Executive Director

Summary Statement

The Executive Director, Advancement provides leadership and operational oversight for the Advancement and Foundation division. The role is responsible for successful execution of fundraising, donor engagement, stewardship, Foundation administration, scholarship operations, compliance activities, advancement services, and constituent engagement initiatives. Reporting to the Vice President, Student Achievement, Advancement, and Sponsored Programs, the Executive Director supervises staff and ensures effective implementation of strategies that support student success and institutional priorities.

Broad Function

The Executive Director provides operational leadership for the Advancement and Foundation division, managing systems, staff, processes, and activities that support fundraising success, donor engagement, stewardship, foundation administration, scholarship operations, compliance, and constituent relations.

Fundraising Leadership and Accountability

• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management for Advancement and Foundation staff.
• Establish annual fundraising goals, performance expectations, and measurable outcomes for staff and evaluate progress.
• Lead departmental planning efforts and ensure alignment of activities with institutional goals.
• Monitor fundraising performance, donor engagement, portfolio development, and departmental metrics, providing guidance to achieve goals.
• Conduct regular portfolio reviews, identify opportunities, remove barriers, and strengthen performance.
• Support staff in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention of donors through coaching and collaborative planning.
• Participate in donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and engagement activities in partnership with staff, the Vice President, Foundation Directors, volunteers, and College leadership.
• Assist in development and implementation of annual fundraising plans, donor engagement strategies, stewardship programs, and campaign activities.
• Use fundraising data, donor trends, and metrics to evaluate effectiveness, inform decisions, and improve outcomes.
• Promote professional development and learning opportunities to enhance staff effectiveness.
• Ensure activities comply with Foundation policies, ethical standards, donor intent, and applicable laws.
• Maintain a modest personal donor portfolio and assist in strengthening philanthropic support.

Foundation Administration and Governance Support

• Support implementation of Foundation policies, governance practices, and operational procedures.
• Maintain Foundation records and documentation in accordance with policies and regulatory requirements.
• Assist the Vice President and Foundation leadership in advancing priorities and strategic objectives.

Advancement Operations, Stewardship and Special Events

• Provide operational leadership and oversight of events aligning with donor strategies and foundation priorities.
• Oversee planning, coordination, execution, and evaluation of donor cultivation and appreciation events, scholarship receptions, honors programs, recognition ceremonies, and signature events.
• Ensure exceptional constituent experiences and consistent stewardship practices across all activities.
• Oversee donor acknowledgement processes, stewardship activities, recognition programs, communications, and engagement efforts.
• Ensure effective management and utilization of donor information systems and fundraising technologies.
• Evaluate event outcomes and recommend improvements.

Scholarships, Special Funds and Compliance

• Oversee foundation scholarship administration processes: application review, award administration, stewardship, compliance monitoring, reporting, and improvement.
• Administer the Student Emergency Fund and Benevolence Fund, coordinating committees, documentation, funding recommendations, and stewardship.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, college, foundation, and donor requirements for fundraising, stewardship, scholarship administration, fund management, and operations.
• Oversee compliance related to charitable solicitation registrations, raffle licensing, charitable gaming, and other regulatory…