Executive Development Administrator, Principal Gifts

(Support partner for two Principal Gifts level fundraisers)

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION 

The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, in partnership with Stanford Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, unlocks philanthropy to transform health for children and families in Northern California - and around the world. Through fundraising and grantmaking, the Foundation drives scientific research, innovation, and policy change that will improve care, advance cures, and reform healthcare systems for this and future generations.  

MAIN FOCUS: The Executive Development Administrator provides high-level partnership and support to the Vice President of Principal Gifts and one additional senior fundraiser. This role sits at the heart of our most critical fundraising efforts working with individuals and families with strong capacity and propensity for making 8 figure gifts as well as ensuring our leaders are organized, prepared, and positioned for success in cultivating meaningful gifts.

LOCATION: Hybrid Position – the candidate will work an average of eight (8) days per month in our Palo Alto, CA office; the successful candidate will be based in the Bay Area.

ABOUT THE TEAM…

The Principal Gifts team works with donors and prospects who have the potential to make philanthropic gifts of $10 million or more. The team partners closely with the Foundation President/CEO’s Office, hospital and School of Medicine leadership, and hospital and Foundation board members. The PG team is currently comprised of 6 people focused on pipeline building, outreach and engagement strategies, cultivation, solicitations, and stewardship.  

WHAT YOU'LL DO... 

The Executive Development Administrator plays a pivotal role in advancing the work of the Principal Gifts team by providing seamless, high-level support to two senior fundraisers, including the Vice President.

This is not a traditional administrative role. You will be a strategic partner—anticipating needs, creating systems that ensure our leaders are always prepared to engage with the Foundation’s most significant donors.

In this role, you will:

• Manage complex calendars, meetings, and donor interactions with precision and discretion.
• Partner closely with executives to provide seamless logistical and strategic support.
• Develop innovative systems, routines, and approaches that enhance efficiency for your fundraisers.
• Occasionally assist across the broader Principal Gifts team, ensuring smooth operations.

This position reports to the Director of Operations and Administrative Services, Principal Gifts, and offers a front-row seat to the work of senior fundraising leaders at the Foundation.

The compensation range for this role is $100,000 - $110,000 annually.

YOU'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR...

Your work will span three main areas:

Administrative Partnership (~45%)

• Anticipate and manage every aspect of the VP’s workflow, from prioritizing requests to ensuring they are fully prepared for meetings and follow-ups with faculty, donors, executives, and colleagues.
• Strategically manage complex calendaring, proactively resolving conflicts and balancing priorities to preserve time for strategy, prep, and reflection time.
• Coordinate logistics, arrangements, and briefings for principal gift focused internal and external meetings, campus tours, and donor visits.
• Handle expense reports, donor acknowledgments, and executive requests with accuracy and discretion.
• Maintain processes for organizing and sharing information, and build a network of trusted contacts across Packard hospital, Stanford Medicine, and Stanford University.

Portfolio/Project Management (~35%)

• Serve as a thought partner with the Vice President and other senior fundraisers, helping manage portfolios, donor engagement, and ensuring dedicated time and resources to advance relationships.
• Draft concise, donor-facing communications and advance the process to finalize gift agreements and documentation.
• Project manage donor-related initiatives, including high-touch meetings and faculty salons/events—overseeing invitations, logistics, briefings, and onsite execution.
• Ensure talking points for key Foundation, Hospital, and Stanford leaders, materials, and follow-up are accurate, tailored, and consistently up to date.
• On a case-by-case basis, serve as a project manager on key endeavors involving other revenue or partner teams across the Foundation.

Database & Information Management (~20%)

• Maintain accurate and timely records in the Foundation’s CRM and content systems.
• Draft/enter donor call reports, summaries, correspondence, and portfolio updates.
• Track proposal status and portfolio changes weekly to support team clarity.
• Conduct light research on prospects and coordinate with the prospect development team on donor insights.

Impact: By keeping fundraisers organized, informed, and prepared, you’ll directly enable our ability to engage donors meaningfully and secure the resources that advance children’s health and discovery.

YOU MUST HAVE...

