University of Florida

Associate/ Director of Development, Fixel

University of Florida$70K — $100K *
Healthcare
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's or Bachelor's degree in relevant field with requisite experience in development
  • Strong fundraising background, preferably in a medical or educational setting
  • Experience with soliciting gifts of $50,000 and above
  • Proficient in prospect research and database management
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

  • Identify and cultivate major gift prospects for the Fixel Institute
  • Manage existing donor relationships and advance them towards closure
  • Develop compelling major gift proposals and recognition strategies
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance fundraising initiatives
  • Implement an annual giving strategy aligned with campaign priorities
  • Plan and support cultivation events and activities for donors and prospects
  • Prepare reports and materials to support advancement activities

Benefits

  • Affordable State Health Plans including Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
  • Comprehensive Life and Disability insurance coverage
  • Generous retirement plan options
  • Paid time off including holidays, sick leave, and vacation
  • Opportunities for professional and personal growth through various development programs
  • Tuition assistance available for employee education
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility offered
Full Job Description
Associate/ Director of Development, Fixel

Job no: 540519
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
Categories: Business/Accounting/Finance, Advancement, Executive/Director/Management
Department:27300100 - HA-FIXEL ADMINSTRATION

Classification Title:
Associate/ Director of Development

Classification Minimum Requirements:
ASO DIR: Master's degree in an appropriate area and one year of relevant experience; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and three years of relevant experience.

DIR: Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and three years of appropriate experience in Development or a related field; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and five years of experience in Development or a related field.

Job Description:
Portfolio Management

  • Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects for the Fixel Institute, including fellowship alumni, friends, faculty and grateful patients with a focus on gifts of $50,000 and above.
  • Grow and refine an existing portfolio of prospects and donors, strategically advance relationships and bring gifts to closure through face-to-face visits, proposals and solicitations.
  • Develop and present concept papers and major gift proposals and acknowledge and recognize gifts in ways that are meaningful to donors and appropriate to the mission, vision and values of UF Health and the UF Foundation.
  • Develop support for UF Health and our key priorities by effectively involving stakeholders, such as volunteers, physicians, faculty, and staff, in an effort to support fundraising and engagement initiatives.
  • Increase knowledge of and grow philanthropic support for Fixel Institute campaign priorities, including fellowships, endowments, research and programmatic initiatives, campus/capital priorities, and other Institute-specific funding opportunities.
  • In collaboration with the Senior Director of Development and Foundation colleagues, implement an annual giving cultivation and solicitation strategy, managing the content development and working with the UF Health annual giving team to oversee logistics for campaigns and appeals to active, lapsed, and potential donors through mail, digital channels, and grateful patient acquisition campaigns. The objective of the program is to develop a comprehensive donor pipeline, moving donors towards leadership, major, principal, and planned gifts.
  • Support the Senior Director of Development in advancing a donor-ready portfolio of Fixel Institute funding priorities, including endowment, current-use/programmatic support, fellowships, research initiatives, campus/capital priorities, Centers of Excellence, strategic sponsorships, and other approved Institute priorities.


Strategic Initiatives

  • Support physicians, researchers, administrators and medical staff in identifying and referring prospects, and in presenting needs and possibilities effectively.
  • Collaborate with development officers to identify and develop strategies to increase house staff engagement opportunities and solicitations.
  • Prepare research and reports for the attention of appropriate university staff, volunteers and stakeholders in support of targeted relationship and partnership building initiatives.
  • Initiate, plan and support activities and events involving volunteers, donors, grateful patients and prospects, both on campus and regionally.
  • Support implementation of the annual Fixel Institute Advancement Plan in alignment with the Senior Director of Development, UF Advancement standards, and Fixel Institute priorities.
  • Assist with developing, maintaining, and updating donor-ready concept papers, gift proposals, stewardship materials, and fundable priority descriptions that reflect Fixel Institute strategic priorities and donor interests.
  • Support tracking and reporting of advancement activity across annual giving, major gifts, current-use/programmatic support, endowment growth, fellowships, capital/campus priorities, corporate/foundation support, grateful patient engagement, and strategic sponsorships.
  • Partner with Fixel communications, finance/operations, faculty leaders, program leaders, and other Institute stakeholders to gather information needed for donor cultivation, proposals, stewardship, impact reporting, and campaign planning.


