Senior Director of Philanthropy

Job Title
Senior Director of Philanthropy


Requisition Number
RE51603


Working Title
Sr. Director of Philanthropy for Communications & Donor Stewardship


Department Name
14000:Office Of Development


Work Location
Lexington, KY


Grade Level
50


Salary Range
$81,640-138,798/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

8 yrs



Required License/Registration/Certification

None



Physical Requirements

Working in front of a computer; Sitting for extended periods of time.



Shift

Working hours are Monday – Friday; generally from 8:00am to 5:00pm. As an exempt employee you may be expected to work outside these hours, if necessary, to accomplish tasks of the position



Job Summary

As Senior Director of Philanthropy for Communications & Donor Stewardship, you will lead the charge in shaping how the university connects with its generous supporters. You will provide strategic oversight for all donor communications and stewardship efforts tied to the university’s colleges and units — with a focus on cultivating major ($100K+) and principal ($1M+) gifts.



You will craft and lead high-impact, donor-centered communications strategies across platforms, from custom proposals to campaign materials, ensuring every message reflects the university’s brand, values and philanthropic vision. You’ll serve as a strategic advisor to the Vice President for Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement and play a key role in advancing future campaign readiness through compelling storytelling and message alignment.


In this role, you will:

• Lead a cross-functional team of philanthropy communications and stewardship professionals.
• Direct executive-level communications, including proposal development for principal gifts and message preparation for donor engagements.
• Coordinate stewardship strategy that deepens donor relationships and drives retention.
• Ensure message alignment across all philanthropic communications, partnering with marketing and communications teams university-wide.

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

Experience with MS Windows and knowledge of strategic philanthropy communications and donor stewardship; knowledge of multimedia communications and best practices.



Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No


Preferred Education/Experience

Degree in Communications or Marketing.



Deadline to Apply
10/13/2025


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.