Assistant Vice President for Leadership and Planned Giving

About Saint Peter’s University

Saint Peter’s is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. Established in 1872, the University blends a unique learning experience shaped by rigorous academics, internships that provide real-world experience, community service, and a genuine, caring community that supports alumni long after graduation. Saint Peter’s offers more than 50 undergraduate majors as well as master’s level and doctorate program.

 Job Summary:

The Assistant Vice President for Leadership and Planned Giving (AVP) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the leadership giving, planned giving, and prospect management and research initiatives in the Office of Institutional Advancement and Strategic Engagement at Saint Peter’s University. Reporting directly to the Vice President, the Assistant Vice President for Leadership and Planned Giving is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major ($25,000+) and planned gifts, while building strong relationships with alumni, parents, friends, and other stakeholders. The AVP is responsible for planning and implementing the Hearts and Minds scholarship celebration, the University’s annual fundraising gala, and will also serve as the key staff liaison to the Board of Regents. As a senior member of the Institutional Advancement and Strategic Engagement leadership team, the AVP plays a pivotal role in cultivating a culture of philanthropy, strengthening donor relationships, and securing resources that advance the university’s mission, priorities, and long-term sustainability. The AVP oversees a team of four, comprising two Leadership Gift Officers, the Director of Planned Giving, and the Director of Prospect Management and Research.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Responsible for the development and implementation of leadership and planned giving programs which advance the University’s mission and align with the priorities of the strategic plan.

• Provide leadership of the prospect management and research initiatives to ensure a robust pipeline of individual, corporate, and foundation donors capable of transformational gifts to Saint Peter’s University.

• Serve as a strategic thought partner and advisor to the Vice President on a wide range of issues and initiatives related to advancement and external affairs.

• Assist in the development and implementation of the division’s strategic plan. Work closely with the Vice President to plan and implement comprehensive and capital campaigns.

• Collaborate with colleagues in annual giving, alumni engagement, corporate and foundation relations, and donor engagement to create a seamless donor experience.

• Other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Strategic Engagement.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Personally manage a portfolio of 125+ principal, leadership, and planned giving prospects, with clearly defined goals for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Secure five-, six-, and seven-figure financial commitments that advance the University’s mission and align with the priorities of the strategic plan.

• Guide the identification, qualification, and engagement of prospects through targeted strategies, including personal meetings and small donor events.

• Design and implement integrated planned giving initiatives, develop written proposals and cases for support, and educate donors and advisors on estate and legacy giving opportunities.

• Responsible for the development and implementation of the Hearts and Minds fundraising dinner, the University’s premier annual fundraising gala in support of scholarships. Evaluate the program’s effectiveness and provide innovative ideas for enhancing the event’s philanthropic yield and expanding the universe of gala supporters.

• Collaborate with the Vice President and University President in developing and implementing strategy for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding presidential prospects.

• Provide guidance to and support of the University’s Board of Regents with the objective of inspiring philanthropy and expanding the Universit