University of Kentucky

College Philanthropy Director

University of Kentucky$83K — $141K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in a relevant field required
  • 6 years of related experience in philanthropy or fundraising
  • Strong record of success in major gift fundraising
  • Experience in developing fundraising teams with accountability metrics
  • Ability to articulate the vision and priorities of an educational institution

Responsibilities

  • Lead major gift fundraising initiatives for the College of Dentistry
  • Identify and cultivate relationships with major gift donors and prospects
  • Solicit gifts of $25,000 or more from major donors
  • Engage with the Dean and senior leadership to advise on philanthropy strategy
  • Manage volunteer philanthropy leadership council and oversee philanthropy staff

Benefits

  • Full-time position with a Monday to Friday schedule
  • Opportunity to engage in high-impact philanthropic activities
  • Collaboration with the College of Dentistry's senior leadership
  • Potential for career advancement within the university's philanthropy office
  • Engagement with diverse donor groups throughout the state and U.S.
Full Job Description
Posting Details

Posting Details

Job Title
College Philanthropy Director

Requisition Number
RE55866

Working Title
Director of Philanthropy - Dentistry

Department Name
14000:Office Of Philanthropy

Work Location
Lexington, KY

Grade Level
50

Salary Range
$83,283-141,565/year

Type of Position
Staff

Position Time Status
Full-Time

Required Education

MA

Click here for more information about equivalencies:
https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies

Required Related Experience

6 yrs

Required License/Registration/Certification

None

Physical Requirements

Long periods of sitting and/or standing. Travel required through out the state and U.S. for donor visits. Lifting, pushing and/or pulling of objects up to 25 pounds.

Shift

Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. primarily; and some evenings and/or weekends as required.

Job Summary

Lead Philanthropic Growth and Donor Engagement for the College of Dentistry

The University of Kentucky is seeking a Director of Philanthropy - Dentistry to join the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement and the College of Dentistry.

With a primary focus on major gift fundraising at high giving levels, the incumbent will engage in progressively more sophisticated philanthropic giving conversations with major gift donors and prospects of greater capacity.

The Director will be responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift donors and prospects with a giving capacity of $25,000 or more. This position will be a member of the Dean's senior leadership team and provide counsel to the Dean regarding philanthropy activities. They must be an active participant in all philanthropic activities of the College of Dentistry, and connect with associate deans, college administration, department heads, faculty, and staff on philanthropic initiatives in their respective units. This position will manage the volunteer philanthropy leadership council, and may supervise and manage other philanthropy staff in the college, providing mentorship, guidance, fundraising strategy (including prospect strategies and next steps), and ensuring that they are meeting their portfolio, visit, proposal, and yield metrics.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

The ideal candidate will be a strong, collaborative leader with a proven record of success in building and sustaining relationships that foster major gift giving. This position requires an individual who understands person-to-person relationships and has the ability to convincingly articulate the vision and priorities of the College and University and match them to the interests of prospective donors. Familiarity with planned giving, charitable gift arrangements as well as demonstrated experience in marketing, philanthropic messaging and persuasive writing is also desirable. This person will have experience managing and developing a fundraising team in the environment in which accountability-based metrics are used as benchmarks for performance.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No

Preferred Education/Experience

Professional fund raising experience, including experience as a major gift officer, expertise in planned giving, a demonstrated record of success and a minimum of 2 years in successful management of fundraising work plan and staff. Experience at a Land-grant, or similar higher education institution and an understanding of the Land-grant mission is preferred.

Deadline to Apply
10/09/2026

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