Description The Associate Vice President of Philanthropy at Suffolk University is a critical leadership position tasked with significantly enhancing the university's fundraising capabilities. As a key member of the Advancement Division's Senior Management team, the AVP of Philanthropy leads efforts to fundraise for Principal and Major Gifts, the Summa Giving Program ($1k+), and Planned Giving initiatives. The AVP works in close coordination with the Vice President of Advancement to seamlessly integrate these efforts into the university's strategic advancement goals and to significantly increase year-over-year major donor support from alumni, parents, and friends of Suffolk University, thereby building a culture of philanthropy.
Primary Responsibilities:
Strategic Management and Supervision of Individual Gift Officers
- Recruit, train, and inspire fundraising staff, providing direction and coaching based on best practices in soliciting major, principal, summa (1k+) and planned gifts.
- Oversee the front-line staff, ensuring adherence to university policies and achievement of advancement goals.
- Work with VP, Advancement to establish and monitor specific revenue goals and performance targets for the front line-fundraising program, including Major Gift Officers, ensuring they align with broader university fundraising objectives.
- As a senior management team member, foster collaboration within the Division of Advancement, and across university departments, to ensure fundraising efforts support University priorities. This includes working closely with Academic Deans.
- In partnership with the Director of the Summa Giving Program, increase annual giving from key constituents, focusing on donations of $1k+ to continuously enhance the culture of philanthropy at Suffolk University.
Personal Fundraising from a Defined Portfolio
- Conduct at least 75 face-to-face meetings annually, aiming to close between 10-15 significant gifts, thereby generating upwards of at least $3-$4 million in annual revenue and cash.
- Manage a focused portfolio of 75-100 principal, major, and planned gift prospects, employing strategic cultivation and solicitation strategies.
- Lead all phases of the gift cycle, from initiating contact with potential major donors to developing sophisticated cultivation strategies that involve top university administrators, in close coordination with the Vice President of Advancement.
Advancement Leadership
- As a vital member of the Advancement Division's Senior Management team, report directly to the Vice President of Advancement to formulate and implement strategic individual giving practices.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues within the Division of Advancement and other university units to foster a culture of philanthropy across the institution.
- Engage in senior management discussions to set and achieve ambitious fundraising targets, positioning the university to undertake a future campaign planning phase.
- Meet and coordinate with the Associate Vice President of Campaign Strategy and Corporate & Foundation Relations to develop strategic engagements that enhance philanthropic support for university priorities from corporate and foundation donors and select cohort groups.
- Meet and coordinate with the Associate Vice President for Advancement Engagement and Annual Giving to coordinate stewardship strategy for major gift donors.
Requirements/Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree required; an advanced degree is strongly preferred.
- At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in university advancement, with a proven track record in securing major, principal, and planned gifts.
- Comprehensive understanding of individual giving programs and best practices in higher education advancement.
- Demonstrated ability to strategically design, plan, manage, and execute complex advancement programs.
- Exceptional leadership and team-building skills, with a focus on professional development.
- Creative thinker with the capacity to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
- A strong commitment to advancing Suffolk University's priorities with urgency and precision.
Suffolk University does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, genetic information, or status as a veteran in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs, activities, or employment.As an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, the University is dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive faculty and staff that reflect the broad range of human experience who contribute to the robust exchange of ideas on campus, and who are committed to teaching and working in a diverse environment. We strongly encourage applications from groups historically marginalized or underrepresented because of race/color, gender, religious creed, disability, national origin, veteran status or LGBTQ status. Suffolk University is especially interested in candidates who, through their training, service and experience, will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the University community.
