Executive Director of Advancement & Philanthropy

Jackson College; Jackson (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Jackson College is seeking an Executive Director of Advancement & Philanthropy to lead fundraising, donor engagement, stewardship, and Foundation administration. This role ensures compliant, donor-centered operations aligned with the college’s mission and strategic priorities.

Reporting to the Vice President of Student Achievement and College Foundation, the Executive Director will guide staff, cultivate major gifts, manage fundraising programs, and collaborate with College leadership and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated track record in major gifts and annual giving.
• Experience leading fundraising teams and donor stewardship programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising and donor engagement activities to support student success.
• Oversee Foundation administration, compliance, and scholarship operations.
• Supervise Advancement staff and provide coaching and performance management.
• Develop annual fundraising plans and align with college priorities.
• Ensure compliance with policies and donor intent across activities.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising strategy

Donor relations

Strategic planning

Staff supervision

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Salesforce

Donor CRM

Job description

SUMMARY STATEMENT

The Executive Director of Advancement & Philanthropy provides leadership and operational oversight for the Advancement and Foundation division and is responsible for the successful execution of fundraising, donor engagement, stewardship, Foundation administration, scholarship operations, compliance activities, advancement services, and constituent engagement initiatives.Reporting to the Vice President, Student Achievement and College Foundation , the Executive Director of Advancement & Philanthropy supervises Advancement and Foundation staff and provides leadership, accountability, and direction for the daily operations of the division. The position ensures the effective implementation of fundraising strategies, donor engagement efforts, stewardship programs, Foundation activities, and advancement initiatives that support student success and institutional priorities.The position actively participates in fundraising activities and donor engagement efforts while providing leadership and support to advancement personnel in achieving fundraising goals and strengthening philanthropic support for the College.The Executive Director is responsible for fostering a culture of service excellence, collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement while ensuring that Advancement and Foundation operations are effective, compliant, student and donor-centered, and aligned with the mission and strategic priorities of Jackson College.

BROAD FUNCTION

The Executive Director provides operational leadership for the Advancement and Foundation division and is responsible for managing the systems, staff, processes, and activities that support fundraising success, donor engagement, stewardship, Foundation administration, scholarship operations, compliance, and constituent relations.The Executive Director supervises advancement personnel and ensures the effective execution of fundraising and engagement strategies that advance student success and institutional priorities. The position provides leadership and accountability for fundraising performance, advancement operations, donor stewardship, Foundation activities, special events, scholarship administration, and regulatory compliance while fostering a culture of service excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.The Executive Director serves as a key liaison among advancement staff, College leadership, Foundation Directors, donors, alumni, volunteers, and community stakeholders. The position actively participates in fundraising, donor engagement, stewardship, and relationship-building activities while supporting the Vice President, Student Achievement, Advancement and Sponsored Programs in advancing the College's philanthropic, Foundation, and resource development goals.

Fundraising Leadership and Accountability

• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management for Advancement and Foundation staff, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Establish annual fundraising goals, performance expectations, and measurable outcomes for advancement personnel and regularly evaluate progress toward established objectives.
• Lead departmental planning efforts and ensure alignment between fundraising activities, donor engagement strategies, stewardship initiatives, Foundation priorities, and institutional goals.
• Monitor fundraising performance, donor engagement activities, portfolio development, solicitation activity, stewardship outcomes, and departmental metrics, providing guidance and support to achieve established goals.
• Conduct regular portfolio reviews and strategy discussions with advancement staff to identify opportunities, remove barriers, and strengthen fundraising performance.
• Support advancement personnel in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention of donors through strategic coaching, mentorship, and collaborative planning.
• Participate in donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and engagement activities in partnership with advancement staff, the Vice President, Foundation Directors, volunteers, and College leadership.
• Assist in the development and implementation of annual fundraising plans, donor engagement strategies, stewardship programs, and campaign activities designed to strengthen philanthropic support for the College.
• Utilize fundraising data, donor trends, and performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness, inform decision-making, and improve fundraising outcomes.
• Promote professional development opportunities and continuous learning to strengthen staff effectiveness and fundraising success.
• Ensure fundraising activities are conducted in accordance with Foundation policies, ethical fundraising standards, donor intent, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Actively participate in donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and engagement activities in partnership with advancement staff, the Vice President, Foundation directors, volunteers, and College leadership.
• Maintain a personal major gift portfolio of leadership-level donor, alumni, corporate, and community relationships and assist in identifying opportunities to strengthen philanthropic support for the College.
• Partner with advancement staff in the development and execution of donor strategies, solicitation plans, stewardship activities, and fundraising initiatives designed to increase philanthropic support.
• Participate in donor visits, proposal presentations, cultivation activities, stewardship meetings, and fundraising events as appropriate to support fundraising goals.
• Assist advancement staff in preparing for donor solicitations, proposal development, gift discussions, stewardship activities, and donor engagement opportunities.

Foundation Administration and Governance Support

• Support implementation of Foundation policies, governance practices, and operational procedures.
• Maintain Foundation records and documentation in accordance with applicable policies, regulatory requirements, and best practices.
• Support the Vice President and Foundation leadership in advancing Foundation priorities, initiatives, and strategic objectives.

