ASST VICE PRESIDENT DEVELOPMENT

About the role

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Development provides strategic leadership for key centralized fundraising functions, including Gift Planning, Corporate and Foundation Relations, regional major gift officers, and Athletics fundraising. Reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement, this role also serves as the fundraising lead for priorities not aligned with specific schools or colleges.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for centralized development functions, aligning fundraising strategies with university priorities and campaign goals.
• Lead the development and execution of strategies to secure philanthropic support from individuals, corporations, and foundations in support of university-wide initiatives.
• Lead and manage teams responsible for Gift Planning, Corporate and Foundation Relations, regional major gift fundraising, and Athletics fundraising, providing direction, coaching, and accountability for performance.
• Foster a high-performing and collaborative team culture focused on strategic prospect management, cross-functional coordination, and measurable outcomes.
• Develop and maintain a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and donors, leading cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies in partnership with University leadership.
• Ensure coordinated approaches to engaging high-capacity donors, corporations, and foundations in support of university priorities.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators related to fundraising activity, pipeline growth, and revenue outcomes across assigned functions.
• Work collaboratively with advancement colleagues across the division to ensure coordinated donor strategies and effective stewardship.
• Serve as the fundraising lead for non-school and college-based priorities, partnering with university leadership to advance key institutional initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education and/or Work Experience: Bachelor’s degree, preferably with an emphasis in literature, communication, or journalism. Minimum eight years in higher education related advancement and leadership experience, five years of which must have been in increasingly responsible management.
• Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred. Ten (10) + years of progressive experience in higher education fundraising or a related field, with demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure commitments. Proven ability to manage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors, with experience developing and executing effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies. Demonstrated success leading and managing frontline fundraising teams, including setting goals, coaching, and driving results. Experience partnering with deans, academic leaders, and senior administrators to advance institutional and fundraising priorities. Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to inform decision-making and drive performance. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage, influence, and build relationships with a wide range of constituents. Ability to work collaboratively across advancement functions to support integrated fundraising and campaign success.