PSch Senior Associate Dean for Institutional Advancement

About the role

The Senior Associate Dean for Institutional Advancement and CUNY SoM Foundation is a high-level executive at the CUNY School of Medicine (CUNY SoM). Located in the heart of Harlem, New York, CUNY SoM is the only medical school in the City University of New York system and the only public medical school in Manhattan. The institution offers an accelerated BS/MD degree and a Physician Assistant Master’s Degree.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of the SoM’s Advancement Office and expand its fundraising efforts by providing guidance and direction for fundraising, special events, and trustee relations.
• Create and implement strategies to identify, cultivate, and solicit alumni, friends, corporations, foundations, and other supporters.
• Lead efforts to deepen and broaden engagement with current and prospective donors locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Work closely with the Dean and other executives to develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising and engagement plan.
• Identify and pursue corporate, research, and foundation grant opportunities aligned with organizational goals.
• Oversee preparation, submission, and reporting of grant proposals, ensuring compliance with funder requirements and maintaining strong relationships with partners.
• Collaborate with CUNY Central Advancement and External Affairs offices, including Annual Giving, Gift Planning, Principal Gifts, Major Gifts, Alumni Engagement, Advancement Services, Prospect Development, and Donor Relations.
• Ensure adherence to ethical fundraising practices, legal requirements, and CUNY policies while maintaining confidentiality and data integrity.
• Direct a donor engagement program that fosters lasting relationships and long-term giving.
• Oversee donor recognition and appreciation activities and provide personalized stewardship for major and legacy donors.
• Lead advancement staff to achieve unit goals.
• Maintain accurate donor and prospect portfolios and ensure accurate data management in the CRM database.
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of the SoM mission, priorities, academic programs, and research initiatives to translate them into compelling opportunities for support.
• Serve as primary contact and provide oversight to the School’s volunteer advisory boards and Foundation.
• Oversee communications and marketing to source meaningful stories and visuals that demonstrate the mission in action and strengthen donor connections.
• Manage the creation and distribution of impact reports and other communications highlighting mission delivery and campaign progress.
• Ensure accurate donor and prospect records are maintained. Use analytics to inform decision-making, track fundraising performance, and identify new opportunities for growth.
• Collaborate with Communications and Marketing to manage advancement, donor, and government relations content on the SoM website, ensuring accuracy, relevance, and alignment with branding standards.
• Monitor website analytics to evaluate engagement and strengthen online giving and communication strategies.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan for the school’s fundraising, which may include a capital campaign;
• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects; cultivate relationships leading to major gifts, corporate and foundation fundraising, governmental support, annual giving, and planned giving.
• Partner with the Dean and faculty to develop proposals and secure support from corporations, foundations, and government entities.
• Ensure the accuracy and timeliness of gift processing, acknowledgments, database management, foundation reporting, and donor relations.
• Collaborate with the Dean and senior leadership to align scholarship recipients with donors and oversee related communications.
• Manage the budget and financial reporting for the office and supervise staff.
• Support the CUNY School of Medicine Foundation Board; assist the Dean in stewarding board members, identify potential candidates, and support board fundraising initiatives.
• Partner with colleagues on special projects and events as needed.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a Bachelor's degree and eight years' related experience.
• A Master’s or terminal degree in a related field and a minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible fundraising and leadership experience in development with in-depth knowledge of all key areas of development and foundation leadership.
• A successful track record of building upon an existing advancement program through analytical thinking and best practices, resulting in a substantive and sustainable increase in philanthropic revenue.
• A proven record of success in securing seven- and eight-figure gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, and governmental entities.
• A demonstrated credibility, maturity, and sound judgment to effectively engage senior leaders and volunteers in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of key prospects and donors.
• A proven experience as a highly effective, collaborative, and inclusive leader with success in developing teams and creating a goal-oriented environment resulting in strong staff retention and satisfaction.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to articulate the case for support to diverse internal and external audiences.
• A strong understanding of budgets and the ability to manage financial resources effectively.
• A demonstrated understanding of the culture of academic medicine and the ability to address faculty, staff, and student concerns.
• Experience working with underrepresented, low-income, and marginalized students, and in health-related or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) fields or health professional pipeline and pathway programs.
• Experience with quality improvement principles related to health care disparities and the health professional pipeline.
• An advanced understanding of the importance of inclusion in academic medicine and the impact of educational and health care disparities on medicine.
• An advanced understanding of the New York City, State, or Tri-State area as it relates to health care, academic medicine, higher education, and government affairs.