• Experience in development/fundraising and an understanding of philanthropy.
• Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience or 5+ years of directly related professional experience (or equivalent education and experience).
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-execution team environment with a high volume of priorities.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams) and familiarity with database systems.
• Exceptional organizational/project management skills, with sharp attention to detail.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple priorities under shifting and tight deadlines.
• Excellent writing skills, with the ability to draft clear, professional communications.
• Energy and passion for Principal Gift fundraising.

IT'S AN ADDED PLUS IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH...

• Project management experience in a complex environment, ideally in healthcare or higher education.
• Additional technical proficiency in platforms such as Raiser’s Edge, Monday.com, Power BI, and AI tools.

YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IF...

You bring exceptional organization and systems thinking

• Maintain sharp attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• Think in terms of systems and processes, with a strong aptitude for learning new technologies.
• Comfortably operate at both the “10,000-foot” strategic level and the “10-foot” tactical level.
• Take initiative and ownership, consistently driving projects to successful completion.

You exercise sound judgment

• Make independent decisions with diplomacy and professionalism.
• Anticipate needs by connecting the dots, knowing when to act independently and when to escalate.
• Handle highly confidential information with discretion and care.

You anticipate needs before they arise

• Stay several steps ahead, preventing issues before they become problems.
• Spot and resolve potential conflicts or bottlenecks early.
• Proactively prepare materials, agendas, and context so executives are always set up for success.

You thrive as a collaborative partner

• Adapt to and work effectively with many different personalities and working styles.
• Deliver on your own responsibilities while supporting the broader team.
• Respond to requests with timeliness, professionalism, and respect.

You adapt easily and keep a growth mindset

• Stay flexible and open to new ideas and approaches.
• Navigate ambiguity and shifting priorities with confidence and common sense.
• Move work forward independently, even without step-by-step instructions.

You are driven by mission

• Demonstrate commitment to LPFCH’s mission: elevating children’s health and expanding access to high-quality care through leadership and philanthropy.

Working at the Foundation

WE OFFER EXCELLENT BENEFITS & PERKS, INCLUDING…

• Generous leave, including PTO, holidays, Summer Fridays, and a sabbatical (after 7 years of employment) 
• Annual bonus opportunity
• Retirement plan + employer match
• Premium Medical and Dental coverage
• FSA + dependent care FSA
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Legal services plan 
• Commuter Benefits, including CalTrain “Go Pass” Program
• 4-week paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents
• Stipend for home office and mobile phone

WE’RE DYNAMIC…

The Foundation is a dynamic organization in a rapidly changing industry. Therefore, the responsibilities associated with this position will evolve and grow in accordance with LPFCH's business needs and growth plans. More specifically, the incumbent may be required to perform additional and/or different responsibilities based on the future growth plans for the Foundation.

WE STRIVE TO EMBODY OUR CULTURAL TOUCHSTONES

• Mission-first - We can never lose sight of why we exist and exercise profound commitment to advancing child and maternal health. 
• Good of the whole - We share responsibility for overall results, think of what’s best for the team and organization, and act as responsible stewards of resources. 
• Bold and bendy - We’re unapologetically ambitious for our mission, creative, and take risks by trying new things.   
• Sweat the big stuff - We’re clear on our priorities, calibrating effort and resources to audience and impact; the higher the return, the greater the investment. 
• Make it happen - We’re focused on outcomes and prepared with ideas and solutions for every challenge. 
• Community matters - We prioritize listening to and supporting each other, not just as colleagues, but as people with varied experiences and perspectives. 

EVERYONE BELONGS HERE 

Our Foundation values the unique qualities each of us brings to our team and community.  We take pride in cultivating a workplace where every voice is heard and each of us has the opportunity to achieve our fullest potential—so that together, we can make meaningful impact on the health outcomes for children and their families.  

We are guided by the following principles: 

• Uphold integrity and professionalism in all our actions.
• Foster a welcoming and supportive culture.
• Embrace unique perspectives and contributions.
• Interact with compassion, openness, and an eagerness to learn.

 The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

#LI-Hybrid

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