Associate Vice President for Advancement

Wheeling; Wheeling (WV); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Wheeling University seeks an Associate Vice President for Advancement to provide strategic leadership for fundraising and advancement efforts, including major campaigns to grow the endowment and annual fund support.

The role involves cultivating donors and alumni, partnering with senior leaders, and directing budgets for advancement programs to ensure financial sustainability and impact within a Catholic tradition.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive fundraising experience in higher education or nonprofit settings.
• Proven ability to solicit and close major gifts (six- to seven-figure range).
• Experience planning and executing large-scale capital campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Advancement team in planning and implementing fundraising strategies for major, planned, and annual gifts.
• Collaborate with the President's Cabinet and Board to set capital project plans.
• Set measurable goals with the President and Board to increase fundraising results.
• Oversee a planned giving program and guide strategy for gift stewardship.
• Recognize and cultivate donor relationships with meaningful recognition efforts.
• Plan, coordinate, attend, and assist with campus Advancement and Alumni events.
• Respond to inquiries from donors, alumni, and community members.
• Develop relationships across the university to position Advancement as the primary fundraising resource.
• Establish annual operating budgets and ensure fiscally prudent programs.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Campaign management

Strategic leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (MBA/MPA or related)

Job description

Job DetailsJob Location: Wheeling University - Wheeling, WV 26003Position Type: Full Time EmploymentJob Category: EducationAt Wheeling University, you’ll find more than just a workplace — you’ll join a mission-driven community that lives by values of leadership, service, faith, integrity, and excellence. As an employee, you’ll be part of a university that is committed to integrating learning, research, and outreach within its Catholic tradition, seeking to develop not only competent professionals, and also socially responsible citizens. Wheeling promotes close student-faculty connections and encourages all members to grow both intellectually and ethically, to serve with compassion among diverse communities, and to lead by example. In such an environment, your work will matter — your contributions help sustain a culture where academic rigor, moral purpose, and service to others are more deals --they are daily actions and practices.

Wheeling University invites candidates for an Associate Vice President for Advancement. The Associate Vice President for Advancement provides strategic leadership for the University’s fundraising and advancement efforts, with primary responsibility for developing and leading major campaigns designed to increase the University’s endowment and annual fund support. This position cultivates relationships with donors, alumni, and other key stakeholders to advance the University’s philanthropic priorities and strengthen long-term financial sustainability. Prior experience in fundraising, development, or advancement is preferred.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Advancement team in planning and implementing long- and short-term strategies to secure gifts from individuals and organizations through major, planned and annual gifts.
• Work with the President’s Cabinet and the Board of Directors to establish a strategic plan for Capital projects.
• Work with the University President and Board of Directors, establishes measurable goals to increase fundraising results.
• Ensure successful implementation of a planned giving program both by informing marketing and prospecting strategy as well as by personally soliciting and assisting in the solicitation of planned gift prospects.
• Sets direction and gives guidance to recognizing donors in effective and meaningful ways.
• Plan, coordinate, attend and assist with Advancement and Alumni campus events.
• Respond to inquiries from alumni, parents, students, community members.
• Develops strong positive relationships with the University community to establish the Advancement office as the major resource and coordinator for all university fund-raising.
• Establishes and adheres to annual operating budgets and ensures that advancement programs are operating in a fiscally prudent and productive way.
• Helps develop and administer policies related to fundraising and gift stewardship in collaboration with the university Board of Directors.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required.
• A Master's degree (such as an MBA, Master of Public Administration, or a master's in higher education administration or communications) is preferred
• 5-7+ years of progressive fundraising experience in higher education or a complex nonprofit setting.
• Proven success in personally soliciting and closing major, annual, and planned gifts (six-to-seven-figure range).
• Demonstrated experience planning, implementing, or executing large-scale capital campaigns.
• Proven ability to work effectively alongside a University President, senior cabinets, and a Board of Directors.
• Experience establishing, monitoring, and adhering to annual departmental operating budgets.

For additional information, please contact:

Dianna M. Vargo, Ed.D.

President

Wheeling University

Wheeling, WV 26003

Telephone [phone]

[e-mail]

EEO Statement:

Wheeling University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community for all faculty, staff, and students. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We value the unique contributions that individuals bring to our campus and believe that diversity of perspectives enriches our academic and work environment.