Vice President of Advancement - Keck Graduate Institute

Another Source • Claremont, CA

2d • $190,000 - $260,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) is recruiting a Vice President of Advancement to serve as the Institute’s chief fundraising officer and a member of the President’s Cabinet. Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President will lead KGI’s comprehensive advancement strategy across institutional giving, major gifts, planned and annual giving, alumni engagement, corporate and foundation relations, community relations, and advancement operations.

The role combines executive-level strategic leadership with hands-on fundraising and relationship building. The Vice President will partner with the President, Board of Trustees, academic leadership, faculty, and external stakeholders to identify philanthropic priorities, cultivate and solicit donors, and strengthen KGI’s network of supporters. The position will lead a five-person Advancement team and serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees’ Advancement and Marketing Committee.

KGI is preparing for its first comprehensive fundraising campaign. The Vice President will help develop and execute campaign strategy while advancing an annual fundraising goal of $4.5 million. KGI raised approximately $4 million last year and has a $70 million institutional endowment. The role also includes expanding engagement with approximately 3,000 alumni and building new philanthropic relationships in the broader community.

KGI is a graduate institution in The Claremont Colleges consortium, focused on biotechnology and healthcare education. It has three specialized schools: the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences, the School of Health Sciences, and the School of Pharmacy. The position is onsite in Claremont, California, and requires approximately 20% or more travel, including local and occasional overnight travel, as well as attendance at evening or weekend events as needed.

The anticipated salary range is $190,000–$260,000 annually, with an annual performance incentive bonus of up to 10% of base salary. KGI offers a benefits package through The Claremont Colleges consortium, including medical, dental, retirement, and work-life programs. After 12 months of service, KGI contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to the employee’s 403(b) plan, regardless of the employee’s contribution level.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience.
• At least eight years of progressively responsible development and advancement experience, including management responsibility, within an innovative, forward-looking college environment.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and securing major gifts and developing strategic philanthropic relationships.
• Experience leading comprehensive advancement initiatives, including institutional giving, donor stewardship, prospect management, and fundraising strategy.
• Proven ability to develop, motivate, and lead advancement professionals while establishing measurable goals and accountability.
• Experience partnering with senior executives, trustees, academic leaders, and external stakeholders to advance institutional priorities.
• Strong understanding of fundraising practices, marketing techniques, donor engagement, and relationship management.
• Ability to develop and communicate a compelling case for philanthropic support to individuals, corporations, foundations, and community partners.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, including experience using fundraising data, CRM platforms, and performance metrics to guide decisions.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse audiences.
• Collaborative, transparent, and entrepreneurial leadership style, sound judgment, and commitment to ethical fundraising practices.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and navigate complex organizational relationships.
• Willingness to travel approximately 20% or more, including local and occasional overnight travel, and attend evening or weekend events as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree or professional fundraising certification.
• Experience leading higher education fundraising campaigns.
• Demonstrated success building alumni engagement programs and connecting alumni relationships to philanthropic support.
• Experience developing corporate and foundation partnerships that advance institutional goals.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement strategy aligned with KGI’s mission, institutional priorities, and long-term financial goals.
• Partner with the President, Cabinet, Board of Trustees, deans, and faculty to identify philanthropic priorities and develop compelling investment opportunities.
• Establish fundraising goals, performance measures, and operating plans to support accountability and sustained growth.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the five-person multidisciplinary Advancement team and foster a collaborative, results-oriented culture.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees’ Advancement and Marketing Committee and support board engagement in fundraising.
• Lead short- and long-term fundraising and campaign strategies, including major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, and institutional partnerships.
• Personally manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, cultivate relationships, and secure significant philanthropic commitments.
• Build and deepen relationships with individuals, corporations, foundations, and other supporters whose interests align with KGI’s mission.
• Collaborate with the President and institutional leaders on donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Establish and achieve institutional giving revenue goals and strengthen prospect management, donor engagement, and fundraising operations.
• Use advancement technology, CRM systems, donor analytics, and performance metrics to inform strategy and improve fundraising effectiveness.
• Engage staff, faculty, and volunteers in building a campus-wide culture of philanthropy.
• Develop and lead an integrated alumni engagement strategy that builds meaningful, long-term relationships with KGI graduates.
• Expand alumni programming through networking opportunities, professional panels, recognition events, reunions, and other activities.
• Connect alumni engagement with admissions, student experience, academic excellence, and corporate partnerships.
• Build pathways from alumni participation and volunteerism to advocacy, ambassadorship, and philanthropic support.
• Represent KGI in the broader community and develop relationships with business leaders, government representatives, professional organizations, and institutional partners.
• Work with the President to strengthen KGI’s visibility, reputation, and community relationships.
• Travel approximately 20% or more, including local and occasional overnight travel, and attend evening or weekend events as needed.

Benefits

• Medical benefits.
• Dental benefits.
• Retirement benefits, including an automatic 10% employer contribution to the employee’s 403(b) plan after 12 months of service, regardless of employee contribution level.
• Work-life programs.
• Annual performance incentive bonus of up to 10% of base salary.

What This Job Offers

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