Description

The Vice President for University Advancement serves as the University's chief advancement officer and a member of the President's Cabinet. Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President provides strategic leadership for all fundraising, donor engagement, alumni and constituent relations, university relations, and advancement operations in support of the University's mission and long-term strategic priorities.

The Vice President will lead and execute a comprehensive advancement strategy that strengthens on-going philanthropic support, deepens constituent engagement, elevates the University's public profile, and advances a multi-year comprehensive campaign. The Vice President will serve as a trusted advisor to the President, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership team while building meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, churches, foundations, corporations, and community leaders.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

As a senior officer of the University, the Vice President for University Advancement will report directly to the President. 

Requirements

 Strategic Advancement Leadership

• Provide vision, leadership, and accountability for a comprehensive advancement program aligned with the University's mission, values, and strategic plan.
• Serve as a member of the President's Cabinet and strategic advisor regarding philanthropy, constituent engagement, communications, and external relations.
• Develop annual and long-range advancement plans, goals, budgets, and performance metrics.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy across the institution and engage faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and friends in advancing the University's mission.
• Ensure advancement programs reflect and support the University's Christian identity and commitment to faith-centered education.
• Develops and administers the budget for the University Advancement Department.

Comprehensive Campaign Leadership

• Provide executive leadership for a multi-year comprehensive fundraising campaign.
• Partner with the President, campaign leadership volunteers, and Board members to secure transformational philanthropic investments.
• Develop campaign strategies, goals, volunteer structures, prospect pipelines, and stewardship initiatives.
• Monitor campaign progress and provide regular reports to institutional leadership and governing boards.
• Lead campaign planning, implementation, and successful completion while building sustainable fundraising capacity for the future.

Major and Principal Giving

• Provide strategic oversight for major and planned giving programs.
• Maintain a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and donors.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward significant philanthropic commitments in support of institutional priorities.
• Partner with the President and key volunteers in developing and executing donor strategies.
• Ensure robust systems for prospect identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Expand support from individuals, churches, foundations, and corporate partners.

Annual Giving Leadership

• Provide strategic oversight for all annual giving programs.
• Develop integrated, multi-channel strategies to increase donor participation, retention, and annual philanthropic support.
• Strengthen leadership annual giving, alumni giving, parent giving, faculty/staff giving, and digital engagement initiatives.
• Establish measurable goals and metrics that grow the University's donor pipeline and future major gift prospects.

University Relations and Communications

• Provide strategic oversight for University Relations efforts, including alumni engagement, public relations, marketing communications, and constituent outreach.
• Strengthen relationships with alumni, churches, community leaders, and strategic partners.
• Ensure effective communication of the University's mission, achievements, and impact to key audiences.
• Collaborate with institutional leaders to enhance the University's visibility, reputation, and brand.

Advancement Services and Operations

• Provide oversight for advancement services, including:
• Advancement technology and CRM management
• Prospect research and prospect management
• Gift processing and reporting
• Advancement data integrity and analytics
• Donor stewardship and recognition programs
• Campaign and fundraising reporting systems
• Ensure the advancement enterprise operates efficiently, with strong policies, procedures, and performance measures                                                                                                            in cooperation with the Chief Information Officer of Information Technology.
• Utilize data and analytics to inform strategic decision-making and fundraising effectiveness.

Board and Volunteer Engagement

• Partner with the President and Board of Trustees to advance philanthropic priorities.
• Support advancement-related Board committees and volunteer leadership structures.
• Recruit, train, and engage volunteers who can support fundraising, campaign leadership, and constituent engagement efforts. 

Team Leadership

• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and professional development for advancement staff.
• Build and maintain a highly collaborative, mission-driven, and results-oriented advancement team.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability measures, and professional growth opportunities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Supervisory responsibility over staff hires (makes hiring decisions), oversees staff work (directs work activities), and evaluates staff work (completes performance reviews/addresses performance concerns).    

QUALIFICATIONS

According to Indiana Wesleyan University’s employment policy, all employees must possess a strong Christian commitment and adhere to the standards outlined in the IWU Community Lifestyle Statement.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required

• Demonstrated a vital Christian faith and commitment to advancing the mission of Christian higher education.
• According to Indiana Wesleyan University’s employment policy, all employees must possess a strong Christian commitment and adhere to the standards outlined in the IWU Community Lifestyle Statement.
• Significant progressively responsible leadership experience in advancement, philanthropy, fundraising, or related fields.
• Proven success securing major and principal gifts.
• Experience leading comprehensive fundraising initiatives and campaigns.
• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and leadership skills.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree or advanced professional credential and at least seven years of progressive and successful leadership and advancement experience.
• Experience in Christian higher education or faith-based nonprofit organizations.
• Experience leading a comprehensive or capital campaign with multi-million-dollar fundraising goals.
• Knowledge of advancement services, donor databases, prospect management systems, and fundraising analytics.

Desired Leadership Characteristics

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Spiritual maturity with a deep personal commitment to Christian faith and values.
• Strategic thinking and visionary leadership.
• High integrity, humility, and servant leadership.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to inspire generosity and engage diverse constituencies.
• Collaborative leadership style with strong organizational and management skills.
• Passion for the mission of Christian higher education and student transformation. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• A worldview that is in harmony with the mission and goals of Indiana Wesleyan University and an affirmation, without reservation, of the University's doctrinal statement
• A commitment to Christian higher educatioN
• The candidate must possess exceptional verbal and writing skills and be capable of communicating persuasively with leaders and constituents at all levels.
• The ideal candidate must possess a vital personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The candidate must effectively embrace and articulate the mission of Indiana Wesleyan University and be in harmony with the doctrines and practices of The Wesleyan Church.
• A collaborative leadership style is expected to effectively work with key University leaders and stakeholders to foster healthy long-term relationships with the University’s many constituents.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. In addition, nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.

Indiana Wesleyan University is committed to equal opportunity in employment and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. Accordingly, the University affords equal opportunity to all employees and prospective employees without regard to race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. 

These have access to all the rights, privileges, and programs generally made available to employees at the University. It does not discriminate in the administration of its policies, programs, nor during any phase of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other compensation, and termination of employment. 

As an educational institution operating under The Wesleyan Church, Indiana Wesleyan University reserves and exercises its privileges under applicable law to prefer employees on the basis of religion and who are best suited to its religious purpose.

To Apply 

Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to Gonser Gerber Search at search@gonsergerber.com. To apply, please submit a cover letter, résumé, and three (3) professional references. Nominations and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. References will not be contacted until later in the search process. 

Indiana Wesleyan University is an Equal Opportunity Employer