Vice President of Institutional Advancement Job North Adams area,Massachusetts USA,Management

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 Group

Fundraising 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,…