Executive Director and Vice President for Development

The Upstate Foundation, Inc.; City of Syracuse (NY); On-site; USD 250,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Upstate Foundation seeks an Executive Director and Vice President for Development (ED/VP) to lead fundraising, foundation management, and advancement efforts for SUNY Upstate Medical University. The role reports to the board chair and serves on the university leadership cabinet, guiding a comprehensive development enterprise.

The ED/VP will build donor relationships, expand pipelines, and advance campaigns, including major gifts and legacy programs, while collaborating with university leaders

Qualifications

• Proven fundraising leadership at scale.
• Track record of major gift achievements.
• Experience engaging with boards and volunteers.
• Strategic leadership in complex public academic medical settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive development and fundraising initiatives for SUNY Upstate Medical University and the Upstate Foundation.
• Articulate and implement a long-term fundraising vision and strategic direction.
• Build and nurture donor relationships, volunteers, and community partners; oversee staff recruitment and development.
• Collaborate with university leadership and alumni to expand engagement and fundraising effectiveness.

Job description

WittKieffer is proud to partner with the Upstate Foundation in their search for a visionary and strategic Executive Director and Vice President for Development (ED/VP) of SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Founded in 1976, the Upstate Foundation is a unique public charity whose primary mission is to support SUNY Upstate Medical University while also advancing community health initiatives throughout Central New York. The Foundation manages more than 1,300 funds and approximately $350 million in assets and oversees a broad range of philanthropic programs, including endowments, donor-advised funds, annual campaigns, alumni associations, and signature fundraising events. As the Foundation enters a new era of leadership, it seeks a visionary Executive Director and Vice President for Development at SUNY Upstate (ED/VP) to lead its fundraising, foundation management, and other advancement efforts.

The mission of the Upstate Foundation is to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves through patient care, education, and research as well as to receive and administer charitable gifts primarily for Upstate Medical University. The Foundation manages various philanthropic funds; conducts multi-year, multi-million-dollar capital and endowment campaigns; administers alumni associations for the colleges of Nursing and Health Professions; implements named giving, planned giving, grateful patient, and family programs; runs annual campaigns for Upstate University Hospital, Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, and the Upstate Cancer Center; and sponsors several signature fundraising events annually. In addition, the Foundation is home to the Central New York chapter of the Children's Miracle Network.

Working in partnership with an engaged board of directors and a talented professional staff, the next ED/VP will lead an organization with a strong reputation, substantial financial resources, and significant opportunities for future growth. The ED/VP serves in one of the most visible and strategically important leadership positions at SUNY Upstate Medical University, guiding philanthropy and other efforts in support of the institution’s mission to improve health through education, biomedical research, and patient care. As the principal fundraising officer for both the Foundation and the university, the ED/VP provides vision, leadership, and strategic direction for a comprehensive development enterprise. The position reports directly to the Upstate Foundation Board chair and serves as a member of the university president’s senior leadership cabinet, functioning both as a development strategist and institutional advisor.

The next ED/VP will inherit a solid foundation built during three decades of successful leadership by the outgoing executive director. A critical early priority will be developing relationships with donors, board members, volunteers, university leaders, and community stakeholders through a thoughtful transition process that preserves the Foundation’s reputation for authenticity, responsiveness, and impact. At the same time, the next ED/VP will be expected to articulate an ambitious vision for the future and identify new pathways for philanthropic expansion. Key opportunities include strengthening staff recruitment, retention, and professional development; expanding the grateful patient program; leveraging the growth associated with Micron’s significant regional investment to cultivate new corporate partnerships; and continuing to collaborate with SUNY Upstate Medical University and the SUNY Upstate Medical Alumni Foundation to enhance alumni engagement and fundraising effectiveness.

Success in this role will require an accomplished fundraising executive with a demonstrated record of major gift achievement, organizational leadership, and board engagement. The Foundation seeks a confident, collaborative, and mission-driven leader who understands the complexities of a large public academic medical center and can effectively partner with institutional leadership to advance strategic priorities. Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and management skills will be essential, as will a deep commitment to strengthening the health and well-being of communities through philanthropy. Positioned at the intersection of healthcare, education, research, and community impact, this role will help shape a healthy future for Central New York.

We invite you to review a complete leadership profile here.

The annual salary range that the Upstate Foundation reasonably projects for this position is $250,000-$300,000.

Upstate Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status or disability or other protected classes under State and Federal law.