Vice President and President Concordia University Foundation

The Vice President for Advancement and President of the Concordia University Chicago Foundation (VPA) serves as the institution's chief advancement officer and provides strategic leadership for all fundraising, alumni engagement, donor relations, stewardship, communications, and philanthropic initiatives. The VPA is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive advancement strategy that increases philanthropic support for scholarships, capital projects, endowment growth, academic programs, faculty excellence, athletics, student success initiatives, and other institutional priorities.

This leader builds and strengthens relationships with alumni, donors, parents, regents, community partners, foundations, corporations, and other friends of the institution. He or she also serves as the President of the Concordia University Chicago Foundation (Foundation). As a member of the President's Executive Cabinet (Cabinet), the VPA is a key leader and partner in shaping the University's future. He or she reports directly to the President, supports and advises the President, exercises executive-level leadership, and works collaboratively with his or her fellow members of the Cabinet to advance the University's mission, strategic priorities, financial sustainability, and long-term reputation.

• Serve on the Executive Cabinet and actively contribute to institutional strategic planning, policy development, and governance with the Board of Regents;
• Champion and advance the University's distinctive Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) identity and Christian mission across all external engagement efforts.

• Design, lead, and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies, including capital/comprehensive campaigns, major and planned giving, annual giving, and corporate/foundation relations;
• Manage a personal portfolio of principal gift prospects and partner closely with the President and Board of Regents to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors;
• Establish ambitious annual and multi-year philanthropic goals with clear metrics, benchmarks, and accountability systems.

• Provide visionary leadership for alumni, parent, and family relations to foster lifelong engagement and a campus-wide culture of philanthropy;
• Deepen partnerships with LCMS congregations, church-related entities, and mission-aligned organizations through intentional Church Relations strategies;
• Represent the University at major church, alumni, civic, and donor gatherings.

• Oversee University Communications to safeguard brand identity, manage public/crisis communications, and align messaging with enrollment and institutional goals;
• Guide the Advancement Events team to deliver signature institutional events that elevate the University's profile and deepen constituent engagement.

• Serve as President of the University Foundation, planning and facilitating Board of Directors meetings, engaging directors as key donors, and aligning Foundation efforts with the University's Board of Regents.

• Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing, mission-driven advancement team;
• Oversee advancement services, database integrity, prospect research, stewardship reporting, and budget allocation to ensure strong ROI;
• Maintain strict compliance with CASE standards, gift acceptance policies, ethical fundraising practices, and relevant state/federal laws.

• Committed Christian actively involved in his or her congregation who is highly familiar with the Lutheran faith, and preferably is an active member of an LCMS congregation
• Commitment to advancing…