Description

Vice President for Advancement
Angola, Indiana
 

Summary
The role reporting to the President and working closely with the Board of Trustees, the Vice President for University Advancement provides strategic leadership for the University’s ambitious fundraising and alumni engagement goals. The Vice President will act as a close partner and advisor to the President and collaborate with the University leadership on crafting a strategy and execution plan to increase annual fundraising.

The Vice President is responsible for promoting Trine externally, developing strategic partnerships across campus and throughout the donor community, creating multi-year strategies for new donor pipelines, meeting annual fundraising goals, enhancing current systems, recruiting and retaining top talent, and improving alumni outreach and engagement across all schools and programs.

The Vice President leads development and alumni relations efforts on behalf of the University and will build upon fundraising successes to lead a compelling and collaborative approach for fundraising moving forward. Responsible for subject matter expertise in philanthropy and alumni engagement, the next Vice President will keep the Trine leadership and Trustees up to date on current trends, issues, problems, and activities in order to facilitate and recommend policy positions concerning development and alumni affairs. With excellent communication and collaboration skills, the Vice President will develop strategies, set goals, and direct activities to achieve fundraising and engagement targets.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Embracing a campus culture that is aspirational, flexible, and focused on constant programmatic improvement.
• Advancing Trine’s mission, vision, and short and long-term goals by working closely with the University’s leadership in all phases of advancement and campaign activities.
• Developing and implementing a vision for the Advancement division that will keep pace with the rapid growth of the University.
• Supporting the University’s President on major strategic initiatives and donor engagement strategies.
• Creating, directing, administering, and continuously improving development strategies, which include campaign planning and execution, as well as major gifts and planned gifts for operational, capital, and programmatic needs to advance the strategic direction of Trine.
• Supporting Trine’s mission by securing major philanthropic gifts from alumni, corporations, foundations, friends, and partners.
• Identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors and managing the University’s donor recognition and stewardship strategy.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of Trine’s fundraising capabilities and keeping the University’s Trustees and senior management informed of developments that may require changes in policy, staffing, or organization. This includes monitoring, evaluating, and applying performance measurements for development operations, systems, and capabilities, both within the central advancement operation and among fundraising teams across a highly diverse institution.
• Overseeing the creation of annual operating plans, including program priorities, fundraising goals, and detailed strategies for the accomplishment of objectives.
• Collaborate closely with various university departments to ensure alignment and compliance with institutional policies, state and federal regulations, and donor intent in the management and reporting of philanthropic funds and scholarships.
• Ensure effective use of advancement data systems to track engagement, measure outcomes, and inform strategy; use data-driven insights to optimize fundraising effectiveness.
• Seamlessly joining a successful senior leadership team that is focused on sustained growth and continuous improvement.
• Traveling extensively to engage with current and potential donors to increase philanthropic giving to the University.
• Leading and managing a strong, committed, and hard-working advancement team to ensure they have the resources they need to continue their success and fulfill their full potential
• Increasing and supporting the engagement of academic leadership, deans, and faculty in fundraising and other external resource development.
• Substantially expanding the donor base beyond the current focus on key friends of the University and its loyal alumni.
• Strategically and substantively increasing alumni engagement, particularly with a growing base of younger alumni who will soon be ready to become key donors and friends of the University.
• Serve as a public ambassador for the university alongside the University’s President, building partnerships with civic, business, and philanthropic leaders to enhance visibility and support.

Requirements

Qualifications:
Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills are required. Additional qualifications include a record of success in managing or participating in fund-raising programs and soliciting funds from individuals and corporations, with a working knowledge of advancement technology systems.

The successful candidate must possess the ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced and complex environment, which includes some evenings, weekends, and travel as required. This position requires regular, in-person attendance at our Angola campus. Remote or telecommuting options are not available.

Education & Experience: 
A bachelor’s degree in a related area and five to ten years of progressively responsible experience directly related to fundraising and alumni relations.