Associate Vice President of Development

University of Montana Foundation; Missoula (MT); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

403(b) retirement plan

Hybrid remote work arrangement

Generous vacation and sick leave

Job summary

The University of Montana Foundation seeks a visionary Associate Vice President of Development to lead high-capacity fundraising initiatives and mentor a team of professionals. This senior role partners with campus leaders to translate priorities into transformative philanthropic opportunities and oversees complex gift strategies that advance institutional impact.

Reporting to the Vice President for Development, you will drive major gifts, planned giving, and blended gifts while fostering a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Ten years of fundraising experience, preferably in higher education or complex nonprofit environments.
• Experience mentoring and guiding development colleagues on principal gift strategy, gift planning, and complex donor scenarios.
• Advanced knowledge of charitable gift planning strategies including estate commitments and trusts.
• Proven track record closing $1M+ philanthropic commitments with current, deferred, and blended gifts.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors capable of $1M+ commitments.
• Secure current and deferred gifts through outright gifts, estates, trusts, annuities, beneficiaries and other planned giving.
• Collaborate with leadership to identify transformational funding opportunities aligned with priorities.
• Translate academic priorities and institutional vision into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
• Develop and implement coordinated fundraising strategies for principal, planned, blended, and complex gifts.
• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management for fundraising staff.
• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing fundraising professionals; monitor performance and activity.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Major gifts

Donor relations

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

At the University of Montana Foundation, the lives we change will change the world. We inspire donors to bolster UM’s mission of providing an accessible, affordable, and world-class education.

We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the people and culture of the University we serve, fostering an environment allowing us to inspire each other to our best work. We act with integrity and respect, and work to create a team where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported.

About the Opportunity:

The Associate Vice President of Development serves as both a frontline fundraiser and senior fundraising leader, responsible for managing a portfolio of the Foundation's highest-capacity prospects and donors while leading and developing assigned fundraising professionals to achieve ambitious philanthropic goals.

The Associate Vice President of Development works independently and reports to the Vice President for Development, working in close collaboration with external vendors, consultants, the Finance and Operations, Marketing and Communications, and Advancement Services divisions, constituent development officers, and key campus partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors capable of making philanthropic commitments of $1 million or more, with emphasis on transformational, principal, planned, complex, and blended gifts.
• Secure current and deferred gift commitments through a variety of philanthropic vehicles, including outright gifts, estate commitments, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, beneficiary designations, gifts of complex assets, and other planned giving strategies.
• Partner with University and Foundation leadership to identify, develop, and position transformational funding opportunities that align institutional priorities with donor interests, motivations, and philanthropic capacity.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to University and Foundation leaders by helping translate academic priorities, community impact, and institutional vision into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
• Collaborate with development colleagues, academic leaders, volunteers, donors' professional advisors, and Foundation departments to develop and implement coordinated fundraising strategies for principal, planned, blended, and complex gifts.
• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management for assigned fundraising professionals, including planned giving officers, principal gift officers, major gift officers, and other development staff as assigned. Establish performance expectations, conduct portfolio and strategy reviews, support professional development, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and fundraising excellence.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain high-performing fundraising professionals. Monitor team performance and fundraising activity, while providing strategic guidance and expertise in transformational philanthropy, principal gifts, planned gifts, blended gifts, and complex gift strategies.

Ideal Candidate:

• Demonstrated commitment to the mission, value, and impact of higher education, philanthropy, and the University of Montana Foundation.
• Advanced knowledge of principal gift fundraising and charitable gift planning, including current, deferred, blended, and complex gift strategies.
• Strong understanding of estate planning concepts, charitable tax considerations, planned giving vehicles, and the role of professional advisors in significant philanthropic commitments.
• Demonstrated success leading, managing, and motivating professional fundraising staff, including establishing performance expectations, coaching and mentoring team members, fostering accountability, and advancing a collaborative, high-performing culture that achieves ambitious fundraising goals.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish trust and credibility with high-net-worth individuals, families, foundations, advisors, volunteers, campus leaders, and colleagues.
• Sophisticated strategic thinking, judgment, and problem-solving abilities, including the capacity to navigate complex donor relationships, institutional priorities, and multi-stakeholder gift opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Ten years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, preferably in higher education or a similarly complex nonprofit environment.
• Experience managing, mentoring, coaching, or serving as a strategic resource to development colleagues on principal gift strategy, gift planning, blended gifts, and complex donor situations.
• Advanced knowledge of charitable gift planning strategies, including estate commitments, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, gifts of complex assets, and other planned giving vehicles.
• A minimum of ten years of successful experience securing principal, planned, blended, and complex gifts from high-capacity donors and prospects.
• Demonstrated record of closing philanthropic commitments of $1 million or greater, including experience with current, deferred, and blended gift strategies.

Accessibility and Equal Opportunity

The University of Montana Foundation is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the recruitment process at the University of Montana Foundation, contact [e-mail] . All hiring decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

Additional Information

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.

Priority Application Date: Opened until filled

Why Work for Us?

• Retirement Planning:403(b) employer contribution of 11%, no employee match required!
• Flexible Work Arrangement:Opportunity for a hybrid remote work arrangement each week
• Generous Time off Benefits:Team members accrue four weeks of vacation and 12 days of sick leave per year, with an additional 11 days of holiday leave
• Family Support:Paid parental leave for new parents
• Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, wellness program, and short-term and long-term disability pay protection benefits

If you do not meet all the qualifications of the position, you are still encouraged to apply.