Advancement Operations, Stewardship and Special Events

• Provide operational leadership and oversight for Advancement and Foundation events, ensuring alignment with donor engagement strategies, stewardship objectives, Foundation priorities, and institutional goals.
• Oversee planning, coordination, execution, and evaluation of donor cultivation events, donor appreciation events, scholarship receptions, honors programs, recognition ceremonies, campaign activities, and Foundation-sponsored signature events.
• Ensure exceptional constituent experiences and consistent stewardship practices across all Advancement and Foundation activities.
• Oversee donor acknowledgement processes, stewardship activities, recognition programs, donor communications, and constituent engagement efforts.
• Ensure effective management and utilization of donor and constituent information systems, fundraising technologies, and advancement services processes.
• Evaluate event outcomes, donor engagement activities, and stewardship efforts and recommend improvements to enhance effectiveness and constituent satisfaction.

Scholarships, Special Funds and Compliance

• Provide oversight of Foundation scholarship administration processes, including application review, award administration, donor stewardship, compliance monitoring, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee administration of the Student Emergency Fund and Benevolence Fund, including committee coordination, documentation, funding recommendations, compliance oversight, and stewardship activities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, College, Foundation, and donor requirements related to fundraising, stewardship, scholarship administration, fund management, and Foundation operations.
• Oversee compliance related to charitable solicitation registrations, fundraising activities, raffle licensing, charitable gaming requirements, and related regulatory obligations.
• Oversee the administration, review, acceptance, documentation, and stewardship of gift-in-kind contributions in accordance with College and Foundation policies, IRS regulations, and applicable accounting and reporting standards.
• Monitor Foundation operational policies and procedures and recommend updates to strengthen compliance, efficiency, and organizational effectiveness.
• Support audit preparation, compliance reviews, reporting requirements, and risk management activities.

Grant Development Support

• Lead the development, writing, coordination, submission, and stewardship of small and mid-sized grant proposals and funding requests.
• Collaborate with faculty, administrators, staff, and community partners to develop competitive funding proposals and supporting documentation for small and mid-sized grant opportunities.
• Coordinate grant calendars, application schedules, reporting requirements, and funding opportunity tracking systems for small and mid-sized grant opportunities.
• Support post-award implementation activities, grant reporting, compliance monitoring, and stewardship activities in collaboration with project directors, staff, the Business Office, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain knowledge of funding trends, grantmaking priorities, and emerging funding opportunities to support institutional resource development goals.
• Support and assist the Vice President, Student Achievement, Advancement and Sponsored Programs in the development of major federal, state, corporate, and foundation funding opportunities as assigned.

Leadership, Collaboration and Community Engagement

• Serve on College committees, task forces, planning groups, and leadership teams as assigned.
• Represent the College and Foundation at community meetings, civic organizations, professional associations, donor functions, and partnership activities.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with donors, alumni, volunteers, community leaders, businesses, nonprofit organizations, elected officials, and other stakeholders.
• Foster collaboration among College departments, Foundation staff, faculty, administrators, and community partners.
• Serve as an ambassador for Jackson College and the Advancement and Foundation division, promoting the mission, vision, values, and impact of the institution throughout the community and region.
• Support the Vice President, Student Achievement, Advancement, and Sponsored Programs in advancing institutional priorities, fundraising initiatives, Foundation activities, and resource development goals.

Other Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all legal, ethical, and institutional guidelines related to fundraising activities.
• Travel regionally and nationally to meet with donors and prospects, community organizations and for continued education/professional development opportunities. Able to work early morning, evening and weekend hours.
• Responsible for understanding, supporting and actively demonstrating the College’s beliefs, values, mission vision, and Maroon and Gold Standards being in agreement to be evaluated by same.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises the Director of Donor Relations and Campaign Initiatives, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, and Foundation Coordinator.Provides leadership, direction, coaching, mentoring, and performance management for Advancement and Foundation personnel.

CONTACTS AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

Internal: Regular contact and collaborative work with students, staff, faculty, and administration, campus-wide inclusive of all JC campuses.

External: Frequent contact with donors, community leaders, granting agencies, foundations, businesses, organizations and the public.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in advancement, nonprofit management, business administration, communications, public administration, higher education administration, marketing, or a related field and seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, significant frontline fundraising major gift responsibility, demonstrated success in closing major gifts, foundation administration, alumni relations, external relations, nonprofit leadership, or a related field, including supervisory responsibilities;OR Master's degree from an accredited institution in a related field and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, significant frontline fundraising major gift responsibility, demonstrated success in closing major gifts, foundation administration, alumni relations, external relations, nonprofit leadership, or a related field, including supervisory responsibilities. Demonstrated record of personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing major philanthropic gifts, with a sustained record of generating at least $1 million annually through an assigned donor/prospect portfolio. Experience successfully soliciting and closing six-figure gifts required; seven-figure gift experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated supervisory and leadership experience, including responsibility for staff development, coaching, accountability, performance management, and achievement of organizational goals. Demonstrated experience managing multiple priorities, projects, budgets, timelines, and stakeholder relationships in a complex environment. Demonstrated ability to effectively engage and build relationships with donors, alumni, Foundation Directors, volunteers, community leaders, business leaders, elected officials, faculty, staff, and students. Demonstrated experience planning, coordinating, and overseeing events, donor engagement activities, stewardship initiatives, community programs, or similar activities. Demonstrated understanding of fundraising principles, donor stewardship, advancement operations, scholarship administration, and constituent relationship management systems. Ability to successfully pass LEIN clearance and any required security clearances necessary to participate in college activities conducted within state and federal correctional facilities.

