SVP, Central Development Programs

University of Illinois Foundation•Champaign, IL

About The Position

The University of Illinois Foundation seeks a strategic, collaborative development leader to provide enterprise-wide leadership for its central development programs. Reporting directly to the Foundation President and CEO, the Senior Vice President will be a member of the executive leadership team and partner with university, foundation, and advancement leaders to align strategy, services, and resources with institutional priorities and campaign goals across the University of Illinois System. The SVP will oversee an integrated portfolio spanning gift planning and trust services, donor relations and stewardship, foundation relations, strategic innovation, board engagement, and major and principal gifts support. The role also includes serving as a senior fundraiser and trusted advisor on significant philanthropic relationships, maintaining a select portfolio of board members, major donors, and principal gift prospects, and directing major gift officers supporting university and system priorities. The SVP will oversee a 50-person team. The successful leader will strengthen the Foundation’s distributed fundraising model by establishing consistent standards, performance measures, governance, and operating practices. They will champion innovation, operational effectiveness, data-informed decision-making, donor-centered engagement, and collaboration; develop high-performing teams; and support philanthropic growth across the system. The SVP will also manage departmental budgets, staffing plans, and organizational structure, and ensure compliance with applicable Foundation and University policies, regulations, ethical standards, and reporting requirements. The expected salary range is $275,000–$325,000. The position is based in Champaign, Illinois.

Requirements

At least 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in advancement, development, fundraising operations, advancement services, philanthropy, higher education administration, or a related field.
Demonstrated success leading within a multi-unit, decentralized, or matrixed organization.
Proven ability to develop and implement enterprise-wide strategies that improve fundraising effectiveness, organizational performance, operational efficiency, and donor experience.
Experience partnering with senior institutional leaders, fundraising executives, governing boards, and key stakeholders to achieve strategic objectives.
Strong understanding of fundraising principles, philanthropic trends, campaign operations, donor lifecycle management, and advancement best practices.
Demonstrated success leading organizational change, process improvement, and technology initiatives in a complex environment.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Highest ethical standards in donor interactions and communications.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred.
Experience overseeing gift planning and trust services, including complex gifts, estates, trusts, and life-income arrangements.
Experience serving as a principal gifts fundraiser and managing relationships with major donors, institutional leaders, and governing board members.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for central development programs and services, aligning them with system fundraising priorities, campaign objectives, and institutional strategic plans.
Partner with university vice chancellors and advancement leaders in a distributed fundraising model to develop programs and align services with university and unit needs.
Advise the Foundation president and serve as a member of the senior leadership team.
Support the Foundation Board of Directors through guidance, resources, training, and relationship management.
Lead, develop, and mentor teams by setting goals, supporting professional development, driving accountability, and fostering collaboration, innovation, customer service, and continuous improvement.
Monitor advancement trends, technologies, and best practices and advance innovation across the fundraising enterprise.
Serve as a major and principal gifts fundraiser and ambassador for philanthropic engagement.
Lead donor relations, stewardship, impact reporting, and engagement initiatives to strengthen donor retention and lifetime philanthropic support.
Maintain a portfolio of selected board members, major donors, and principal gift prospects as a strategic relationship manager and ambassador.
Direct major gift officers supporting university and system fundraising priorities.
Oversee gift planning and trust services, including complex gifts, estate planning, life-income agreements, trusts, and bequests, and facilitate collaboration between gift planning professionals and frontline fundraisers.
Coordinate and direct Strategic Innovation programs, including the Foundation Resource Center’s work sourcing private funding from foundation partners.
Establish service standards, operating procedures, and governance structures that improve efficiency while meeting university partners’ needs.
Use data analytics and insights to inform decisions, track progress, and refine fundraising strategies.
Ensure compliance with applicable Foundation and University of Illinois System policies, regulations, ethical standards, and reporting requirements.
Develop and manage departmental budgets, staffing plans, and organizational structure to steward resources and achieve institutional goals.