Assistant Vice President for Leadership and Planned Giving bei SAINT PETERS UNIVERSITY

Description

About Saint Peter’s University

Saint Peter’s is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. Established in 1872, the University blends a unique learning experience shaped by rigorous academics, internships that provide real-world experience, community service, and a genuine, caring community that supports alumni long after graduation. Saint Peter’s offers more than 50 undergraduate majors as well as master’s level and doctorate program.

 Job Summary:

The Assistant Vice President for Leadership and Planned Giving (AVP) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the leadership giving, planned giving, and prospect management and research initiatives in the Office of Institutional Advancement and Strategic Engagement at Saint Peter’s University. Reporting directly to the Vice President, the Assistant Vice President for Leadership and Planned Giving is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major ($25,000+) and planned gifts, while building strong relationships with alumni, parents, friends, and other stakeholders. The AVP is responsible for planning and implementing the Hearts and Minds scholarship celebration, the University’s annual fundraising gala, and will also serve as the key staff liaison to the Board of Regents. As a senior member of the Institutional Advancement and Strategic Engagement leadership team, the AVP plays a pivotal role in cultivating a culture of philanthropy, strengthening donor relationships, and securing resources that advance the university’s mission, priorities, and long-term sustainability. The AVP oversees a team of four, comprising two Leadership Gift Officers, the Director of Planned Giving, and the Director of Prospect Management and Research.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Responsible for the development and implementation of leadership and planned giving programs which advance the University’s mission and align with the priorities of the strategic plan.

• Provide leadership of the prospect management and research initiatives to ensure a robust pipeline of individual, corporate, and foundation donors capable of transformational gifts to Saint Peter’s University.

• Serve as a strategic thought partner and advisor to the Vice President on a wide range of issues and initiatives related to advancement and external affairs.

• Assist in the development and implementation of the division’s strategic plan. Work closely with the Vice President to plan and implement comprehensive and capital campaigns.

• Collaborate with colleagues in annual giving, alumni engagement, corporate and foundation relations, and donor engagement to create a seamless donor experience.

• Other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Strategic Engagement.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Personally manage a portfolio of 125+ principal, leadership, and planned giving prospects, with clearly defined goals for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Secure five-, six-, and seven-figure financial commitments that advance the University’s mission and align with the priorities of the strategic plan.

• Guide the identification, qualification, and engagement of prospects through targeted strategies, including personal meetings and small donor events.

• Design and implement integrated planned giving initiatives, develop written proposals and cases for support, and educate donors and advisors on estate and legacy giving opportunities.

• Responsible for the development and implementation of the Hearts and Minds fundraising dinner, the University’s premier annual fundraising gala in support of scholarships. Evaluate the program’s effectiveness and provide innovative ideas for enhancing the event’s philanthropic yield and expanding the universe of gala supporters.

• Collaborate with the Vice President and University President in developing and implementing strategy for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding presidential prospects.

• Provide guidance to and support of the University’s Board of Regents with the objective of inspiring philanthropy and expanding the University’s community of advocates.

Team Management & Development

• Lead, mentor, and evaluate a team of development and research professionals, fostering a high-performance, collaborative, and donor-centered culture. Oversee a staff of four, including the Director of Prospect Management and Research, the Director of Planned Giving, and two Leadership Gift Officers.

• Provide training and professional development opportunities to strengthen fundraising capacity across the division. Working collaboratively with the Vice President, develop advancement seminars for senior university leadership (administrators and academic leadership).

• Establish and monitor metrics for individual and team performance.

• Conduct and/or oversee required assessment activities, including the development of an annual implementation report that documents how assessment findings were used to improve programs or services and then linked to ongoing planning efforts to advance institutional effectiveness.

Collaboration & Institutional Engagement

• Serve as a key member of the Vice President's leadership team, contributing high level strategic vision and counsel, and high degrees of collaboration and alignment with other senior team members.

• Partner with deans, faculty, members of the Jesuit community, and administrators to identify funding priorities and match them with donor interests.

• Work closely with marketing and communications colleagues to craft compelling philanthropic messaging and case statements.

Administration & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards governing charitable giving.

• Oversee the preparation of reports, forecasts, and analyses to track progress toward fundraising goals and leadership gift officer KPIs.

• Manage budgets and resources effectively, ensuring alignment with divisional and institutional priorities. 

Salary Range: $125,000 - $150,000

Benefits: 

Along with a competitive salary, we provide a robust benefits package to support your health and future goals.

Key Benefits Include:

• Paid Time Off: Paid holidays, personal days, vacation, and sick leave

• Health Coverage: Health insurance, dental insurance, and vision discount plan

• Life Insurance: Employer-provided life insurance

• Life & Disability Insurance: Voluntary life and voluntary disability coverage

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with Roth and Traditional options

• Tuition Remission: An attractive tuition remission policy for employees and their dependents

• Additional Perks: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Voluntary Legal plan, FSA and more

The well-being of our employees is a priority for our University, and we are committed to promoting your success and well-being.

Qualifications

Qualification Standards:

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.

• Minimum of 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in advancement with demonstrated success securing major and planned gifts.

• Previous experience working within a university or college advancement office is highly preferred due to the unique dynamics of alumni, donor, and institutional relationships.

• Capital/comprehensive campaign experience is beneficial.

• Proven track record of soliciting and closing 5- and 6-figure philanthropic commitments.

• 5+ years of supervisory experience recruiting, leading, and mentoring diverse teams.

• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning and implementation at a divisional level.

• Experience managing significant departmental or divisional budgets.

• Demonstrated experience in supporting and engaging volunteer boards.

• Knowledge of estate planning and charitable giving vehicles.

• Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.

• Superior written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to draft high-level communications and present persuasively.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain robust relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, board members, donors, and alumni.

• Proven track record of building and maintaining strong relationships with internal stakeholders (university leadership, faculty, staff) and external stakeholders (donors, alumni, boards).

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and advanced knowledge of CRM/fundraising platforms (e.g. Blackbaud’s The Raisers Edge NXT).

• Unparalleled personal integrity and respect for confidentiality, prudence and discretion.

• Commitment to ethical fundraising practices, data integrity, and compliance with relevant standards (e.g., CASE, IRS).

• Ability to speak clearly and communicate proficiently in English.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license, and have access to a personal vehicle. Local and national travel is expected, as is a willingness to work outside normal business hours, as needed.