Vice President of Advancement

Arch Grants; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Arch Grants is seeking an experienced Vice President of Advancement to define and execute a bold, scalable fund development strategy. You will partner with the CEO and Board to broaden the donor base and secure multi-year gifts, while shaping the organization’s next chapter in Saint Louis.

Leading a small team and collaborating with foundations, corporations, and Founders, you will build infrastructure, manage moves management in Salesforce, and ensure compelling storytelling to accelerate Arch

Qualifications

• Eight to ten years of progressive fund development leadership experience.
• Oversight for a team of direct reports and ability to inspire, manage conflict, and foster an healthy culture.
• Experience building and scaling a fund development function with multi-year gifts and major donor portfolios.

Responsibilities

• FUND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY + PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP – Shape and lead a comprehensive fund development strategy aligned with Arch Grants’ growth goals.
• INTERNAL CAPACITY + INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT GROWTH – Establish a scalable fund development function with measures, tools, and processes (Salesforce).
• DONOR ENGAGEMENT + DIVERSIFICATION – Expand and diversify the donor base and create engagement and solicitation opportunities.
• CORPORATE RELATIONS + FOUNDER ENGAGEMENT – Direct corporate relations and founder engagement, develop partnerships and communicate program impact.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Donor engagement

Major gifts

Strategic planning

Corporate sponsorships

Board relations

Team management

Data-driven fundraising

Education

Four-year college degree

MBA

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

ABOUT ARCH GRANTS

If you are passionate about making a bold impact in STL and bring a track record of success in building sustainable fundraising infrastructure to scale mission-driven organizations, we want to talk with you!

Arch Grants has been disrupting the status quo in economic development since its inception with a mission to transform the Saint Louis economy – attracting and retaining extraordinary entrepreneurs, one cohort at a time. As a 501(c)(3), Arch Grants is passionate about accelerating place-based economic development via equity-free startup funding. Best known for its global Startup Competition, Arch Grants has now funded 291 companies that have gone on to create 4,000+ jobs, commercialize 7,000+ products, land 300+ patents, attract $894M+ in capital raised, and generate $1.3B+ in revenue.

In addition to non-dilutive cash awards, Arch Grants offers unparalleled resources and structured support, aimed at multiplying the success of its early-stage startups by driving capital, credibility and strategic introductions. Be it connections to accelerator programs, venture capital firms, angel investors, mentors, Arch Grants programming, or even local enterprise customers, the data has shown the majority of founders choose to stay, hire, and reinvest in Saint Louis.

Beyond its startup success stories, Arch Grants has not only proven that the maturation of an ecosystem where bold ideas take root, scale rapidly, and attract national attention is possible, yet also stepped into close collaboration with key ecosystem partners, including local chambers, major universities, ag-tech and geospatial hubs, and other community conveners to attract and retain high-growth startups, high-potential talent, and business opportunity to Saint Louis. Learn more at www.archgrants.org.

ABOUT THIS NEWLY CREATED ROLE

In alignment with its next set of strategic and financial goals, Arch Grants is excited to announce a newly defined position for an experienced Vice President of Advancement. You will help define this role and shape the organization’s next chapter in partnership with a newly hired CEO: a rare opportunity to build rather than inherit.

Leading a team of three direct reports within an organization that manages an annual operating budget of approximately $3.6 million and is supported by an endowment and investment portfolio of approximately $23 million, you will influence the telling of a powerful story that is not yet fully told. Arch Grants has set an ambitious five-year goal of doubling its donor base and growing annual philanthropic revenue to $4–$6 million — and you will architect the strategy to get there. In aligning multi-year commitments with major donors, corporate sponsors, strategic partners, and foundations, you will safeguard the Arch Grants mission and directly impact the Saint Louis region.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• FUND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY + PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP – In partnership with CEO and Board of Directors, you will shape and lead a comprehensive fund development strategy aligned with desired impact and growth goals in Arch Grants’ new strategic plan. As a strategic partner to CEO, you will translate strategy into revenue goals across individual, corporate, and foundation giving to strengthen long-term philanthropic capacity.
• INTERNAL CAPACITY + INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT GROWTH – Establish a sustainable and scalable fund development function, aligning your team with the right portfolio tools, metrics, and goals to deliver diversified, revenue-producing functions. Design and implement an effective moves management process using Salesforce, our development CRM. Identify strategic use of Board and leadership time, relationships, and influence. Recruit talent to maintain grant proposal and reporting responsibilities to build a credible national foundation pipeline.
• DONOR ENGAGEMENT + DIVERSIFICATION – Building upon Arch Grants’ success with major gifts, expand and diversify the individual donor base, creating opportunities for meaningful engagement and crafting opportunities and outreach for donors at all levels. Ensure a clear path from engagement to solicitation while establishing key metrics to strengthen acquisition, cultivation, and upgrades. Establish clear roles for solicitation and relationship management between staff and board. Lead and oversee the annual event strategy.
• CORPORATE RELATIONS + FOUNDER ENGAGEMENT – Provide strategic direction and tactical leadership for Arch Grants corporate relations and Founder engagement. Diversify base of corporate donors, partnering closely with Arch Grants’ CEO to develop meaningful donor opportunities and strategic partnerships. In collaboration with program leadership, develop and implement best practices for communications and connections to educate Arch Grants’ growing community of founders on what is required to sustain high-quality programming.

