Assistant Vice President for Development & Campaigns - St. Mary's University

The Assistant Vice President will lead and manage principal level donor relationships and assist in matching donor interest with funding priorities. In addition, the AVP will lead and manage the Foundation and Corporate Relations team as well as the Stewardship team. St. Mary's community of alumni, foundations, corporations, and other constituencies is an important and valued member of the institution. The position works in a collaborative environment across the campus, in close coordination with leadership in all academic areas to develop and increase philanthropic investments in the University's annual and campaign funding priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Cultivates and manages a dedicated portfolio (100-125) of major gift prospects, solicits individuals, corporations, and Foundations and closes gifts to meet annual and campaign goals. Makes approximately 100 substantive visits annually.
• Develops tactical plans that cultivates and sustains growth at every donor level for all development areas and the annual campaign; provides oversight and direction to stewardship, foundation and corporate relations staff.
• Collaborates with Vice President to develop fundraising plans, tactics, and tools to cultivate solicitation and stewardship strategies; identifies and implement strategies to sustain a high level of volunteerism; establishes effective partnership with the President, leadership, faculty, staff, and students to shape and support a strong philanthropic and Marianist message.
• Provides leadership and vision for the execution of the University's comprehensive major gift program, with particular focus on the $50K+ (major gifts) and $1M+ level (principal gifts); works with the Vice President and leadership to set fundraising goals and priorities for the next comprehensive campaign.
• Supports and promotes a culture that builds a robust donor relations and stewardship program; ensures resources and strategies are aligned with and support both broad and targeted cultivation and stewardship strategies. Collaborate with the appropriate offices to ensure funds are being stewarded in the best way possible.
• Supervise all staff involved with Foundation and Corporate Relations with the direction of designing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive proactive development plan focused on expanding and enhancing corporate and foundation relationships by directing and coordinating activities related to obtaining corporate and foundation monetary support.
• Participates in University and community events to represent the University and to build relationships.
• Develops and leads training sessions on a variety of development topics for University Advancement, in collaboration with Executive team of University Advancement.
• Supports and develops staff and campus by developing and training on a variety of advancement topics in collaboration with University leadership; recruits and mentors staff.
• Solicits annual, major, and planned contributions from alumni and friends.
• Works collaboratively to ensure timely submission of meaningful contacts, prospects, and donors, gift/grant agreements, calendaring/completion of required reports, and other stewardship post-gift reports.
• Works proactively with the St. Mary's community of alumni and other constituencies to identify new proposal opportunities and writing funding proposals.
• Remains knowledgeable of the issues facing higher education and private religious institutions.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree required, with Master's degree or higher preferred.
• 10+ years of experience leading development/fundraising/philanthropy teams in non-profit or higher education environments.
• Proven documented record of cultivating securing, and closing multi-million dollar (7-figure+) gifts and of meeting and exceeding fundraising goals.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to advancing the mission, goals, and objectives of the institution.
• Highly motivated and action-oriented to recognize and act positively upon opportunities related to Institutional Advancement.
• Must have valid driver's license, motor vehicle liability insurance and personal injury insurance; or have a self-reliant source of transportation to conduct business on a daily basis
• Must be able to work some nights, weekends, travel, and attend special events as needed.
• Must have the ability to demonstrate advanced level skills in MS Office (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook and PowerPoint) including applicable technology and software programs to support fund-raising efforts (i.e. Raiser's Edge); Experience with virtual meeting platforms such as zoom;
• Must have a high ethical standards and a strong sense of confidentiality;
• Must have ability to manage office budgets, forecasting, reconciliation, analysis, and monthly financial reports.
• Must have comprehensive understanding of the overall responsibilities of Advancement Services including gift processing and acknowledgments and prospect management.
• Ability to interface frequently with administrators, faculty, staff, students, donors, trustees and high profile individuals in the community; Must be highly responsive to the needs of others.
• Ability to think independently and take initiative to plan and implement effective partnerships and relationships that sustain existing gifts and generate new gifts, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Ability to stay abreast on all matters and activities of the University in order to effectively articulate and incorporate relevant information in an oral and a written case for support. Comprehensive knowledge and skills in charitable giving or Fundraising/Development
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records and reports, as well as maintain confidentiality of all records and information.
• Ability to communicate and interact in an effective and appropriate manner with diverse populations, the University community, and the public and provide exemplary customer service.
• Ability to work in an environment that is busy, fast paced, goal and deadline driven.
• Ability to write error-free correspondence and prospect profiles.
• Ability to communicate and interact in an effective and appropriate manner with diverse populations, the University community, and the public.
• Ability to write error-free correspondence and funding proposals.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Working conditions are in an office environment and university campus setting. Must be able to move across the university campus to conduct day to day business.
• While performing this role, the employee will be regularly required to sit, walk, and stand; talk and hear, both in person and by telephone; and use hands repetitively to operate standard office equipment; and occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Frequently communicates with others using approved technological resources; must be able to exchange accurate information through designated systems within a timely manner.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

St. Mary's University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages all qualified candidates apply.