Vice President for Advancement

Coe College seeks a dynamic and driven Vice President for Advancement. This position serves as the chief advancement officer and a key member of the President’s senior leadership team. This role is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive advancement strategy that strengthens constituent engagement and significantly enhances fundraising outcomes. The VP leads efforts across annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, major and planned gifts, endowment growth, capital campaigns, alumni and constituent relations, stewardship, and advancement services. The position also collaborates with other campus leaders on initiatives that connect alumni and community members with students and the college.

Work Schedule: Hours: fulltime annual position that includes travel and regular evening and weekend commitments

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the college’s overall fundraising strategy in alignment with budgetary plans and the strategic plan, including annual giving, planned gifts, and capital campaigns.
• Build and develop a high-performing advancement team that makes meaningful, lasting contributions to Coe’s mission and goals.
• Manage a personal portfolio of prospects, actively engaging in cultivation, solicitation, gift closure, and stewardship.
• Partner with the President to advance major priorities, including prospect engagement, research, and strategic planning.
• Collaborate with Board members and key volunteers to support advancement activities, including prospect engagement and strategy development.
• Serve as an active member of the senior leadership team, maintaining strong relationships with the President and Board of Trustees. Coordinate and direct the Trusteeship and Advancement committees.
• Foster collaborative relationships with vice presidents, faculty, and staff leadership to advance institutional priorities.
• Provide strategic leadership for alumni relations and parent giving programs to strengthen engagement and support for the college.
• Ensure effective planning and execution of major college events, including Homecoming and other advancement-related activities on and off campus.
• Establish and maintain policies for advancement data management, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Develop and implement multichannel communication strategies to advance fundraising and engagement goals.
• Collaborate with the C3: Creativity, Careers, Community Center to support high-impact programming and advance strategies that foster connections between alumni, community members, students, and the college.
• Serve as an advocate for Coe in the broader community, building relationships with local leaders, businesses, and organizations to strengthen ties between Coe and the region.
• Provide leadership for Advancement Services, ensuring CRM systems and related tools deliver accurate, actionable data to support fundraising and engagement efforts.

Qualifications:

• Baccalaureate degree required, with a master’s or professional degree preferred.
• 10 years of demonstrated success leading advancement operation, preferably in the higher education arena or comparable experience.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States as we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time
• Successful completion of background and driver checks in accordance with Coe College policy.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies:

Position Specific:

• Excellent communication skills; the ability to collaborate with colleagues on campus and a diverse array of stakeholders off campus; a sound understanding of liberal arts colleges, particularly residential.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities and the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with faculty, staff, and administration.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the mission of a residential, liberal arts college with an understanding of trends and issues in the field of higher education.
• Exemplary interpersonal skills are essential as is the ability to affect favorable sophisticated volunteers and donors.

Coe Competencies:

• Every Coe employee shares one mission: to recruit, retain and prepare students for a lifetime of personal and professional success.
• Dedication to the educational mission of a private, residential liberal arts college.
• Ability to maintain positive relationships in a collaborative and diverse team atmosphere.
• Commitment to excellent customer and/or student service.
• Demonstrated ethical and responsible decision making.
• Consistent attendance and accountability necessary to meet position objectives.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Office environment on campus and extensive travel domestically with occasional travel abroad.

Coe College is an equal opportunity employer.