Associate Vice President for Individual Giving

Colgate University•Hamilton, NY

58d

About The Position

Colgate University, a highly selective liberal arts institution with a global reputation for academic excellence, seeks a strategic and experienced advancement leader to serve as Associate Vice President (AVP) for Individual Giving. Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the AVP plays a pivotal role in the university's $1 billion Campaign for the Third Century, which has already secured over $725 million in gifts and commitments. The AVP oversees a spectrum of individual giving programs, including major and leadership gifts, prospect management and research, and athletic fundraising. The AVP will lead, coach, and inspire a talented team of four directors while partnering closely with university leadership and academic and administrative colleagues to build a sustainable culture of philanthropy. This is a highly visible leadership role within the Advancement Division, critical to sustaining Colgate's momentum in raising more than $100 million annually in support of the university's strategic priorities and long-term institutional ambitions.

Responsibilities

Provide vision, direction, and oversight for Colgate's individual giving program to advance campaign goals and long-term philanthropic growth.
Serve as a key member of the Advancement leadership team and advisor to the Vice President on individual giving strategy.
Lead integration and alignment across major gifts, leadership gifts, prospect management, and athletic fundraising.
Supervise a dynamic team of fundraising professionals and provide mentorship, clear direction, and performance management.
Promote a culture of high expectations, accountability, continuous learning, and collaborative problem-solving.
Ensure team efforts are well-coordinated with annual giving, planned giving, alumni engagement, donor relations, and advancement operations.
Develop and implement strategies for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors with capacity for five- to seven-figure gifts.
Personally manage a portfolio of prospects and donors.
Oversee the preparation of tailored, compelling gift proposals and communications that reflect institutional priorities.
Direct the prospect management and research team to build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified prospects.
Guide the use of data, analytics, and performance metrics to inform decisions and strengthen fundraising strategy and outcomes.
Work closely with senior administrators, faculty, coaches, and campus partners to develop funding opportunities and donor engagement strategies.
Collaborate with Colgate's athletic department to advance philanthropic goals for varsity sports.