Vice President for College Advancement

Inside Philanthropy; Indianola (IA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits package

Job summary

Simpson College in Iowa seeks an accomplished Vice President for College Advancement to serve as chief fundraising officer, reporting to the President and guiding donor cultivation, engagement, and stewardship.

The VPCA will collaborate with faculty, staff, and trustees to strengthen enrollment, financial sustainability, and the college’s strategic priorities, safeguarding Simpson’s liberal arts heritage for future generations.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in higher education advancement.
• Sound judgment and a track record of results-driven leadership.
• Collaborative, mission-driven leadership with strong interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight of donor cultivation, engagement, and stewardship.
• Partner with faculty, staff, and trustees to advance enrollment and financial sustainability.
• Lead with collaborators across the senior leadership team to align advancement with institutional vision.

Job description

Vice President for College Advancement

Simpson College seeks an accomplished, collaborative, and forward-looking advancement leader to serve as its next Vice President for College Advancement (Vice President or VPCA). Reporting directly to the President and serving as a key member of the senior leadership team, the Vice President will serve as the chief fundraising officer.

At an important moment in its history, Simpson is building on its longstanding reputation for academic excellence, student-centered learning, and community engagement. The College is focused on strengthening enrollment, enhancing financial sustainability, and positioning itself for long-term vitality in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape. The next Vice President will play a central role in advancing these priorities, aligning the college’s advancement strategy with institutional vision, and ensuring that Simpson is well positioned for its next chapter.

The VPCA will provide strategic oversight of the College’s advancement operations, providing vision and direction for donor cultivation, engagement, and stewardship. This is an exceptional opportunity for a mission-driven leader to help shape the future of a respected liberal arts college and to contribute meaningfully to its continued success.

The successful candidate will bring significant experience in higher education advancement, sound judgment, and a record of results-driven leadership. Equally important, the VPCA will be a collegial colleague – approachable, collaborative, and committed to working in true partnership with faculty, staff, senior leaders, and trustees in support of the College’s shared goals.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and includes a generous benefits package. This is a full-time position that will be performed on site in Iowa.

The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION: Applicants for admission and employment, students, parents of students, employees, sources of referral for admission and employment, and all unions or professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with Simpson College are hereby notified that this institution does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, veteran or veteran disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic in admission, access to, treatment or employment in, its programs and activities. Any persons having inquiries concerning Simpson College’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX – Section 504 or Americans with Disabilities Act are directed to contact the Director of Human Resources, Simpson College, 701 North C Street, Indianola, Iowa 50125-1299, [phone]. Persons may also contact the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, regarding the institution’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX – Section 504, or Americans with Disabilities Act.