Associate Vice President for Fundraising Priorities

Overview

The Associate Vice President for Fundraising Priorities (AVP) is a strategic, creative, and highly collaborative senior leader within a high-performing University Advancement organization. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Advancement and serving as a key member of the Advancement senior leadership team, the AVP provides the vision, strategy, and momentum that drive all capital and restricted fundraising efforts across the University.

 

The AVP plays a central role in shaping the University’s philanthropic priorities—leading the process that defines fundraising initiatives, partnering with faculty and administrative leaders to articulate compelling cases for support, and ensuring the effective “arc” of gifts from initial vision through engagement, solicitation, documentation, and stewardship. In addition to the Vice President for Advancement, the AVP will work closely with the President, Provost, Executive Vice President, Dean of the Faculty, Deputy Provost for Resource Planning, deans, and faculty across disciplines to advance initiatives aligned with the University strategic framework.

 

The ideal candidate is an innovative strategist and exceptional communicator with demonstrated experience navigating complex academic environments. They will bring highly honed judgment, strong management and interpersonal skills, deep analytical capabilities, and a deep commitment to the mission of liberal arts education and the University’s teaching and research enterprise.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Partnership

• Work closely with the Vice President for Advancement and fellow senior advancement leaders to set long‑ and short‑term strategic goals that enhance alumni engagement, philanthropic impact, and the Office of Advancement’s overall effectiveness.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the VP and represent the VP and the division as a proxy when appropriate.
• Provide leadership, coordination, and insight across the University to establish and advance fundraising priorities that support academic, co‑curricular, and capital initiatives.

Fundraising Priorities & Initiative Development

• Lead the University-wide process to define, develop, and approve philanthropic priorities—including term support, endowed funds, capital projects, and strategic academic initiatives.
• Partner closely with senior administrators, deans, and faculty to build compelling cases for support that align institutional aspirations with donor interest.
• Manage the Fundraising Priorities team, guiding the creation of exceptional donor-facing materials, briefing documents, presentations, and other assets that articulate the University’s strategic opportunities.

Advancement Collaboration & Donor Strategy

• Partner with frontline fundraisers and giving groups to coordinate strategies that maximize philanthropic outcomes for major institutional initiatives.
• Participate in regular discussions with senior leadership regarding key donor conversations, gift purposes, and proposed terms; provide guidance to prospect managers navigating complex gift opportunities.
• Ensure alignment and coordination across advancement teams to support successful donor engagement and gift closure.

Gift Documentation, Policy, & Compliance

• Oversee development of gift terms and documentation for outright gifts and documented bequest intentions, working in consultation with senior University partners and the Office of General Counsel.
• Lead the monitoring, updating, and enhancement of the University’s Gift Policy Guides, ensuring that gift-related policies and procedures are current, consistent, and clear across the institution.
• Collaborate with colleagues within and beyond Advancement to draft new policies and determine best practices in gift acceptance, documentation, and counting.

Institutional Engagement & Governance

• Represent University Advancement in key governance and planning forums, including but not limited to:
• Fundraising Priorities Committee
• Fundraising Priorities Working Group
• Facilities Planning Group
• Cultivate strong working relationships with campus leaders and faculty to ensure alignment between fundraising initiatives and the University’s mission, aspirations, and operational priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and minimum of ten years of professional higher education, academic administrative or development-related experience or related work experience.
• Strong leadership, exceptional judgment and discretion, superb communication skills, and the ability to work creatively and collaboratively with many constit