ETH Zurich, Director, Partnerships & Philanthropy

ETH Zurich Foundation has appointed Jocelyn Sanders as the Director, Partnerships & Philanthropy USA, effective January 2, 2026. In this inaugural role, Sanders will build lasting relationships with donors throughout the United States who share a passion for scientific discovery, academic excellence, and global impact. Representing one of the world’s leading science and technology universities, Sanders will partner closely with philanthropists, leaders of private foundations, and alumni to catalyze transformative gifts that empower students, researchers, and groundbreaking initiatives at ETH Zurich.

An accomplished fundraising professional with more than 20 years of experience, Sanders most recently served as the associate director of development for major gifts at the School of Engineering at Stanford University. In this role, Sanders established a regional development program for the school and significantly increased philanthropic impact and total gifts secured. In her prior role as a senior major gifts officer at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Sanders partnered closely with faculty and program leaders to translate ambitious academic priorities into compelling philanthropic cases, organized high-impact cultivation events that bridged practitioners and donors, and helped grow the school’s pool of principal and major gift donors. 

Sanders holds a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies from Hollins University.

Jack Gorman led this search with Bryce Ervin and Sandeep Kaur.