IS THIS A MATCH FOR YOU?

• You have a passion for the mission of Arch Grants, including a fundamental belief in the power of an entrepreneurial ecosystem to foster economic growth. You consider yourself a builder of process, products, and people and fundraising strategist who thrives on making the next chapter of an organization’s vision come to life.
• You have gained 8-10+ years of progressive fund development leadership experience including oversight for a team of direct reports and an ability to inspire, manage conflict, and foster a healthy organizational culture.
• Prior experience building and scaling a fund development function and a deep understanding of best practices for effective donor engagement at all levels is a must-have requirement. Oversight for fundraising operations, process development, technology and systems, and donor communications and engagement are key.
• Prior experience managing high-level donors and prospects capable of six- and seven-figure gifts is desired. Prior management of a major donor portfolio is required. Experience with planned giving and endowment strategies also strongly desired.
• Expertise in securing multi-year gifts and/or in developing strategic partnerships across major and mid-sized corporations, national foundations, public and blended capital sources ideal.
• Evidence of a data-driven approach to fundraising a must-have.
• You are well-versed in proactively communicating with internal and external stakeholders. You confidently interact with team at all levels and react with diplomacy and tact. You bring experience communicating a vision and prospective road map to key stakeholders and community constituents. Ability to build bridges between like-minded organizations to foster collaboration, drive open communication and cooperative partnerships desired.
• You are willing to serve as a hands-on leader, with the ability and desire to flex between strategic and tactical priorities. Superior project management skills, an ability to support organization-wide strategic planning efforts, and a bold, proactive mindset are required.
• You are committed to building an inclusive organizational culture and believe that attracting a wide range of talented entrepreneurs and organizational stakeholders will further our success.
• You have developed a solid business acumen and strong technology skills. Four-year college degree required or equivalent executive leadership experience. MBA or graduate degree, a plus.

WHY JOIN US?

• MAKE A FOREVER IMPACT IN SAINT LOUIS – Become part of a mission that is changing the economic reality and community landscape in the Saint Louis region. Build the leadership fabric of tomorrow in the Saint Louis community.
• OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD – You will lead with the freedom to build and innovate while establishing a scalable model with sustainable infrastructure, best practices, resources and talent for effective fund development.
• WE ARE EVOLVING AS AN ORGANIZATION – As an organization, evolution is at our core. We believe it is critical to achieving our ongoing strategic and economic development goals. We are seeking a leader with a shared vision, along with the drive and fundraising expertise to support Arch Grants on its journey to a next set of critical milestones.

WORK LOCATION

This position requires a consistent presence at our primary office location in downtown Saint Louis, Missouri, which doubles as co-working facility for many of Arch Grants’ founders. Ability and willingness to attend evening events and to travel on a limited basis, if needed, is required. Travel outside the local area is estimated at 10% or less.

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

The VP position offers a competitive compensation package, including a base salary commensurate with experience in the range of $150,000.00 to approximately $190,000.00, along with a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, dental, vision, life, accident, STD, LTD, paid time off, professional development, and retirement plan with match. Placement within the compensation range will reflect the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications and the Board's compensation benchmarking.

Arch Grants is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all applicants. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please let us know. As needed, please contact [e-mail], [e-mail], or [e-mail].

Arch Grants is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome differences in form of gender, race, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, age, political affiliation, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; we look forward to hearing from you!