-scale fundraising initiatives that involve multiple campus and constituent stakeholders in the region.

Managing Campus Leadership Regional Engagement - 35%

• Helps manage and directly staff campus leadership travel to the East Coast, including the Chancellor, Vice Chancellors, Deans, and Faculty.
• May serve as an expert or lead development professional in a specific academic discipline on behalf of campus units.

Strategic Gift Planning - 10%

• Ensures that predetermined fundraising goals are met and implements program activities to achieve these goals, with a minimum of $3M raised annually.
• Evaluates programs using data analysis and regional expertise, including planning and evaluating solicitation programs and making recommendations for improvements.

Volunteer Engagement - 5%

• Identify, engage, and support key volunteers to advance the university's philanthropic goals.

Team Supervision - 5%

• May oversee the work of professional and support staff involved in the implementation of multi-component fundraising programs.

Campus and Regional Liaison - 5%

• May attend functions and meetings in the region or on campus, and serve on internal/external committees as a representative of the location

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years of experience demonstrating experience with leadership-level and/or major gift-level fundraising, or related industry, demonstrating advanced knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.
• Demonstrates and has experience using advanced working knowledge of the East Coast region, including current issues of concern for both the campus and region, and/or throughout higher education generally.
• Applies an advanced working knowledge of public higher education institutions, including their vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements, and infrastructure.
• Uses advanced working knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.
• Advanced written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen, to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies.
• Ability to make and/or ability to learn persuasive and compelling presentations of goals and objectives for UC Berkeley to secure major philanthropic gifts.
• Advanced organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills, including skill in creative and effective decision-making and problem identification/avoidance/resolution, and strong project management skills.
• Very strong skills in maintaining confidentiality.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training (Required)

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $128,000.00 - $140,000.00.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This position is eligible for up to 5 days/week remote work within the United States. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change.
• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

Misconduct means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace