Ithaca College Hiring for ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, PHILANTHROPY at Ithaca, NY Full Time

Works directly with the Vice President, campus leaders, and senior volunteers to set Individual Giving (Leadership, Major, and Planned) policies and priorities. Serves as a member of the Vice President’s Senior Leadership Team. Considers and analyzes the implications of proposed actions and decisions on the organization. Works with the Vice President, leadership team and volunteers to develop policies and procedures for the raising, processing and acknowledging of leadership, major, and planned gifts. Leads and oversees effort to determine goals, and activities to support those goals, for appropriate annual, special, and ultimate gifts from our leadership and major gift donors that will lead to the successful funding of our institutional priorities. Works directly with major donors and senior volunteers to further organizational objectives. Plans, directs and supervises the work of the Individual Giving department staff in a way that is supportive of a systematic, data-based approach to prospect development. Provides insight and makes recommendations concerning all aspects of assigned function, indicating alternatives and solutions to the Vice President and senior volunteers.

Job Responsibilities:

1.  Engage with the President, Vice President for Philanthropy and Engagement, trustees, deans, faculty, Individual Giving staff, and volunteers to develop and strengthen prospect relationships and involvement with the College.

2.  Provide leadership and supervision for the Individual Giving team, including training and development that aligns with institutional needs. Prepare annual and long-range plans and forecasts for administrative review, and coordinate plan revisions and updates. Recommend various personnel actions including, but not limited to, hiring, merit recommendations, vacation schedules, performance evaluations. Prepare, execute, and monitor annual budgets for the Individual Giving program. Verify and reconcile expenditures within established guidelines.

3.  Manage a portfolio of 80-100 major gift prospects, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities. Develop strategies for building successful relationships between prospects and Ithaca College, with the goal of soliciting and closing gifts of $50,000 and above. Correspond with and visit prospects, donors, and their advisors. Travel as appropriate to fulfill duties. Maintain and submit timely reports on visits with prospects and donors.

4.  Establish strategic program and prospect goals for outright and deferred giving in conjunction with the VP of P&E, including annual, three-year, and campaign goals. Prepare annual reports and program assessment. Also, in conjunction with the VP for P&E, develop a plan that includes ride-along, measurable targets for the Individual Giving team that demonstrate productivity related to personal visits, stewardship activities, solicitations made, and new commitment and dollars raised within each fiscal year. Include results of progress in annual reviews of direct reports.

5.  Oversee a comprehensive program and strategies designed to identify, cultivate, and solicit donors and prospects capable of giving a gift of $50,000 or more for the College’s institutional priorities.

6.  Facilitate productive relationships between donors, senior administrators, and other College staff to solicit donors and prospects for high-level gifts in support of fund-raising priorities. As appropriate, introduce and involve additional College staff in the fund-raising process.

7.  Oversee the recruitment, training, and management of volunteers for the Individual Giving program. Work closely with Alumni and Family Engagement, ICAF, Principal Gifts, and other Philanthropy and Engagement partners to identify and recruit donors for existing volunteer opportunities in our volunteer pipeline to deepen our donors’ understanding, caring and commitment to the college. Design and implement programs that engage College staff and volunteers in developing strategies for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting leadership major gifts prospects among the College’s alumni, parents, and other individuals, and, in coordination with the director of corporate and foundation relations, selected organizations.

8. Supervise the management of administrative responsibilities including timely completion of proposal, pledge and commitment documents; documentation of individual prospect strategies and evaluation of new prospects; stewardship reports; and general correspondence. Oversee the executive director of planned giving’s coordination with Legal Affairs and Financial Services to manage incoming estate-related documents, the gift annuity program, and compliance issues.

9. In coordination with the director of donor relations, help to create and execute plans for the appropriate stewardship and recognition of leadership, major, and planned gifts. Participate, as able, in a range of donor recognition activities and events having a strategic impact on the success of the Individual Giving program.

10. Serve as a member and key advisor on the Principal Gifts Team, led by the Director of Principal Gifts, and consult with the Vice President on strategy and initiatives involving the President and other members of the college’s highest level of administrative leadership.

11. Partner with leadership from other P&E programs to ensure leadership and major prospects are effectively identified, assigned, qualified, cultivated, solicited and stewarded, as well as determining, implementing, and assessing robust reporting requirements to inform decisions about program direction and performance.

12. Respond to inquiries from senior administrative staff regarding information relating to the Individual Giving program.

13. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
 Masters’ degree or a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of five years direct solicitation experience in raising funds through outright and deferred giving. Proven ability to qualify and manage prospects, generate high-level strategies for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of prospects, supervise and support volunteers, establish goals and assess performance. Demonstrated understanding of nurturing fund-raising philosophy and model informed by a systematic moves management approach that recognizes meaningful engagement leads to greater philanthropy. Strong commitment to strategic collaboration with partners across the Philanthropy and Engagement Division and campus. Leadership ability, judgement and demonstrated experience supervising a cohesive team; attention to detail, interpersonal, organizational, oral, and written communication skills; and the ability to travel and attend College functions during and after normal business hours are required. Previous experience working at an institution of higher education preferred

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants must apply online and attach a resume, cover letter, and list of three professional references. Questions about online applications should be directed to the Office of Human Resources at (607) 274-8000 or [email protected]. 

Ithaca College is committed to building a diverse academic community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply. Experience that contributes to the diversity of the college is appreciated. 

Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position. 

Hiring Range:

$150,000 to $175,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.  We pride ourselves on providing our benefit-eligible employees with comprehensive benefits, including work/life balance, generous paid time off policies, career-enhancing trainings, educational benefits, and opportunities to give back to the community. Beyond benefits, you’ll enjoy the kind of uniquely rewarding work environment that can only be found in a vibrant college community.  For an overview of our benefit offerings, please visit https://www.ithaca.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits-wellness