Assistant Vice President for Advancement

Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor • Mequon, WI

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Advancement will provide strategic leadership and operational support for the Office of Advancement, with a particular emphasis on major gift fundraising, campaign execution, alumni and donor engagement, and the supervision of key advancement professionals. The AVP for Advancement will build a network of CUWAA constituents, to include alumni, donors, donor prospects, past or current parents, church and community leaders. The AVP for Advancement will personally participate in prospect qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major, planned, and estate gifts, focusing on solicitations of gifts or pledges of $25,000+. This position reports directly to the Vice President for Advancement and serves as a senior leader within the Advancement office. The Assistant Vice President for Advancement will serve as an ambassador for development and alumni relations efforts, representing Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor with integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to Christian values and principles. This is a full-time position located on the Mequon, Wisconsin campus.

Requirements

• Demonstrated understanding of development techniques, major gift fundraising, campaign strategy, and donor cultivation best practices to meet high performance and accountability standards.
• Experience conducting major fundraising campaigns within higher education is required.
• Must be computer literate with an understanding of development or fundraising techniques, donor database systems, prospect management, and best practices in advancement.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred knowledge of and/or experience fundraising within the Lutheran community and/or Milwaukee-area community.
• Build lasting relationships with prospects, donors, university colleagues, community and church leaders
• Possess the management skills to supervise, mentor, and lead director-level staff members in a collaborative and mission-focused environment, committed to Christian values and principles.
• Interpersonal skills using tact and patience through oral and written communication
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Available and willing to accommodate evening and weekend work multiple times monthly
• Willingness to travel both locally (weekly) and outside of Wisconsin (quarterly)
• Supportive of the mission and values of Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)
• A master's degree is preferred.
• At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, development, fundraising, sales, external relations, or a related field is preferred, with demonstrated success in major gift fundraising.
• Experience fundraising within the Lutheran community and/or the Milwaukee community is preferred.
• Supervisory experience is preferred, particularly with professional-level or director-level staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in the planning, execution, and evaluation of major fundraising campaigns within higher education, including comprehensive, capital, endowment, and special initiative campaigns.
• Serve as the supervisor for various director-level positions within the Advancement office, providing accountability, coaching, and support in alignment with University goals.
• Cultivate existing major gift donors and qualify new major gift prospects for Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor, with an emphasis on connections within the community and select regions nationally.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 60-80 major gift donors and donor prospects.
• Establish and manage a schedule of qualification, cultivation, and gift solicitation visits, especially among key alumni, parents, university friends, and Milwaukee-area community leaders.
• Work closely with the Vice President for Advancement and AVP for Advancement Services to develop and implement strategies that advance the priorities of the department and the goals of the University at large, connecting donor interests with institutional needs.
• Be open to other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the vice president.
• Represent the mission, values, and priorities of Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor to internal and external audiences, as well as serve as an ambassador for development and alumni relations efforts.
• Build relationships that allow for navigating the university structure to gain assistance from other departments and personnel.
• Support cross-functional tasks across the Advancement department, including collaboration with major gifts, annual giving, alumni relations, donor relations, advancement services, events, communications, and church relations.
• Assist in the planning and execution of special events related to major gift fundraising, alumni relations, donor stewardship, campaign activity, and community outreach.
• Conduct all activities within the budget established by the University.
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Personal Spending Account, Flexible Spending Account, and/or Health Savings Account
• Disability and Survivor Plan
• Retirement Pension Plan
• Retirement 403(b) Savings Plan
• Basic Life and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage
• Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
• Tuition waiver benefits (available for employees and their qualified dependents)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior