Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Archchicago; Illinois; On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution is seeking a Vice President of Institutional Advancement. This role involves strategic leadership in development and alumni relations, coordinating major fundraising initiatives, and managing recruitment efforts to promote the school’s legacy and vision. Ideal candidates will have strong leadership skills, proven fundraising success, and a commitment to fostering a collaborative environment that reflects the school's mission.

Benefits

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision coverage

Short-term and long-term disability insurance

Retirement savings plan with matching contributions

Generous paid-time-off policy

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years of experience in Advancement/Development and student admissions and recruitment.
• Strong Christian values and collaborative nature.
• Proven leadership and supervisory skills.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing development, alumni relations, admissions and recruitment, marketing, and communications.
• Develop and oversee all fundraising strategies.
• Lead a team of six full-time staff and manage department budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Communication

Technical Proficiency

Collaboration

Ethics and Confidentiality

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Vice President of Institutional Advancement JobID: 265

• Position Type:
  ADV/ADM/MKT/PR/ Vice President of Advancement
  
  
• Date Posted:
  6/3/2025
  
  
• Location:
  Marian Catholic High School
  
  

MISSION STATEMENT AND OVERVIEW

Marian Catholic High School is a Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory high school within the Dominican tradition of study, prayer, community, and preaching. Marian Catholic students seek truth, exhibit personal responsibility, cultivate their individual talents, and demonstrate ethical leadership and Christian service.

As a college preparatory high school, Marian Catholic develops essential skills for post-secondary education in students. These skills include inductive and deductive logic, critical thinking, research principles, and both oral and written communication skills. In addition, Marian Catholic recognizes individual intellectual differences and offers a flexible curriculum in liberal, fine, and practical arts, which serves students' particular needs and opens them to a variety of career choices.

Marian Catholic is financially stable and well-positioned for growth, with strong potential to build on recent successful initiatives. The school has graduated over 19,000 alumni who have achieved incredible success and have contributed to the local, national, and international communities in positive ways. The school has strong growth potential in leveraging this strong alumni network.

THE OPPORTUNITY

In 1955, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield were asked to partner with the Archdiocese of Chicago to establish a new high school in the south Chicagoland region. They accepted the challenge, and in 1958, Marian Catholic High School welcomed its first students. Today, the school’s mission continues to reflect the Dominican values on which it was founded. It is a legacy that members of the Marian Catholic community share with pride.

The Vice President of Institutional Advancement is a member of the Marian Catholic executive leadership team and is responsible for overseeing the areas of development, alumni relations, admissions and recruitment, and marketing and communications. The Vice President of Institutional Advancement reports directly to the President.

BENEFITS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

MISSION STATEMENT AND OVERVIEW

Marian Catholic High School is a Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory high school within the Dominican tradition of study, prayer, community, and preaching. Marian Catholic students seek truth, exhibit personal responsibility, cultivate their individual talents, and demonstrate ethical leadership and Christian service.

As a college preparatory high school, Marian Catholic develops essential skills for post-secondary education in students. These skills include inductive and deductive logic, critical thinking, research principles, and both oral and written communication skills. In addition, Marian Catholic recognizes individual intellectual differences and offers a flexible curriculum in liberal, fine, and practical arts, which serves students' particular needs and opens them to a variety of career choices.

Marian Catholic is financially stable and well-positioned for growth, with strong potential to build on recent successful initiatives. The school has graduated over 19,000 alumni who have achieved incredible success and have contributed to the local, national, and international communities in positive ways. The school has strong growth potential in leveraging this strong alumni network.

THE OPPORTUNITY

In 1955, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield were asked to partner with the Archdiocese of Chicago to establish a new high school in the south Chicagoland region. They accepted the challenge, and in 1958, Marian Catholic High School welcomed its first students. Today, the school’s mission continues to reflect the Dominican values on which it was founded. It is a legacy that members of the Marian Catholic community share with pride.

The Vice President of Institutional Advancement is a member of the Marian Catholic executive leadership team and is responsible for overseeing the areas of development, alumni relations, admissions and recruitment, and marketing and communications. The Vice President of Institutional Advancement reports directly to the President.

BENEFITS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The salary range for this position is no less than $110,000 annually, commensurate with experience and performance. The comprehensive benefits package also includes health insurance, dental insurance, vision coverage, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, retirement savings plan with matching contributions and a generous paid-time-off policy. The school is conveniently located in Chicago Heights, Illinois.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic Leadership: Set and execute annual strategic plans for the Advancement office in collaboration with the President and executive leadership team.

• Fundraising: Develop and oversee all fundraising strategies, including the Annual Fund, special events, grant writing, individual and corporate giving, planned giving, and major gift initiatives.

• Capital Campaign Development and Coordination: Plan and oversee a multi-year capital campaign to secure funding for operational and facility needs.

• Major Donor Management: Oversee an active portfolio of 50-70 major donors.

• Fundraising Appeals: Oversee and execute at least four mail and digital fundraising appeals annually.

• Donor Societies: Establish and grow giving societies for donor acquisition, retention, and engagement.

• Event Management: Facilitate the planning and execution of key fundraising events, such as Veritas Gala, Endowment Golf Classic, Alumni Reunions, etc.

• Team Supervision: Lead a team of six full-time staff and one contractor, and indirectly supervise two additional full-time staff.

• Student Recruitment and Admissions: Design and implement student recruitment strategies, including outreach communications to prospective students and families within the surrounding community.

• Community Engagement: Strengthen relationships with faculty, alumni, donors, parents, prospective students and their families as well as community leaders through fundraising and recruitment events and activities.

• Board Support and Reporting: Co-facilitate the Outreach/Development Committee of the Board, report monthly to the President, and present to various groups as needed.

• Budget Management: Plan and manage department budgets, counsel the President and Board of Directors on philanthropy and recruitment matters.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience: Minimum of seven years of progressive Development/Marketing and recruitment experience. Proven leadership and supervisory skills.

• Fundraising Success: Effective track record in cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors.

• Best Practices: Deep understanding of fundraising, marketing, leadership and operational support.

• Technical Proficiency: Experience with CRMs and using data to drive strategy and decision-making (currently using Raiser’s Edge)

• Leadership: Strong Christian values, collaborative nature, and advanced communication and interpersonal skills.

• Independent and Team Work: Ability to work both independently and within a team to meet institutional goals.

• Ethics and Confidentiality: High standards for handling confidential information.

• Project Management: Excellent project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize.

• Flexibility: Work shift is typically a 40 hour per week, in-person experience. Work schedule flexibility, including occasional evenings and weekends, may be coordinated with the President. Occasional out of town travel (1-2x per year) may be necessary for stakeholder engagement events.

• Catholic Education Appreciation: Commitment to Catholic education, familiarity with the Dominican charism, and a desire to promote both.

INQUIRIES OR INTEREST

If you are excited about this opportunity and your qualifications aligned with the requirements, please submit your application via the Marian Catholic High School online application system.

Upload a cover letter and resume via the online application system.

Inquiries can be sent to President Michael Riordan at [e-mail] .

Your cover letter must include:

• Years of experience in Advancement/Development and student admissions and recruitment.

• A brief explanation about why you want to work at Marian Catholic High School.

All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential. No phone calls please.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Marian Catholic does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.

Postings current as of 6/14/2025 6:31:30 PM CST.