Vice President of Advancement presso Lancaster Bible College

Description

Job Summary:

The Vice President for Advancement position is essential to advancing the mission and long-term sustainability of the College, serving as the chief advancement strategist and a key member of the President’s Cabinet. The Vice President will provide strategic direction to cultivate a culture of generosity, expand donor support, and steward transformational relationships that strengthen the institution’s future.

The Vice President will oversee all advancement functions, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, alumni relations, and capital campaign strategy, with a clear focus on strategic growth in giving and donor engagement. This leader will develop and execute a comprehensive plan that inspires generosity, enhances partnerships, and secures resources that enable Lancaster Bible College to continue educating Christian students to think and live a biblical worldview.

Key Responsibilities:

Capital Campaign Leadership

• Provide executive oversight for the College’s current capital campaign, including strategy development, prospect pipeline management, donor engagement, and internal alignment.
• Work closely with the President, Board of Trustees, Campaign Steering Committee, and external counsel to monitor progress and refine campaign strategies.
• Ensure the successful transition from quiet phase to public phase, positioning the College to meet and exceed campaign goals.

Major & Transformational Giving

• Personally manage a portfolio of high-net-worth donors and prospects capable of making gifts of $350,000+.
• Partner with leaders and volunteer champions to develop donor engagement strategies that result in informational commitments.
• Create compelling proposals, gift opportunities, and customized donor experiences that align with campaign and institutional priorities.

Advancement Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor a mission-driven advancement team responsible for major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, alumni engagement, and advancement services.
• Promote a performance-driven, spiritually encouraging, and collaborative culture.
• Provide professional development and clear metrics for team growth and success.

Stakeholder Engagement & Public Representation

• Represent the College at major donor events, community functions, church gatherings, and regional outreach opportunities.
• Strengthen relationships with alumni, churches, Christian ministries, community partners, and foundations.
• Serve as a trusted spokesperson and ambassador of the College’s mission, values, and vision.
• Internal and Cross-Functional Leadership.

Operational Excellence & Analytics

• Oversee advancement systems, budgets, donor records, reporting, and compliance to ensure best-in-class operations.
• Implement data-informed practices for campaign performance, donor segmentation, and revenue forecasting.
• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising standards and IRS regulations.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership in fundraising, advancement, or nonprofit development, preferably within higher education.
• Proven success in leading and securing funding for a capital campaign of at least $10 million.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute donor strategies that generate more than $3 million annually in philanthropic support.
• Strong record of securing transformational gifts of $350,000+ from individuals, foundations, or faith-based organizations.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and strategic planning skills.
• Committed Christian with a vibrant personal faith and alignment with the doctrinal standards of Lancaster Bible College.

Preferred

• Experience in a Christ-centered educational or ministry environment.
• Familiarity with donor CRM platforms such as Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or equivalent.
• Understanding of planned giving vehicles, donor lifecycle strategy, and fundraising analytics.

Core Competencies

• Capital Campaign Leadership.
• Major & Transformational Donor Engagement.
• Strategic Vision & Goal Execution.
• Team Development & Mission-Centered Management.
• Public Representation & Relationship Building.
• Advancement Operations & Data Fluency.
• Christian Maturity & Institutional Alignment.

Qualifications