University of Kentucky
Philanthropy Officer Senior-Major Gifts
🇺🇸
Lexington, KY
🕑
Full-Time
💰
$63K - $104K
💻
Development & Advancement
🗓️
January 19th, 2026
Edtech.com's Summary
The University of Kentucky is hiring a Philanthropy Officer Senior-Major Gifts, also titled Director of Philanthropy-Internal Medicine. This role involves managing a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, developing and executing strategic fundraising plans, and partnering with medical faculty and leadership to align philanthropic goals with institutional needs to secure significant investments supporting patient care, research, and education.
Highlights
- Develop and implement strategic fundraising plans to meet annual and long-term goals.
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects, typically valued at $25,000 or more.
- Conduct high-impact donor visits and prepare tailored proposals.
- Collaborate with medical faculty, department chairs, and administrative colleagues to align philanthropic initiatives with institutional priorities.
- Serve as an ambassador for the University of Kentucky and its healthcare innovation, compassion, and discovery.
- Requires a bachelor's degree and at least 7 years of related philanthropic experience.
- Strong communication, storytelling, strategic thinking, and interpersonal skills essential for donor engagement.
- Familiarity with navigating complex healthcare environments and compliance with HIPAA privacy laws.
- Salary range is $62,941 to $103,834 per year.
- Position is full-time with a primarily Monday through Friday schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends; requires local travel for donor meetings.
Philanthropy Officer Senior-Major Gifts Full Description
Philanthropy Officer Senior-Major Gifts
Posting Details
Job Title | Philanthropy Officer Senior-Major Gifts
Requisition Number | RE52937
Working Title | Director of Philanthropy-Internal Medicine
Department Name | 14000:Office Of Philanthropy
Work Location | Lexington, KY
Grade Level | 48
Salary Range | $62,941-103,834/year
Type of Position | Staff
Position Time Status | Full-Time
Required Education | BA
Click here for more information about equivalencies: | https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies
Required Related Experience | 7 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification | None
Physical Requirements | Extended periods of sitting and standing; repetitive motion tasks; standing and/or walking with up to 10 lbs. This position may require traveling around the city and region for donor meetings.
Shift | Primarily Monday through Friday; 8:00am – 5:00pm with occasional evenings and weekends per departmental needs.
Job Summary
The University of Kentucky’s Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement (PAE) is seeking a Director of Philanthropy – Internal Medicine, a frontline fundraiser who will play a pivotal role in advancing one of the nation’s leading academic health systems. This position offers the opportunity to make a measurable impact on patient care, medical research, and education by securing major philanthropic investments that directly support the Department of Internal Medicine. The Director of Philanthropy will manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, cultivating long-term relationships that lead to significant philanthropic support. Working in close collaboration with faculty leaders, department chairs, and colleagues across UK HealthCare and PAE, the Director will translate complex medical and research priorities into compelling cases for support. This individual will: Develop and execute strategic fundraising plans to achieve annual and long-term goals. Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects (typically $25,000+). Conduct high-impact donor visits and prepare customized proposals. Partner with medical faculty, leadership, and administrative colleagues to align philanthropic priorities with institutional needs. Represent the University of Kentucky as an ambassador for innovation, compassion, and discovery in health care. We’re seeking a mission-driven relationship builder who brings: A proven record of success in major gift fundraising, preferably in healthcare, higher education, or complex nonprofit environments. Exceptional communication and storytelling skills with the ability to inspire donors around life-changing programs and research. Strategic thinking, intellectual curiosity, and professional integrity. A collaborative approach that thrives within a values-based culture.The culture within the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement (PAE) is built on our shared core values CoMMIT– Collaboration, Communication, Mission Driven, Mutual Respect, Innovation and Transparency.By applying for a position within UK PAE, you are indicating your commitment and expressing your agreement to our six values. It is important you share these values in order to be part of our committed team!Why UK? UK HealthCare is home to cutting-edge medical innovation, world-class faculty, and nationally recognized clinical programs. As part of our philanthropy team, you’ll helpadvance the work of experts —ensuring that Kentucky families have access to leading-edge care close to home.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
The ability to work within a complex healthcare environment, navigating a matrix of relationships to engage donors in the mission of UK and our various programs; outstanding written and oral communication skills; superior interpersonal skills with the demonstrated ability to work effectively and cooperatively with volunteers, administration, physicians, staff, and donors; self-motivation with enormous energy and a capacity for hard work in a goal-oriented environment; demonstrated ability to leverage effectively the time of physicians and others in contact with donors. This includes strong preparation and good judgement; maturity and unquestioned integrity, particularly as it relates to patient medical information; must comply with HIPPA privacy law; the ability to travel to meet with current and prospective donors; a commitment to the values and mission of the University of Kentucky.
