Assistant Director, Philanthropy

1.Serve as an ambassador for Kennedy Krieger Institute, cultivating meaningful relationships with donors to inspire continued engagement and long-term support.
2. Proactively manage and steward an assigned portfolio of donors and prospects, with a focus on upgrading annual giving levels and identifying individuals with major gift potential. Collaborate with gift officers, corporate and foundation relations, and Institute leadership to align engagement strategies.
3. Meet defined performance metrics, including donor and prospect outreach activity, funds raised, new qualified prospects identified, and proposals submitted.
4. Build and manage relationships with a diverse pool of constituents (including patients, families, volunteers, staff, alumni, and community members) with the goal of securing philanthropic support through direct solicitations or strategic referrals.
5. Develop strategies to engage, solicit, and steward new or previously unmanaged annual donors, with the goal of advancing them toward major or planned giving. Partner closely with colleagues to support pipeline development.
6. Draft and coordinate the preparation of compelling proposals, solicitation letters, and stewardship materials tailored to individual donors and prospects.
7. Work collaboratively with colleagues to develop and refine approaches for engaging first-time donors and ensuring a positive initial giving experience.
8. Analyze donor data and giving patterns to identify new prospects with the capacity to give at a higher level.
9. Produce fundraising reports as needed to help prioritize prospect outreach and inform donor and prospect strategies.
10. Effectively use customer relationship management (CRM) systems to manage donor relationships, prioritize outreach, and track engagement in compliance with HIPAA and Institute policies.
11. Ensure a positive and seamless experience for Kennedy Krieger Institute donors.

EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s degree is required.

EXPERIENCE:
• Minimum 2-3 years of experience in fundraising and donor relations, events, advancement communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field is required.
• Experience working in academic, healthcare, or research settings is preferred.