Vice President of and Executive Director SCSU Foundation

Job Summary:

St. Cloud State University (SCSU) seeks a collaborative, inclusive, and engaging Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the SCSU Foundation to serve as a member of President Gregory Tomso’s exceptional team of leaders. The VPA/ED will partner closely with the president, institutional leaders, and the Alumni Association and Foundation boards. This role joins SCSU as the University and the Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the SCSCU Foundation position evolve into strengthened leadership designed to elevate philanthropic and alumni engagement.

The Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the SCSU Foundation (VPA/ED) reports to the President and serves as a trusted advisor to the President and Cabinet. The VPA/ED will partner closely with the president, deans, athletics director, provost, university leaders, and the Foundation Board of Trustees and Alumni Relations to align and integrate fundraising and alumni engagement efforts.

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is required; an advanced degree is preferred.

We seek an experienced advancement professional with a minimum of seven years in progressively responsible managerial and leadership roles. Candidates should have direct experience working within complex organizations that include multiple units. Individuals coming from higher education should have experience supporting campuses with active research agendas and NCAA Division I or II athletics, while candidates from outside higher education should demonstrate closely related experience.

• Crafting a vision for the Advancement program appropriate for SCSU by promoting and supporting a culture of philanthropy at the university and enhancing regional engagement and partnerships.
• Developing and implementing a three-year advancement program plan that supports this vision, updated annually.
• Ensuring all annual plans, goals, action plans, timelines, budgets, and outcomes for each of the advancement departments are completed and implemented.
• Fostering a strong and collaborative partnership with University Leaders by partnering with the president on all issues pertaining to the advancement program including developing philanthropic relationships with the highest-level donors, influencers, and potential supporters.
• Strengthening the policies, processes and procedures that facilitate collaboration with university operations, including but not limited to university communications, finance and administration, and financial aid.
• Maximizing the effectiveness of donor and alumni events.
• Participating in integrative cross-functional leadership to gain broad awareness of university operations.
• Demonstrating a culture of transparency, collaboration and open communication about our philanthropic and alumni strategy with the campus community and Foundation and Alumni Board members.
• Providing effective unit-based leadership by overseeing all aspects of a comprehensive advancement program, including annual, major, and planned giving activities; endowments; prospect research; and advancement services.
• Developing and implementing an effective prospect management system to ensure productive donor identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Developing principal gift strategy and engaging actively with a portfolio of 50-75 principal and leadership gift prospects with solicitations in the five to eight figure range, including individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Providing professional development and training, performance assessment, and salary administration.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the accuracy of fundraising and financial accounting on gifts in partnership with the SCSU finance office.
• Creating a positive culture and climate through collaboration, open communication and respect; effectively working with bargaining unit leaders.
• Ensuring effective program and endowment spending and advertising a centralized scholarship application process.
• Bringing the staff into a team-oriented culture.
• Crafting and implementing a vision for high-quality and innovative alumni engagement strategy reflective of the diversity and global characteristics of SCSU.
• Provide Executive and Administrative leadership to the Foundation, including all Foundation governance, fiduciary, and operational responsibilities. This includes Foundation and Alumni board and committee management, investments, endowment reporting, strategic planning, budgeting, compliance reporting, policy development, and gift documentation.
• Represent SCSU at community events and functions, actively participating in the Community Advisory Board and other community engagement initiatives.
• Other duties as required to meet the needs of SCSU in promoting its mission.

• Significant experience conducting or managing prospect discovery and pipeline development.
• Successful experience cultivating and…