The Vice President for Advancement/University General Counsel supports the President and is responsible for all aspects of planning, implementing, evaluating, and growing relationships with a broad range of individuals and organizations. They will also advise the President on legal, compliance, and ethics.
The Vice President of Advancement/University General Counsel will serve as a convener, connector, and trusted resource across the University, senior leadership, and staff. This role will manage complex gift issues, overseeing estate gifts, and representing the University with trust donors and beneficiaries. Bringing a blend of stakeholder management and planned giving technical experience, this leader will be the University’s internal legal expert in the areas of planned giving, trusts and estates, complex charitable gifts, donor and funder agreements, and general legal contracts. A builder, collaborator, and strategic thinker, the Vice President of Advancement/University General Counsel will be a trusted resource and critical partner in advancing the goals of the University
This position is responsible for working with the President to identify and solicit principal and transformational gifts, including those from individuals, corporations and foundations that support students, research programs, special initiatives and interdisciplinary programs affiliated with Briar Cliff University. The Vice President for Advancement/University General Counsel will report to the President of Briar Cliff University.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
External Relations and Fundraising 50%
- Works with the President and other senior leaders of the college to identify principal and transformational philanthropic and other opportunities that advance the goals of the University.
- Develops innovative methods to identify and engage in new relationships (both alumni and non-alumni) that will support the advancement goals of the University.
- Effectively represents the University to external stakeholders, including leaders in business and industry, local, state, and federal government officials, non-government organizations and community organizations.
- Effectively communicates the university’s vision, mission, and priorities to prospects and donors.
- Creates and analyzes reports to evaluate a comprehensive fundraising program to meet needs for private financial support and provide analysis and documentation demonstrating program performance.
- Develops and implements the University’s campaign planning, feasibility study assessment, and case development.
- Develops active and cooperative relationships with development staff in other University units to strengthen support for emerging interdisciplinary efforts.
Principal/Transformational Gift Portfolio 25%
- Collaborates with the President in cultivating relationships with key stakeholders.
- Establishes and maintains relationships with donors and prospects (personal visits, coordinate meetings with the President (e.g., event attendance, etc.).
- Provides strategic methodologies to drive growth of gifts over $500,000 and transformational giving.
Legal 25%
- This position serves as an internal legal expert and resource in the areas of planned giving, trusts and estates, complex charitable gifts, donor and funder agreements and general legal contracts.
- This is a senior and highly skilled position that operates in a highly collaborative environment.
- The position expected to understand regulatory rules for charitable giving and the ability to balance honoring donor intent with such regulations as well as University policies for charitable gifts.
- Provide guidance to University Relations and senior University leadership for charitable gift law issues, including estate planning, tax law and legal developments affecting charitable giving.
- Guide planned giving and University development staff on complex gift issues, including real estate, tangible personal property, closely held business interests, insurance and other non- cash gifts.
- Assist with donor-centered responses to non-routine planned and gift issues.
- Lead or participate in special development initiatives as assigned.
- Collaborate with Vice President of Finance to determine University’s role in estate and trust disputed matters, including selection and oversight of outside counsel.
- Collaborate with finance team and University staff to ensure compliance with donor gift designations, including assessment of gift restrictions and guidance on any modification.
- Collaborate with University Vice President of Finance to ensure compliance with trustee fiduciary obligations, including reporting to beneficiaries, recordkeeping, and oversight of investment allocation and performance.
- In collaboration with planned giving, responsible for trust agreement and related document preparation, in consultation with outside counsel and trust agent, and for managing communications with trust donors and their advisors in creating and funding trusts.
- In collaboration with planned giving, responsible for trust donor and beneficiary relations, including response to all questions and concerns regarding trust administration and investment.
- Demonstrate commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an equitable and inclusive working and learning environment (exhibit 100% of the time).
- Continuous learning in diversity, equity and inclusion for oneself and team via training, podcasts, articles, etc.
MINIMUM ACCEPTANCE QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Juris Doctorate
Experience:
- Five years of experience is required in progressively responsible positions in advancement, preferably development.
- Experience in all phases of fund-raising is required.
- Experience in other areas currently included under University Advancement is preferred. Experience in higher education is strongly preferred.
Skills:
- Strong oral and written communication skills are required.
- Excellent interpersonal skills are required.
- Management skills, in particular goal setting, supervision, budgeting and evaluation, are required.
Briar Cliff University is an equal opportunity employer.
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