Position Summary

Virginia Union University (VUU) was founded in 1865 in the heart of Richmond, VA. Over the past 153 years, the university has become a premier liberal arts urban institution of higher education and center of excellence for the preparation of students and the development of leaders for tomorrow’s world.

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) will lead the philanthropic and fundraising efforts of Virginia Union University (VUU). Success in this role will be obtained by creating and promoting a strong case for philanthropic support, through enhanced program visibility that attracts diverse audiences resulting in an increase in overall giving to support the work of VUU.

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) advises the President on all matters pertaining to VUU’s fundraising strategy and manages the Institutional Advancement operation. This position is responsible for daily oversight and administration of the following functions: fundraising; major, principal, and planned gifts; endowments; prospect research; alumni relations; foundation, corporate, and donor relations; as well as specific campaign efforts. This position will be responsible for planning, implementing, and directing a future capital campaign.

The CAO will partner with the President to develop programmatic advancement initiatives identified as high-institutional priorities with multi-year fundraising goals. The CAO will serve as a liaison to the Board of Trustees and will work very closely with the Advancement Committee of the Board on various fundraising initiatives. As the principal fundraiser for VUU, the CAO will personally identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects in accordance with performance targets set by the President. The CAO will manage a professional team for advancement and support staff to achieve annual, endowment, and capital fundraising goals. This position is responsible for maintaining and establishing best practices for advancement and setting professional practice standards, policies, and procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Specific duties may include and are not limited to the following:

• Provide direction to institutional leaders to establish long- and short-term advancement goals in alignment with VUU’s strategic plan;
• Design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive advancement strategies and programs that support the overall goals and objectives of VUU;
• Oversee volunteer leadership capable of actively supporting VUU’s advancement goals through fundraising, consultation, and advocacy;
• Personally identify, cultivate, and solicit prospects for major gifts as defined by VUU’s standards through visits and other forms of direct contact;
• Identify, hire, and orient a team of advancement professionals, adhering to VUU’s timeline, budget, and hiring strategy;
• Enlist senior leaders in furthering VUU’s advancement programs and educate, orient, and support them in their fundraising roles;
• Oversee all facets of the daily operations of VUU’s advancement team, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, policies, and agreements;
• Represent VUU to various external institutional constituents (i.e., corporations, foundations, funding agencies, government agencies) as appropriate;
• Develop and implement a strategic fundraising plan including revenue and performance goals, objectives, action plans, and benchmarks for the advancement program;
• Use data analytics to drive decision making for the team and to inform senior leadership;
• Implement a continuous improvement philosophy that includes benchmarking programs, peer-based performance metrics, and outcomes that support high performance standards;
• Oversee the supervision of staff, which includes work assignments, training, talent development, and enforcement of internal procedures and controls, and problem resolution; evaluate performance and make employment recommendations to the President and Executive Vice President (EVP); motivate a diverse team of employee to achieve peak productivity and performance;
• Create and maintain systems to ensure that donor instructions are documented and followed;
• In collaboration with the President and EVP, develop an annual budget for programs and manage the budget to ensure compliance to VUU’s financial standards and practices;
• Frequently collaborate with the Director of Communications and Public Relations and Director of Marketing and Branding to direct marketing for VUU’s programs; and
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Candidate must have appreciation for the rich history and tradition of VUU;
• Demonstrated ability in securing major grants and gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other private funding sources;
• Demonstrated ability in planning and implementing complex, multi-year, multi-million-dollar advancement initiatives, including capital campaigns;
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment within a complex organizational structure;
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with senior leadership, faculty, alumni, prospects, donors, and volunteers in a wide range of roles;
• Knowledge of best practices within the fundraising profession, including those relating to deferred giving, annual fund management, direct mail, corporate and foundation relations, and other areas that articulate with and support major gift fundraising efforts;
• Demonstrated skills in strategic planning and performance measurement;
• Ability to exercise good judgment, to demonstrate an understanding of ethics related to advancement activities, and to use discretion in interactions with donors, prospects, volunteers, and others;
• Skill in financial planning and fiscal management;
• Community relations skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community;
• Demonstrated ability to translate highly technical or discipline-specific concepts and information into language appropriate for specific audiences;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present effectively to small and large groups;
• Ability to supervise and develop employees including organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments; evaluating performance; and mentoring and coaching employees to achieve maximum productivity; and
• Ability to provide consultation and serve as an advocate on behalf of VUU and participate in strategic planning processes to design and implement an advancement program in support of VUU’s mission, goals, and objectives.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (required);
• Master’s degree from an accredited institution (preferred);
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in two or more advancement functions; and
• Higher education experience highly desirable.