Associate Vice President of Development

University of Montana Foundation • Missoula, MT

7h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Vice President of Development is both a frontline fundraiser and senior fundraising leader at the University of Montana Foundation. The position manages a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors while leading and developing fundraising professionals to achieve philanthropic goals. The role focuses on transformational, principal, planned, complex, and blended gifts, including commitments of $1 million or more.

The Associate Vice President works independently and reports to the Vice President for Development. The position collaborates with University and Foundation leadership, development colleagues, campus partners, external vendors and consultants, donors’ professional advisors, and the Foundation’s Finance and Operations, Marketing and Communications, and Advancement Services divisions. The role also advises institutional leaders on translating academic priorities, community impact, and institutional vision into compelling donor opportunities.

The position provides supervision, coaching, performance management, recruitment, mentoring, and retention support for assigned fundraising professionals. It establishes performance expectations, reviews portfolios and strategies, supports professional development, monitors team performance, and fosters accountability, collaboration, and fundraising excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Ten years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, preferably in higher education or a similarly complex nonprofit environment.
• A minimum of ten years of successful experience securing principal, planned, blended, and complex gifts from high-capacity donors and prospects.
• Demonstrated record of closing philanthropic commitments of $1 million or greater, including current, deferred, and blended gift strategies.
• Experience managing, mentoring, coaching, or serving as a strategic resource to development colleagues on principal gift strategy, gift planning, blended gifts, and complex donor situations.
• Advanced knowledge of charitable gift planning strategies, including estate commitments, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, gifts of complex assets, and other planned giving vehicles.
• Demonstrated commitment to higher education, philanthropy, and the University of Montana Foundation’s mission, values, and impact.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and motivate professional fundraising staff; establish performance expectations; coach and mentor team members; foster accountability; and advance a collaborative, high-performing culture.
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to establish trust and credibility with high-net-worth individuals, families, foundations, advisors, volunteers, campus leaders, and colleagues.
• Sophisticated strategic thinking, judgment, and problem-solving abilities, including the capacity to navigate complex donor relationships, institutional priorities, and multi-stakeholder gift opportunities.
• Strong understanding of estate planning concepts, charitable tax considerations, planned giving vehicles, and the role of professional advisors in significant philanthropic commitments.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors capable of making philanthropic commitments of $1 million or more, emphasizing transformational, principal, planned, complex, and blended gifts.
• Secure current and deferred commitments through outright gifts, estate commitments, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, beneficiary designations, gifts of complex assets, and other planned giving strategies.
• Partner with University and Foundation leadership to identify, develop, and position transformational funding opportunities aligned with institutional priorities and donor interests, motivations, and capacity.
• Advise University and Foundation leaders on translating academic priorities, community impact, and institutional vision into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
• Collaborate with development colleagues, academic leaders, volunteers, donors’ professional advisors, and Foundation departments to develop and implement coordinated fundraising strategies for principal, planned, blended, and complex gifts.
• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management for assigned fundraising professionals, including planned giving officers, principal gift officers, major gift officers, and other development staff as assigned.
• Establish performance expectations, conduct portfolio and strategy reviews, support professional development, and foster accountability, collaboration, and fundraising excellence.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain high-performing fundraising professionals.
• Monitor team performance and fundraising activity, providing strategic guidance on transformational philanthropy, principal gifts, planned gifts, blended gifts, and complex gift strategies.

Benefits

• 403(b) employer contribution of 11%, with no employee match required.
• Opportunity for a hybrid remote work arrangement each week.
• Four weeks of vacation accrued per year, 12 days of sick leave per year, and an additional 11 days of holiday leave.
• Paid parental leave for new parents.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage; wellness program; and short-term and long-term disability pay protection benefits.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Competitive pay; candidates may request the starting pay range.

What This Job Offers

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