Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Executive Search
Vice President, Institutional Advancement
Helena, Montana
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Vice President, Institutional Advancement

at Carroll College.

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About Carroll College
Founded in 1909 by Bishop John Patrick Carroll - Carroll College is a private, Catholic, liberal arts and pre-professional college located in Helena, Montana. Inspired by its Catholic heritage and guided by the ecumenical principles of the Second Vatican Council, Carroll's mission is to cultivate knowledge, virtue, and leadership through a holistic educational approach that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit.

For over a century, Carroll has been a beacon of academic excellence and character development, combining a rigorous liberal arts foundation with professional preparation to empower students for success in a complex world. Guided by its motto, Non Scholae, Sed Vitae— "Not for school, but for life"—Carroll remains steadfast in its commitment to an education that extends well beyond the college experience.
Position Summary
Reporting to the President of Carroll College, the Vice President for Institutional Advancement (VP) is responsible for the strategic direction and leadership for philanthropic giving to the College and multi-year fundraising campaigns. The VP:
Will play a leading role in the planning and successful execution of multi-year fundraising campaigns in addition to providing and implementing a strategic plan that increases major gifts and overall philanthropic giving to the College.
Leads the Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) team in the areas of alumni engagement, major gifts, prospect research, stewardship, database management, office manager and an administrative assistant.
Will advise and support the College President and members of the Board of Trustees in the identification, cultivation and solicitation of major gifts.
Will manage a personal portfolio of prospective donors with the capacity to contribute six to eight-figure gifts.
Will establish programs and goals to improve personal and team growth and performance, as well as strengthen the College's ability to achieve and sustain major and planned gift fundraising.
The Opportunity
The next Vice President for Institutional Advancement (VP) will step into a moment of extraordinary momentum at Carroll College. This 117‑year‑old institution has a proud legacy of delivering an exceptional, affordable education that propels students into competitive careers and top graduate, law, and medical programs. The VP will inherit a committed advancement team that is on track to achieve its first‑ever $10 million annual fundraising milestone, a powerful indicator of both institutional strength and donor confidence.

The Office of Institutional Advancement currently includes five direct reports (a total staff of 16) with plans to hire an AVP who will oversee four frontline fundraisers.

This strategic addition will streamline the VP's span of management to four direct reports, allowing for deeper focus on strategy, leadership, and external engagement. The team is also modernizing its infrastructure, leveraging Blackbaud NXT and implementing Fundraising Performance Management (FPM) to enhance data‑driven decision‑making and frontline productivity. An Interim VP from CCS Fundraising is in place to ensure continuity and provide a strong bridge to the incoming leader.

This transition aligns with a pivotal moment for the College as Jennifer Glowienka, PhD., begins her tenure as Carroll's first female president. With 25 years of tenure and known for her calm, strategic leadership style, President Glowienka brings a fresh vision and a collaborative approach that creates an ideal environment for a new VP to make an immediate and lasting impact.

The previous Vice President also laid important groundwork by cultivating relationships with newly engaged alumni nationwide and by establishing the President's Club, which invites supporters to commit at the $10,000 level. The new Vice President will be well positioned to build on this momentum and carry forward the success of the past year.
Duties and…