Location: North Adams, MA Category: Administrative Job Type: Full-time Posted On: Wed Jul 22 2026
Job Description POSITION SUMMARY:The Vice President for Institutional Advancement (VPIA) serves as the College's lead advancement officer and a member of the President’s Cabinet. Reporting directly to the President, the VPIA provides visionary, strategic, and operational leadership for all institutional advancement activities, including fundraising, alumni and constituent engagement, advancement services, foundation relations, donor stewardship, grants development, communications, public relations, and campaign planning and execution.
The VPIA develops and implements a comprehensive advancement strategy that advances the College's mission, vision, strategic priorities, and long-term financial sustainability. The position is responsible for building and strengthening relationships with alumni, donors, corporations, foundations, government agencies, community leaders, and other key stakeholders while fostering a culture of philanthropy and engagement across the institution.
The VPIA also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the MCLA Foundation, Inc., working closely with the Foundation Board of Directors and College leadership to increase philanthropic support and enhance institutional visibility and reputation.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Reports directly to the President.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Provides leadership, supervision, professional development, and performance management for all personnel assigned to the Institutional Advancement division, including professional, classified, and student employees.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Advancement Leadership
1 Develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive institutional advancement strategy aligned with the College's mission, strategic plan, and institutional priorities.2. Serve as the College's chief strategist for philanthropy, donor engagement, and resource development, ensuring the integration of fundraising, alumni relations, communications, stewardship, and advancement operations.3. Advise the President, Cabinet, and Foundation Board on fundraising opportunities, philanthropic trends, constituent engagement strategies, and advancement best practices.4. Establish annual and multi-year fundraising goals and key performance indicators, utilizing data analytics and benchmarking to evaluate effectiveness and support continuous improvement.5. Represent the College as a member of the MA State University Advancement GroupFundraising and Resource Development
1. Lead all aspects of the College's comprehensive fundraising program, including:- Major and principal gifts
- Annual giving
- Planned giving
- Capital and comprehensive campaigns
- Corporate and foundation relations
- Government and public-sector funding opportunities
- Foundation grants
- Special fundraising initiatives and events
2. Maintain an active portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and personally cultivate, solicit, negotiate, and steward significant philanthropic investments.3. Work closely with the President, Foundation Board members, alumni leaders, and volunteers to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward transformational gifts and strategic partnerships.4. Direct campaign planning, readiness assessment, implementation, and evaluation for major fundraising initiatives and capital projects.Foundation Leadership and Governance
1. Serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the MCLA Foundation, Inc.2. Report regularly to the Foundation Board of Directors regarding financial performance, fundraising results, strategic initiatives, and organizational effectiveness.3. Support the work of the Foundation Board, Corp orators, and committees by developing agendas, facilitating strategic discussions, and ensuring implementation of board priorities.4. Ensure Foundation operations, investment activities, and stewardship practices comply with all applicable legal, regulatory, fiduciary, and ethical standards.5. Manage Foundation owned properties.Alumni and Constituent Engagement
1. Provide strategic leadership for alumni engagement initiatives that strengthen alumni participation, volunteerism, advocacy, lifelong affinity, and philanthropic support.2. Develop programs that enhance connections among alumni, students, families, community partners, and friends of the College.3. Oversee donor stewardship and recognition programs that ensure meaningful engagement, accountability, and long-term donor retention.Communications and External Relations
1. Provide executive oversight for advancement-related communications, publications, marketing efforts, digital engagement, social media strategies, and donor communications.2. Collaborate with campus leadership to strengthen the College's public image, reputation, and visibility among internal and external audiences.3. Serve as an ambassador for the College throughout the region and Commonwealth by cultivating relationships with business leaders, elected…
