VP of Advancement

General Summary

Oglethorpe University seeks an accomplished, strategic, and relationship-driven Vice President of Advancement to lead all philanthropic engagement and fundraising activities . Reporting directly to the President and serving as a key member of the senior leadership team, the Vice President will oversee an office that is responsible for major gifts, annual giving, alumni engagement, stewardship, foundation and corporate relations, planned giving, and advancement operations.

The University is entering a pivotal period of growth as it finalizes a new strategic plan and seeks a proven advancement leader with a demonstrated record of securing transformational gifts and successfully leading comprehensive fundraising campaigns. The Vice President of Advancement will play a central role in planning, launching, and executing a comprehensive campaign to support the first phase of Oglethorpe University's strategic plan and will serve as a trusted partner to the President and Board of Trustees in advancing a culture of philanthropy across the institution.

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The Role

Atlanta's Oglethorpe University is committed to teaching excellence in an inclusive learning environment and preparing students for success as responsible and productive contributors to a global society. The university seeks to build a national reputation as Atlanta’s premier undergraduate learning experience, with special focus on students in the southeast.

The Vice President of Advancement reports directly to the President and works closely with the Board of Trustees, senior academic and administrative leaders, alumni, donors, foundations, corporations, and community partners to strengthen the University's philanthropic resources and external relationships.

The Office of Advancement currently consists of seven team members, including a Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement and professionals responsible for development, alumni engagement, and advancement operations. The Senior Associate Vice President oversees day-to-day management of the division, allowing the Vice President to focus primarily on major gift fundraising, campaign leadership, and strategic donor relationships while maintaining overall responsibility for the division's performance and success.

As Oglethorpe's chief fundraising officer, the Vice President will personally manage a portfolio of the University's most significant donor relationships and partner closely with the President to secure transformational philanthropic investments that advance institutional priorities.

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Key Responsibilities

Fundraising and Campaign Leadership

• Lead the planning, execution, and successful completion of all fundraising programs, including an anticipated comprehensive fundraising campaign supporting the University's strategic plan
• Develop and implement a multi-year advancement strategy focused on increasing philanthropic revenue and expanding the University's donor base.
• Personally identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift prospects capable of making transformative commitments.
• Partner with the President and Board members in donor strategy, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Establish and achieve ambitious fundraising goals across all giving channels.
• Strengthen and expand support from individual donors, corporations, foundations, and planned giving prospects.
• Build a robust pipeline of major gift prospects and implement strategies to increase donor engagement and giving at every level.

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President on fundraising strategy, funding priorities, donor engagement, and philanthropic trends.
• Align advancement initiatives with institutional priorities and strategic objectives.
• Develop metrics, performance benchmarks, and accountability measures to ensure fundraising effectiveness and continuous improvement.
• Promote a campus-wide culture of philanthropy and engagement among trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the University.

Board and Volunteer Engagement

• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Board's Advancement and Community Affairs Committee.
• Partner with trustees, campaign cabinet members, and volunteer leaders to advance fundraising goals.
• Prepare and present regular reports regarding fundraising performance, and advancement priorities.

Team Leadership and Advancement Operations

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Office of Advancement, working closely with the Senior Associate Vice President who manages day-to-day operations.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain a talented advancement staff committed to excellence and results.
• Ensure best practices in prospect management, donor stewardship, campaign reporting, and advancement operations.
• Foster collaboration across the advancement team, and university leadership.
• Leverage data, technology, and analytics to support fundraising strategy and decision-making.

External Relations and Institutional Ambassadorship

• Serve as a compelling ambassador for Oglethorpe University throughout Atlanta and beyond.
• Build and sustain relationships with civic, philanthropic, corporate, and community leaders who can contribute to the University's mission and growth.

Articulate Oglethorpe's distinctive value proposition and strategic priorities to a broad range of audiences.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess:

• A bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible advancement leadership experience, preferably within higher education or a similarly complex nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated success securing major, principal, and transformational gifts, including multiple six-, seven-figure philanthropic commitments; experience securing eight-figure gifts is highly desirable.
• A proven record of leading or playing a senior leadership role in a successful comprehensive fundraising campaign.
• A robust network of relationship with Atlanta’s philanthropic, corporate, and community leaders.
• Experience developing and executing fundraising strategies that significantly increase philanthropic revenue.
• Success engaging trustees, volunteer leaders, alumni, foundations, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Strong organizational, strategic planning, and team leadership capabilities.
• Experience using fundraising databases and donor management systems, with preference for Raiser's Edge experience.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel and participate in donor cultivation and stewardship activities as needed.

Work Environment:

- Normal use of office equipment, sitting at a desk, walking or standing, occasional lifting (<25 lbs).

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Leadership Characteristics

Oglethorpe seeks a Vice President of Advancement who:

• Is a highly accomplished fundraiser with the credibility, confidence, and presence to engage top philanthropic prospects and donors.
• Demonstrates strategic vision coupled with disciplined execution and measurable results.
• Leads through collaboration, transparency, accountability, and respect.
• Understands and embraces the mission and values of a student-centered liberal arts university.
• Brings energy, creativity, optimism, and entrepreneurial thinking to fundraising and relationship development.
• Has a track record of building and leading high-performing advancement teams.
• Possesses the emotional intelligence and political acumen necessary to work effectively with trustees, university leadership, faculty, alumni, donors, and community stakeholders.
• Inspires confidence through integrity, professionalism, and a consistent commitment to excellence.

This job description is intended as a summary of the primary responsibilities of and qualifications for this position.  The job description is not intended as inclusive of all duties an individual in this position might be asked to perform or of all qualifications that may be required either now or in the future.

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