Chief Advancement Officer, Higher Education Foundation

Seminole State College of Florida; Sanford (FL); On-site; USD 128,000 - 199,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37.5-hour work week

Health, dental, and life insurance

Florida Retirement System (FRS) and 2

Professional development and paid tuit

Job summary

Seminole State College of Florida seeks an Executive Director for its Foundation to serve as chief advancement officer and a key member of the college's executive leadership team. The role provides strategic leadership for fundraising, governance, financial stewardship, external relations, and operations to secure and steward resources aligned with the college’s mission.

Reporting to the College President, you will work closely with the Foundation Board, college leaders, and external

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution.
• Eight (8) years of experience in fundraising, development, public relations or a related area.
• Experience using donor management or advancement systems, conducting prospect research, and analyzing donor or fundraising data.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development and execution of comprehensive fundraising strategies, including annual giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, corporate partnerships, private contributions, public and private grants, state-funded initiatives, and planned giving, to advance College priorities.
• Serves as Executive Officer of the Foundation, providing strategic leadership for Board of Director operations, governance, policy development, and long-term strategic planning.
• Oversees donor cultivation and stewardship programs to promote consistent and meaningful engagement, donor retention, and alignment with donor interests and College priorities.
• Collaborates with College leadership and campus stakeholders to advance the College’s role as the primary provider of higher education in Seminole County and strengthen institutional and external partnerships.
• Represents the Foundation and College in a professional and positive manner by demonstrating a commitment to Seminole State’s core values and service standards and effectively communicating the Foundation’s and College’s missions, visions, programs, and services to relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinates Foundation advancement activities with College Relations, Marketing, and Government relations to strengthen public relations, community engagement, special events, advocacy, and funding initiatives supporting College priorities.
• Develops and maintains relationships with donors, corporations, foundations, government entities, community organizations, and other external partners to identify funding opportunities and strengthen philanthropic support for the college.
• Provides oversight for the Foundation’s alumni program to strengthen lifelong engagement and build a robust alumni donor pipeline.
• Develops and strategically initiates a planned giving program which will supplement and enhance all other fund development programs. Works with community agencies and representatives to encourage, solicit, and recognize bequests, life insurance, annuities, and other appropriate giving instruments.
• Facilitates continuous development of the Foundation’s Board of Directors through the selection process, orientation, engagement, thoughtful communications, education, committee involvement, and interfaces with College and Foundation personnel, donors, prospects, and legislative officials.
• Supervises the Grants Office to align philanthropic and grant-seeking strategies, maximizing opportunities for the College.
• Oversees the internal financial control processes and communicates with Foundation auditors, the Foundation Board, and key College officials regarding financial processes and statements to ensure the integrity of the Foundation’s financial reporting
• Recommends an annual budget for Board of Directors’ approval and prudently manages the Foundation’s resources to achieve or exceed goals while leading strategic planning efforts that support the Foundation’s long-term financial strength and sustainability and position the college for future success.
• Provides strategic support to the College President in fundraising activities, including prospect research, donor cultivation, appointments, speeches, presentations, and other advancement opportunities.
• Represents the Foundation and College in the community through professional networks, presentations, civic involvement, and service on local boards and organizations.
• Builds organizational capacity by recruiting, developing, and supervising Foundation staff. Fosters a culture of continuous learning, mentorship and leadership development to ensure continuity of operations and long-term organizational success.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned by the President.

Skills

Fundraising expertise

Strategic leadership

Donor engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

Donor management system

Prospect research

Data analysis

Job description

Seminole State College of Florida seeks an Executive Director for its Foundation to serve as chief advancement officer and a key member of the college's executive leadership team. The role provides strategic leadership for fundraising, governance, financial stewardship, external relations, and operations to secure and steward resources aligned with the college’s mission.

Reporting to the College President, you will work closely with the Foundation Board, college leaders, and external