University of Washington Policy Directory

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*Formerly part of the University Handbook
Presidential Orders


Executive Order


No. 62



The Vice President for University Advancement



1. Reporting Relationships

The Vice President for University Advancement reports directly to the University President and oversees philanthropy, alumni relations, and marketing at the University of Washington. The Vice President serves ex officio as President of the University of Washington Foundation Board of Directors and is a member of the University of Washington Alumni Association Board of Trustees.

Reporting directly to the Vice President for University Advancement are the Associate Vice Presidents for Advancement Services, Alumni and Constituent Relations, Constituency Programs, Individual Giving Programs, UW Marketing (reporting jointly to the Vice President for External Affairs), UW Medicine (reporting jointly to the CEO of UW Medicine), and University Advancement's Director for Finance and Administration.

The overarching goal of University Advancement is to institutionalize advancement at the academic core through integrated efforts at both central and unit levels. This "centralized-decentralized" approach allows the University Advancement team to successfully promote involvement and financial support from alumni and friends throughout the institution.

2. University Advancement

The philanthropy component of University Advancement is composed of Advancement Services, Constituency Programs, Individual Giving Programs, UW Medicine, and Finance and Administration. These areas manage the solicitation of private funds for the University, provide coordination and counsel for the various school and college advancement programs, and stimulate both outright contributions and deferred gifts to the University. Central coordination and support includes annual giving; major giving programs; corporation and foundation relations; relationship management and donor recognition programs; and oversight of capital or comprehensive campaigns carried out by campuses, schools, colleges, and programs within the University.

University Advancement is also responsible for receiving, receipting, and reporting to the Board of Regents all gifts made to the University and the University of Washington Foundation; for maintaining a database of information about alumni, donors, and friends; and for generating reports as necessary from that database. Volunteer guidance and leadership are essential to the success of University's advancement operation; this is provided by an institutionally-affiliated 501(c)(3) foundation (the University of Washington Foundation). The Vice President serves ex officio as President of this foundation's Board of Directors. The Board was established in 1988 to enhance the University's private giving program and is made up of University representatives and volunteer directors from among the University's alumni and friends. University Advancement provides staff support for the Board.

3. Alumni and Constituent Relations

Alumni and Constituent Relations is headed by an Associate Vice President who reports to the Vice President for University Advancement and serves, ex officio, as the Executive Director of the University of Washington Alumni Association (UWAA). The mission of Alumni and Constituent Relations and the UWAA is to reach, connect, and celebrate alumni and friends of the University of Washington and to build lifelong relationships that support the University's mission. The UWAA is the foundation of the University's alumni community. Through social, learning, and volunteer opportunities, it connects alumni and friends to the University of Washington and its mission. UWAA coordinates and supports academic, geographic, and special interest alumni activities; lectures and learning opportunities; UWAA alumni tours; and other programs to engage alumni and friends. The UWAA publishes Columns, a quarterly magazine for University alumni and friends, and Viewpoints, a publication in partnership with the diversity community of the University of Washington and the UWAA.

4. UW Marketing

UW Marketing is headed by an Associate Vice President who reports to the Vice President for University Advancement and to the Vice President for External Affairs. To a myriad of prioritized audiences identified by the offices of the President, Provost, Advancement and External Affairs, UW Marketing builds positive awareness of the University of Washington and enhances its reputation through integrated marketing and communications including web/online, social media, events, publications and advertising projects. As champions and keepers of the university's brand, UW Marketing also ensures strong inculcation across the organization through consistent communication and outreach, tools, advocacy and support to all units.

As University Advancement's centralized interface for the University and the University President, this unit promotes the important impact of philanthropy to our alumni, parents, friends, students, and administrative offices, enhances relationships with individual and corporate/foundation donors, and partners with Advancement staff throughout the organization in an effort to coordinate messaging and support marketing projects.

April 10, 1991; September 24, 1996; August 21, 2002; September 28, 2011.


For additional delegations of authority, see:

  • Board of Regents Governance, Bylaws, Article V, "Officers of the University"
  • Board of Regents Governance, Standing Orders, Chapter 1, "Delegation of Authority"
  • Board of Regents Governance, Standing Orders, Chapter 6, "Authority for Washington Administrative Code Rule Making"
  • Executive Order No. 1, "The Office of the President"
  • Executive Order No. 4, "The Provost"
  • Executive Order No. 6, "The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), UW Medicine and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine, University of Washington"
  • Executive Order No. 7, "The Vice President for Minority Affairs"
  • Executive Order No. 11, "The Vice President for External Affairs"
  • Executive Order No. 12, "The Deans"
  • Executive Order No. 14, "Chancellor, UW Bothell and UW Tacoma"
  • Executive Order No. 18, "The University Ombud"
  • Administrative Orders: Delegations of Authority