Description
WGU Advancement, the university's fundraising arm, is seeking a Vice President to design and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy. The VP will lead and develop a high-performing fundraising team, oversee advancement services, and manage grants administration.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute a bold and ambitious Advancement strategy to support WGU's growth and sustainability
- Recruit, develop, and retain a diverse, high-performing Advancement team
- Provide visionary leadership across all fundraising domains, including major gifts, annual giving, and donor engagement
- Oversee the grants administration team and ensure a streamlined and efficient grant lifecycle
- Establish and maintain best practices in donor stewardship, recognition, and engagement
- Optimize the allocation of Advancement resources and ensure investments align proportionally with generated funds
- Manage the advancement services team to enhance donor management, gift processing, and fundraising analytics
- Champion the strategic use of technology, CRM systems, and data analytics to inform fundraising strategy and drive continuous improvement
- Collaborate closely with WGU leaders, Trustees, and faculty to foster a university-wide commitment to philanthropy and shared fundraising goals
- Cultivate relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and corporate partners to build a strong philanthropic pipeline
- Oversee the preparation and implementation of operating budgets to optimize resource allocation and impact
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and senior leadership, contributing to enterprise-level planning and championing Advancement's role in achieving institutional goals
Qualifications:
- Exceptional leadership and organizational acumen with a proven ability to lead high-performing teams
- Proven success in securing major and principal gifts (5-, 6-, and 7-figure)
- Deep understanding of best practices in higher education fundraising, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship
- Expertise in grant management, including full lifecycle development, reporting, and compliance
- Proficient in using advancement technology, CRM systems, and fundraising analytics
- Ability to foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization and engage stakeholders at all levels
- Inspirational, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leadership style
- Skilled relationship-builder with a strong network and ability to engage high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners, and philanthropic institutions
- Results-driven and analytical, with the ability to translate metrics into actionable fundraising strategies and performance improvements
- Strong financial acumen with experience overseeing multi-million dollar Advancement budgets
- Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited institution
- 10+ years of progressive senior leadership experience, including leading teams of directors and multiple managers
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree in a related field from an accredited institution
- Existing relationships with high-net-worth individuals capable of $100,000+ donations
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare
- Health savings account and flexible spending account
- Basic and voluntary life insurance
- Disability coverage
- Accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages
- Legal and identity theft coverage
- Retirement savings plan
- Wellbeing program
- Discounted WGU tuition
- Flexible paid time off
- 11 paid holidays
- Up to 12 weeks of parental leave