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? | No
Preferred Education/Experience | Bachelor’s Degree and at least 7 years of philanthropic experience preferred.
Deadline to Apply | 02/15/2026
Our University Community | We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Requisition Number | RE52937
Working Title | Director of Philanthropy-Internal Medicine
Department Name | 14000:Office Of Philanthropy
Work Location | Lexington, KY
Grade Level | 48
Salary Range | $62,941-103,834/year
Type of Position | Staff
Position Time Status | Full-Time
Required Education | BA
Click here for more information about equivalencies: | https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies
Required Related Experience | 7 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification | None
Physical Requirements | Extended periods of sitting and standing; repetitive motion tasks; standing and/or walking with up to 10 lbs. This position may require traveling around the city and region for donor meetings.
Shift | Primarily Monday through Friday; 8:00am – 5:00pm with occasional evenings and weekends per departmental needs.
Job Summary
The University of Kentucky’s Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement (PAE) is seeking a Director of Philanthropy – Internal Medicine, a frontline fundraiser who will play a pivotal role in advancing one of the nation’s leading academic health systems. This position offers the opportunity to make a measurable impact on patient care, medical research, and education by securing major philanthropic investments that directly support the Department of Internal Medicine. The Director of Philanthropy will manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, cultivating long-term relationships that lead to significant philanthropic support. Working in close collaboration with faculty leaders, department chairs, and colleagues across UK HealthCare and PAE, the Director will translate complex medical and research priorities into compelling cases for support. This individual will: Develop and execute strategic fundraising plans to achieve annual and long-term goals. Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects (typically $25,000+). Conduct high-impact donor visits and prepare customized proposals. Partner with medical faculty, leadership, and administrative colleagues to align philanthropic priorities with institutional needs. Represent the University of Kentucky as an ambassador for innovation, compassion, and discovery in health care. We’re seeking a mission-driven relationship builder who brings: A proven record of success in major gift fundraising, preferably in healthcare, higher education, or complex nonprofit environments. Exceptional communication and storytelling skills with the ability to inspire donors around life-changing programs and research. Strategic thinking, intellectual curiosity, and professional integrity. A collaborative approach that thrives within a values-based culture.The culture within the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement (PAE) is built on our shared core values CoMMIT– Collaboration, Communication, Mission Driven, Mutual Respect, Innovation and Transparency.By applying for a position within UK PAE, you are indicating your commitment and expressing your agreement to our six values. It is important you share these values in order to be part of our committed team!Why UK? UK HealthCare is home to cutting-edge medical innovation, world-class faculty, and nationally recognized clinical programs. As part of our philanthropy team, you’ll helpadvance the work of experts —ensuring that Kentucky families have access to leading-edge care close to home.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
The ability to work within a complex healthcare environment, navigating a matrix of relationships to engage donors in the mission of UK and our various programs; outstanding written and oral communication skills; superior interpersonal skills with the demonstrated ability to work effectively and cooperatively with volunteers, administration, physicians, staff, and donors; self-motivation with enormous energy and a capacity for hard work in a goal-oriented environment; demonstrated ability to leverage effectively the time of physicians and others in contact with donors. This includes strong preparation and good judgement; maturity and unquestioned integrity, particularly as it relates to patient medical information; must comply with HIPPA privacy law; the ability to travel to meet with current and prospective donors; a commitment to the values and mission of the University of Kentucky.
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? | No
Preferred Education/Experience | Bachelor’s Degree and at least 7 years of philanthropic experience preferred.
Deadline to Apply | 02/15/2026
Our University Community | We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Posting Specific Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * How many years of paid work experience do you have developing and managing a portfolio of major gift prospects (individual donors, not grants)?
- None
- More than 0, up through 1 year
- More than 1 year, up through 3 years
- More than 3 years, up through 5 years
- More than 5 years
- * What are the three attributes/skills you deem most useful in developing strong alumni/donor relationships?
(Open Ended Question) - * The Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement (PAE) recognizes a set of values that guide us in our daily interactions. These values are collaboration, communication, mission driven, mutual respect, innovation and transparency. Please choose one of the PAE values and give a specific example when you exhibited this quality in your professional experience.
(Open Ended Question)
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Optional Documents
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