Preferred

• Experience working in higher education, community colleges, educational foundations, or nonprofit organizations.
• Experience supervising professional fundraising staff and administrative support personnel.
• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, annual giving, donor stewardship, alumni relations, campaign support, or related advancement activities.
• Experience overseeing scholarship administration, advancement services, donor stewardship programs, fundraising operations, and constituent engagement initiatives.
• Experience administering charitable compliance activities, gift acceptance processes, gift-in-kind contributions, fundraising event compliance, charitable solicitation registrations, or related operational functions.
• Experience developing, writing, and managing grant proposals, grant reporting, and grant-related activities.
• Experience planning and overseeing donor cultivation events, donor recognition activities, scholarship receptions, fundraising events, and other constituent engagement programs.
• Experience working with Foundation Boards, volunteer leadership groups, committees, advisory boards, or community organizations.
• Experience serving on institutional, nonprofit, civic, or community committees and boards.
• Working knowledge of fundraising CRM systems, donor databases, scholarship management platforms, event management software, and related technologies.
• Experience building relationships with donors, philanthropists, alumni, business leaders, public officials, community leaders, and volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to represent an organization effectively in professional, philanthropic, civic, and community settings.
• Experience working with the Jackson community, including foundations, philanthropists, business leaders, public officials and community leaders.
• Proficient in technologies, including appropriate use of AI.

Leadership Competencies

• Ability to quickly adapt to institutional priorities in a progressive, complex, and evolving environment;
• Commitment to student success, service excellence, equity, integrity, transparency, and mission-centered leadership;
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, justice, compassion, excellence, inclusion, and partnership with students, employers, donors, and other stakeholders;
• Highly self-directed, motivated, organized, and goal oriented;
• Ability to make sound decisions, manage competing priorities, and lead cross-functional teams through ambiguity;
• Consistently models appreciation, service, and donor-centered professionalism in all interactions;
• Professional, credible, and collaborative executive presence;
• Strong commitment to ethical conduct, confidentiality, transparency, and stewardship of public and private resources;
• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality and discretion;
• Commitment to high-quality work, accountability, and continuous improvement.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit, use a computer, and use hands to operate standard office equipment. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Frequent travel, including overnight and multiple day/night travel is required as part of the position. This position is expected to plan, attend and host evening or weekend events. This position is based on Jackson College's Central Campus and requires regular on-campus presence to support executive leadership responsibilities, institutional engagement, Foundation activities, donor relations, and collaboration with College leadership. Limited remote work opportunities may be available consistent with College policy and operational needs. “This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required and shall not be construed as declaring the specific duties and responsibilities. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his or her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.”

Supplemental Information

Jackson College only accepts on-line applications though this system. For assistance with this, please call 517-796-8468.

Please use your legal first and last names on your application. If you are hired you will have the opportunity to identify and utilize your preferred name.

The Jackson College Nepotism policy prohibits hiring of a relative or someone with a familial relationship to work in the same instructional department, office or administrative unit of the College including spouse, child, stepchild, parent, stepparent or sibling of the employee or spouse, aunt, uncle, niece/nephew, grandparent, grandchild, and members of the same household including domestic partner.

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess (even if you are repeating it from your resume or cover letter). For instance, do not say, "See Resume or C/V." Your resume, cover letter that includes your salary requirements and an unofficial transcript for the degree required must be attached to your application. Applications will be rejected if incomplete. When you apply for the position, you will get to the document upload area where you will be given an opportunity to attach your documents such as your resume/vita, transcripts, etc. Instructions will also be found there.

The College reserves the right to request proof of degree or certification at a later date, if these documents are required as part of the qualifications for the position.

Final candidates will be subject to a criminal background as part of the employment process.

If selected you will be required to complete the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Employment Eligibility Verification form I-9 and provide documentation verifying identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Jackson College is NOT able to support Visa applications for employment at the college. Applicants must already be eligible to work in the United States to be considered.

Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and interview process. Please notify Human Resources at least three (3) working days prior to the date of need.

A copy of Jackson College's Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report is available on the JC Campus Safety & Security website. The security report contains crime statistics for the previous three years for all of our campus locations and the annual fire safety report, which contains statistics for any reported fires in campus housing units and fire safety systems in these buildings. Additionally, the report contains policies, available resources and information concerning personal safety, fire safety and reporting procedures for both crimes and fires.

Applicants have rights under Federal employment laws. Jackson College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively supports workforce diversity.