Administrative

  • Effectively perform prospect tracking, portfolio management, record keeping, file maintenance, and reporting using the Ascend database.
  • Ensure best practices in office systems, files and record keeping.
  • Participate in UF Health and UF Foundation events, including those focused on cultivating prospects and donors.
  • Provide research, market, and prospect information for inclusion into the Foundation's integrated database, and handle confidential prospect information in a sensitive, ethical manner.
  • Prepare and maintain accurate advancement reports, prospect updates, pipeline summaries, stewardship tracking, donor engagement notes, and related materials as needed to support the Senior Director of Development, Fixel Institute leadership, and UF Advancement reporting expectations.


Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida is a vibrant, welcoming city known for its natural beauty, rich culture, and strong sense of community. As home to the University of Florida and UF Health, it is a hub for education, healthcare, and innovation. With award-winning parks, a thriving arts scene, and a variety of dining and entertainment options, Gainesville offers something for everyone.

Ranked the #1 city to move to in Florida by USA Today in 2024, Gainesville combines small-town charm with big-city amenities-making it a great place to live, work, and thrive. Visit the city's website for community information.

Expected Salary:
Associate Director: $70,000-80,000 annually, commensurate with education and experience.

Director: $95,000-100,000 annually, commensurate with education and experience.

Exceptional Benefits We Offer

  • Affordable State Health Plans: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Comprehensive Coverage: Life and Disability Insurance
  • Secure Retirement Options: Generous plans to safeguard your future
  • Paid Time Off: Including 11 paid holidays, as well as family, sick, and vacation leave
  • Professional and Personal Growth: Opportunities through UF Training & Organization Development, leadership development, LinkedIn learning, and more
  • Tuition Assistance: Benefit from the UF Employee Education Program
  • PSLF Eligibility: We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligible Employer

The University of Florida offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn more.

Required Qualifications:
ASO DIR: Master's degree in an appropriate area and one year of relevant experience; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and three years of relevant experience.

DIR: Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and three years of appropriate experience in Development or a related field; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and five years of experience in Development or a related field.

Valid driver's license

Preferred:
Four to six years of successful prior fund-raising experience in a medical center, college or university setting is strongly preferred. Prior work with volunteers and soliciting gifts in the $50,000+ range would be beneficial.

  • Prior experience in a college or university setting, enthusiasm for fundraising in a comprehensive research university, and the desire to work collegially within a goal-oriented fundraising organization.
  • Knowledge of fundraising principles, methods, and standards.
  • Expertise in developing solicitation strategies.
  • The ability to work strategically, develop and implement constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers.
  • Ability to work collaboratively and as a team player.
  • Competency in problem solving.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal abilities, and the capacity to engage effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of individuals are essential.
  • Support the University's commitment to creating a respectful and collaborative work environment that values integrity, professionalism, and mutual respect in all interactions; demonstrated success collaborating with stakeholders; strong project management skills; experience in a data-driven environment; excellent organizational abilities; and the capacity to lead, influence, and inspire others are essential.
  • Proficient in the following areas: Windows operating systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access, as well as internet browsers and email platforms. Familiarity with donor databases, contact management systems, and tracking systems is also highly preferred.
  • The ability and willingness to travel frequently. A valid driver's license and good driving record are essential. *

*Business expenses are reimbursed through a standard accounting system. The ability to pay for expenses using your own personal credit card or funds and have them reimbursed is essential.

Special Instructions to Applicants:In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter, resume and three references.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

Work sponsorship is not available for this position.

Health Assessment Required:No

Advertised: 09 Jul 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 02 Aug 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

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About University of Florida

The University of Florida (UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and traces its origins to 1853 and has operated continuously on its Gainesville campus since September 1906. The University of Florida is one of sixty-two elected member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the association of preeminent North American research universities, and the only AAU member university in Florida. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities ? Very high research activity".
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