VP of Advancement

Oglethorpe University•Atlanta, GA

10d

About The Position

Oglethorpe University seeks a strategic, relationship-driven Vice President of Advancement to lead the University’s philanthropic engagement and fundraising activities. Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President is a member of the senior leadership team and oversees the Office of Advancement, which is responsible for major gifts, annual giving, alumni engagement, stewardship, foundation and corporate relations, planned giving, and advancement operations. The University is preparing to launch a comprehensive campaign supporting the first phase of its strategic plan. The Vice President will help plan, launch, and execute the campaign and work with the President and Board of Trustees to promote a culture of philanthropy across the institution. As the University’s chief fundraising officer, the Vice President personally manages significant donor relationships and partners with the President to secure transformational philanthropic investments. The role works closely with trustees, academic and administrative leaders, alumni, donors, foundations, corporations, and community partners. The Office of Advancement has seven team members, including a Senior Associate Vice President who manages day-to-day divisional operations, allowing the Vice President to focus primarily on major gifts, campaign leadership, and strategic donor relationships while retaining overall responsibility for the division’s performance. The Vice President provides strategic leadership for fundraising programs and advancement operations, develops and executes strategies to increase philanthropic revenue and broaden the donor base, and establishes fundraising goals, performance measures, and accountability practices. The position serves as the primary staff liaison to the Board’s Advancement and Community Affairs Committee, supports trustees and volunteer leaders in fundraising, and represents Oglethorpe University to civic, philanthropic, corporate, and community audiences in Atlanta and beyond. The successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree, at least ten years of progressively responsible advancement leadership experience, a record of securing significant gifts and leading or playing a senior role in a successful comprehensive campaign, and strong relationship-building, communication, strategic planning, and team leadership capabilities. An advanced degree is preferred. The role includes normal office work, with sitting, walking or standing, and occasional lifting of less than 25 pounds. Travel and participation in donor cultivation and stewardship activities are required as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Ten or more years of progressively responsible advancement leadership experience, preferably in higher education or a similarly complex nonprofit organization.
Demonstrated success securing major, principal, and transformational gifts, including multiple six- and seven-figure commitments.
Proven record of leading or serving in a senior leadership role in a successful comprehensive fundraising campaign.
Experience developing and executing fundraising strategies that significantly increase philanthropic revenue.
Success engaging trustees, volunteer leaders, alumni, foundations, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals.
Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and negotiation skills.
Strong organizational, strategic planning, and team leadership capabilities.
Experience with fundraising databases and donor management systems.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Ability and willingness to travel and participate in donor cultivation and stewardship activities as needed.
Ability to perform normal office work, including sitting at a desk, walking or standing, and occasional lifting of less than 25 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
Experience securing eight-figure philanthropic gifts.
A robust network of relationships with Atlanta philanthropic, corporate, and community leaders.
Experience with Raiser’s Edge.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, execution, and completion of fundraising programs, including an anticipated comprehensive campaign supporting the University’s strategic plan.
Develop and implement a multi-year advancement strategy to increase philanthropic revenue and expand the donor base.
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift prospects, including personally managing significant donor relationships.
Partner with the President and Board members on donor strategy, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Establish and achieve fundraising goals across giving channels and strengthen support from individual donors, corporations, foundations, and planned giving prospects.
Build a pipeline of major gift prospects and increase donor engagement and giving at every level.
Advise the President on fundraising strategy, funding priorities, donor engagement, and philanthropic trends.
Align advancement initiatives with institutional priorities and strategic objectives.
Develop fundraising metrics, performance benchmarks, and accountability measures.
Promote a campus-wide culture of philanthropy and engagement among trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, and University friends.
Serve as primary staff liaison to the Board’s Advancement and Community Affairs Committee.
Partner with trustees, campaign cabinet members, and volunteer leaders to advance fundraising goals.
Prepare and present regular reports on fundraising performance and advancement priorities.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Office of Advancement in partnership with the Senior Associate Vice President, who manages day-to-day operations.
Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain advancement staff.
Ensure best practices in prospect management, donor stewardship, campaign reporting, and advancement operations.
Foster collaboration within the advancement team and across University leadership.
Use data, technology, and analytics to support fundraising strategy and decision-making.
Represent Oglethorpe University as an ambassador in Atlanta and beyond.
Build and sustain relationships with civic, philanthropic, corporate, and community leaders.
Communicate Oglethorpe’s value proposition and strategic priorities to diverse audiences.
Travel and participate in donor cultivation and stewardship activities as needed.