Departmental Overview UDAR - University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR) builds Berkeley's excellence and character by strengthening relations with alumni, parents, and friends of the University, raising public awareness about Berkeley, and increasing private philanthropy. UDAR provides overall direction for the campus's alumni relations and fundraising strategies and works to strengthen unit development offices by partnering with campus advancement professionals. It handles a range of central activities and services, encompassing events, communications, stewardship, prospect development, gift management, database management, and more.
Gift Policy - Gift Policy, in the Gift Policy & Operations group, within UDAR's Advancement Operations division, manages the acceptance of campus gifts by balancing risk management with donor and fundraising staff needs. Gift Policy is responsible for the writing, editing, and approving of all campus gift agreements, with the authority to sign agreements on behalf of the university. Additionally, the team oversees Berkeley's Gift Acceptance and Endowment Minima Policies, provides guidance on complex gift proposals and acceptance issues like intellectual property and academic freedom, and drives the donor due diligence process in coordination with campus counsel and Prospect Development. They also collaborate with faculty and research administrators on research gifts and policies, while administering the campus gift sponsorship program and various fund matching initiatives.
Position Summary In Fiscal Year 2026, the University of California, Berkeley raised $1,030B making up 117,358 gifts, pledges, and private grants from 59,997 donors. Many of these gifts created new programs and funding purposes for the campus. Gift Policy, part of Gift Policy & Operations within Advancement Operations in University Development and Alumni Relations, is charged with writing, negotiating and otherwise approving agreements for gifts that establish new programs/funds; including payments over multiple years; or are complex in nature. Each year Gift Policy handles over 1,100 such agreements, averaging over $400 million in new commitments. Drafting and approving a gift agreement requires technical expertise in contract composition and theory, requires advanced knowledge of campus and UC systemwide gift policies; gift acceptance concepts as they relate to the IRS; state provisions (such as the Uniform Prudent Management of Funds Act); and other campus policies and procedures.
This Director, Gift Policy serves as an organization-wide expert for Berkeley's development, review, approval and administration of complex charitable gift agreements for the Regents of the University of California and the UC Berkeley Foundation. The role leads the resolution of nonstandard and high-risk agreement terms; ensures that donor intent is translated into clear, legally and operationally viable obligations; and protects the University's tax-exempt status, academic mission and long-term ability to administer donated funds. Working across University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR), campus units, legal counsel and UC systemwide partners, the position provides authoritative guidance on agreement structure, acceptance requirements, risk, interpretation and implementation. The Director, Gift Policy oversees a high-volume portfolio that includes multimillion-dollar gifts and provides direct leadership, supervision and work direction to a team of gift policy professionals. Success is measured by the quality, timeliness and enforceability of agreements; sound risk decisions; effective resolution of complex terms; and consistent application of University standards.
Application Review Date The First Review Date for this job is October 21, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.
Responsibilities Complex Gift Agreement Development and Administration - 30%
- Leads the intake, analysis, structuring, drafting, review, approval and completion of legally binding charitable gift agreements for the Regents and the UC Berkeley Foundation.
- Develops original and alternative language for complex gifts, endowments, pledges, capital projects, research-related philanthropy and other nonstandard arrangements.
- Translates donor intent and University commitments into precise terms governing purpose, use restrictions, payment schedules, stewardship, reporting, amendment, termination and changed circumstances.
- Ensures agreements are complete, internally consistent, executable by authorized signatories and capable of long-term administration by campus units.
Contract Compliance, Legal Analysis and Institutional Risk - 25%
- Analyzes proposed and existing gift agreements for compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, tax-exempt organization requirements, conflict-of-interest and business ethics standards, UC and campus policies, fiduciary duties and delegated authority.
- Evaluates provisions involving private benefit, quid pro quo, donor-advised funds, intellectual property, naming, academic freedom, nondiscrimination, California Proposition 209, Title VI, UPMIFA and related requirements.
- Assesses the legal, financial, operational and reputational consequences of nonstandard terms; documents risk-based decisions; determines when exceptions or specialized review are required; and coordinates timely escalation to appropriate legal, compliance or executive authorities.
Donor Intent Consultation and Agreement-Term Resolution - 10%
- Advises advancement professionals, faculty, administrators and leadership on how to honor a donor's philanthropic objectives within legal, policy and operational constraints.
- Leads consultative exchanges with fundraisers, donors, donor representatives and counsel to clarify proposed terms, explain requirements, surface material risks and develop compliant alternatives that preserve the core intent and mutual benefit of the gift.
