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University of Kentucky

Philanthropy Officer Sr - Regional

🇺🇸 Remote - Nashville, TN

🕑 Full-Time

💰 $72K - $119K

💻 Development & Advancement

🗓️ October 29th, 2025

Edtech.com's Summary

University of Kentucky is hiring a Philanthropy Officer Sr - Regional. The role involves increasing major gift private support in the Nashville region by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift donors and prospects, while collaborating with college and unit gift officers to enhance philanthropic giving.

Highlights
  • Increase major gift fundraising within a two-hour driving radius of Nashville.
  • Develop and maintain a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects.
  • Make face-to-face visits with donors to strengthen philanthropic relationships.
  • Collaborate with college and unit gift officers to engage major gift donors and prospects.
  • Fully remote role with regular travel for in-person donor visits and occasional campus visits.
  • Requires strong leadership and ability to articulate university vision to prospective donors.
  • Minimum of a bachelor's degree and 7 years of professional fundraising experience, with at least 3 years managing fundraising work planning.
  • Salary range between $72,405 and $119,496 per year.
  • Position emphasizes core values of collaboration, communication, mission driven, mutual respect, innovation, and transparency.
  • Work schedule primarily Monday–Friday, with some evening, weekend, and travel commitments.

Philanthropy Officer Sr - Regional Full Description

Philanthropy Officer Sr - Regional
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 Posting Details 
Job Title  | Philanthropy Officer Sr - Regional
Requisition Number  | RE52114
Working Title  | Major Gifts Director-Nashville Regional
Department Name  | 14000:Office Of Development
Work Location  | Nashville, TN
Grade Level  | 49
Salary Range  | $72,405-119,496/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  | Effectively communicating with individuals at various professional levels. Must have ability to travel throughout the region for donor meetings.
Shift  | Monday–Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm, some evening, weekend and travel required – Regional around the Nashville area.

Job Summary 
UK Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement is seeking a Director of Regional Philanthropy for the Nashville area. Managed by the Assistant Vice President for College/Unit Philanthropy, the Philanthropy Officer Associate Senior—Major Gifts (Director of Regional Philanthropy) is responsible for increasing major gifts private support yield in the Nashville region. The region encompasses a 2-hour driving radius of Nashville.

With a primary focus on major gift fundraising, the incumbent will collaborate with college and unit gift officers to engage in progressively more sophisticated philanthropic giving conversations with major gift donors and prospects of greater capacity.

The Director of Regional Philanthropy is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major gift donors and prospects. The incumbent is responsible for developing and maintaining a portfolio and making face-to-face visits with major gift donors and prospects annually to advance the philanthropic relationship between them and the university.

You will be based in the Nashville area and serve donors across a two-hour driving radius. This is a fully remote role with regular travel for in-person donor visits within the region and occasional travel to campus for team meetings and events.

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!

Click Here to find out more about how UK provides exceptional benefits in its commitment to taking care of you.
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 University and match them to the interests of prospective donors.
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?  | No
Preferred Education/Experience  | Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of professional fund raising experience; a demonstrated record of success and a minimum of 3 years in successful management of fundraising work planning. Experience at a higher education institution and an understanding of the Land-grant mission is preferred. Driver’s License preferred.
Deadline to Apply  | 11/16/2025
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 (*).
  1. * How many years of experience do you have working with the cultivation of donors in a college or university setting? 
    • 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, up through 10 years 
    • More than 10 years 
  2. * How many donors have you managed at, or moved up, to contribute $25,000 + annually? 
    • None
    • More than 0, up through 15
    • More than 15, up through 30
    • More than 30, up through 45
    • More than 45, up through 60
    • More than 60
  3. * 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, up through 10 years 
    • More than 10 years
  4. * What are the three attributes/skills you deem most useful in developing strong alumni/donor relationships? 
    (Open Ended Question)
  5. * What would you deem to be the best practice for engaging donors? 
    • Awards and recognition for contributors/contributions.
    • Small group gatherings.
    • One-to-one meetings with faculty or administrators.
    • Encouraging their volunteer support for a special project.
  6. * 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
  1. Resume
  2. Cover Letter
Optional Documents

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