Vice President of University Advancement

Responsible for Growing Relationships | Manage Complex Gifts | Represent BCU with Trust Donors

The Vice President for Advancement 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 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 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.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: 

External Relations and Fundraising 65%

• 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 the 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 35%

• 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.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Five years of experience is required in progressively responsible positions in advancement, preferably development.
• Experience in all phases of fundraising is required.
• Experience in other areas currently included under University Advancement is preferred. Experience in higher education is strongly preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 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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