Associate Vice President for University Development

About the position

The Associate Vice President for Development (AVP) is a senior management position within the Division of Advancement partnering with the Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the Binghamton University Foundation (VP/ED) and Advancement's Executive Leadership Team to plan and achieve the University's advancement goals. The AVP will be a key leader for Advancement, working collaboratively with academic leadership, campus partners, top donors, and senior volunteers at the institution. The AVP will oversee the work of university leadership, major, and principal gift officers, the executive director of planned giving, the Office of the Binghamton Fund and Donor Relations, the Office of Prospect Management and Research Analytics, and the senior director of foundation relations. The AVP will also carry a portfolio of principal gift donors and prospective donors for the university and participate in agency policy formulation. The AVP sits on the VP/ED's Executive Team, working collaboratively to advance the goals of the Office of Development, Office of Alumni Engagement and the Binghamton University Foundation. As a key leader within the Division of Advancement, the AVP plays a critical role in creating an environment for team members to do their best work and in ensuring that Binghamton raises the most funds possible aligned with industry proven practices. This position is responsible for overseeing the planning, direction, supervision, and evaluation of the work of the development staff, including leadership, major, and principal gifts officers, the executive director of gift planning, the director of prospect management and analytics, and the senior director of foundation relations. The AVP sets the overall fundraising and performance goals and expectations for all development programs within Advancement, and oversees all prospect management assignments. The AVP oversees the direction of a group of major and principal gifts officers responsible for raising six- and seven-figure gifts from university alumni, parents, foundations, corporations, and other constituents. The AVP serves as a coach, advisor, and strategist with development staff on donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, closure, and stewardship, and functions as an essential partner in the success of the Division of Advancement.

Responsibilities

• Engages with the president, vice president, executive team, Foundation board, deans, faculty, development staff and volunteers to develop and strengthen individual relationships and involvement with Binghamton University in meeting its goals and mission.
• Directs a comprehensive development program, including planned giving, prospect management, and foundation relations.
• Develop strategies designed to identify, cultivate and solicit individuals capable of giving a gift of $100,000 or more for University priorities.
• Build goals for outright and deferred gifts in conjunction with the executive team, including annual goals, multi-year goals, planned giving program goals and campaign goals.
• Prepare annual long-range plans and forecasts for review.
• Oversees the Binghamton Fund, donor relations, and prospect management and research to develop processes, procedures and analytics to ensure that a strong pipeline of potential support is identified and maintained.
• Sets department goals; develops and refines planning processes, practices and protocols; establishes performance expectations, metrics and evaluation.
• Reviews, drafts and/or recommends policies and planning processes, develops and implements guidelines and protocols for prospect management.
• Participates in a range of donor activities and events that have strategic impact on the success of individual giving and planned giving program results.
• Maintains up to date knowledge about proven business practices, Binghamton's academic priorities and strategic direction, Advancement procedures and practices, and personnel management.
• Oversees the management of the director of foundation relations, executive director of gift planning, senior supervising director of the Binghamton Fund and donor relations, and leadership, major, and principal gift officers.
• Set and regularly review measurable targets for the development team that demonstrate productivity.
• Ensure that the development program continues to adhere to proven practices in prospect management with long-term strategy and meaningful relationship building at the core of Binghamton's approach.
• Promotes partnerships between development officers and academic leadership, with a specific focus on partnering with deans and the athletic director.
• Works directly with prospects, as needed, in order to assist development officers, as well as during staff transitions or absences.
• Create and cultivate a work environment that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion.
• Develop and manage an effective Leadership Giving program to increase annual support to the University in the $1,000 - $5,000 gift range.
• Supervise the Binghamton Fund program which markets and solicits unrestricted, annual gifts for the University and various schools and units.
• Oversee the gift processing and donor records operation including the daily processing, depositing, recording and acknowledgment of all gifts, pledges, matching gifts and other contributions.
• Direct the donor stewardship program, including the Foundation's Annual Report, donor thank you letters, scholarships, endowments, donor recognition programs and events, and naming protocols.
• Direct the preparation and maintenance of metrics to monitor fundraising effectiveness and procedures related to prospect data collection, storage, use and distribution.
• Supervise a comprehensive program of research on individuals, corporations and foundations that are prospects for significant financial support.
• Manage a portfolio of 10-20 individuals who are principal gift prospects.
• Model proven practices for the team by developing strategies for building successful relationships between prospects and Binghamton.
• Facilitate productive relationships between donors, senior administrators, and other staff to solicit individuals for high-level gifts.
• Effectively and regularly communicates and visits with prospects.
• Regularly solicits and closes gifts of various sizes with the goal of increasing gifts of $250,000 - $10,000,000.
• Responsible for maintaining accurate database information reflecting prospect strategies and activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (or higher)
• 10+ years of fundraising and/or development experience
• Experience managing major gifts officers
• Experience successfully soliciting seven-figure gifts
• Experience with successful solicitation and service in creating deferred gifts

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree (or higher)
• Experience in a Director level position (or higher)
• Experience in higher education fundraising