- Resolves competing interpretations and complex term issues through fact-based analysis, careful communication and practical agreement options; advises stakeholders when a proposed arrangement cannot be accepted or should be classified as a sponsored project, business contract, grant or sponsorship rather than a charitable gift.
Portfolio Leadership, Quality Assurance and Work Direction - 10%
- Provides leadership for the intake, prioritization, assignment, quality review and timely completion of a high-volume portfolio of gift agreements.
- Establishes risk- and complexity-based review pathways, monitors workflow and service expectations, identifies recurring issues and capacity constraints, and implements improvements that strengthen accuracy, consistency and responsiveness.
- Reviews and approves complex work completed by gift policy professionals and may provide work direction, coaching or supervision, including guidance on legal research, agreement language, risk assessment, stakeholder consultation and escalation.
- Provides leaders with visibility into portfolio trends, significant risks, decisions and outcomes.
People Leadership and Supervisory Accountability - 10%
- Provides strategic leadership and direct supervision to gift policy professionals.
- Regularly exercises independent judgment and delegated authority on behalf of the University to establish priorities; assign and direct work; evaluate performance; recognize contributions; address performance and conduct concerns; and initiate or effectively recommend corrective or disciplinary action.
- Develops team capability through coaching, and professional development.
- Creates an inclusive, accountable culture and ensures that staff decisions and work products meet institutional priorities, service expectations, and legal and policy requirements.
- The position's supervisory responsibilities are distinct from the agreement preparation and review work performed by its direct reports.
Cross-Functional and UC Systemwide Coordination - 5%
- Serves as a principal liaison among UDAR, campus counsel, UCOP, the Sponsored Projects Office, Industry Alliances, research administration, finance, fund stewardship, academic units and other partners whose authority or expertise affects gift acceptance and administration.
- Leads coordinated review of ambiguous or cross-jurisdictional agreements, secures required approvals, clarifies ownership and decision rights, and ensures that final terms can be implemented by responsible units.
- Represents Berkeley on relevant committees and working groups and contributes to consistent UC systemwide approaches to complex gifts, endowed chairs and emerging philanthropic structures.
Agreement Standards, Templates, Guidance and Education - 5%
- Develops and maintains agreement standards, model clauses, templates, review criteria, procedures and guidance that support an effective and consistent gift-contracting process.
- Converts new laws, regulations, legal advice, audit findings and institutional decisions into practical agreement language and operating practices.
- Identifies structural gaps revealed through agreement work and recommends targeted policy or process changes.
- Designs and delivers guidance and education for advancement professionals, faculty, administrators and other stakeholders on gift agreement requirements, roles, risk indicators and escalation pathways.
Professional Development - 5%
- Maintains expert knowledge of charitable gift agreements, tax-exempt organization requirements, higher education advancement practices, relevant federal and state developments, UC policy and evolving forms of philanthropy.
- Participates in professional networks and applies emerging practices to strengthen Berkeley's agreement standards, risk management and service model.
Required Qualifications - 10+ years of progressively responsible experience within advancement operations, and 5+ years of progressively responsible experience applying contract administration principles and practices to complex agreements, including relevant laws, regulations, policies, risk assessment methods and approval processes with at least 5 of those years functioning in the capacity of an expert in this area.
- Advanced experience with charitable gift agreements, tax-exempt organizations, higher education advancement, and writing or preparing complex gift agreements that comply with applicable federal and state conflict-of-interest laws, regulations and policies.
- Expert knowledge of charitable gift and fund agreement structures, including restricted and endowed funds, pledges, complex assets, private benefit and quid pro quo considerations, and long-term institutional obligations.
- Expert ability to analyze, draft, interpret and administer complex contractual terms; identify legal, financial, operational and reputational risk; and develop compliant alternatives that preserve donor intent and University interests.
- Expert written, verbal, interpersonal and consultative communication skills, including the ability to explain complex requirements, facilitate agreement-term resolution and influence broad and diverse constituencies with diplomacy and sound judgment.
- Expert analytical, research, problem-solving and decision-making skills in ambiguous situations involving competing priorities, incomplete precedent and significant institutional consequences.
- Advanced leadership, political acumen and relationship-management skills, including the ability to guide cross-functional work, build alignment, provide authoritative advice and escalate matters appropriately.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a high-volume portfolio with competing deadlines while maintaining accuracy, documentation, confidentiality, consistent service and appropriate quality controls.
Preferred Qualifications - Knowledge of and/or ability to learn the University of California organization, delegated authorities, policies, systems and advancement operations, or comparable experience in a complex higher education or nonprofit institution.
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
