Vice President of University Advancement

The Vice President of University Advancement at Millikin University will provide strategic leadership to drive comprehensive advancement efforts and achieve fundraising, donor and alumni engagement, and community outreach goals. This role calls for an experienced, visionary leader who can inspire others, share Millikin’s story, and lead robust engagement and fundraising strategies to support the University’s success. The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic and changing environment and serves as a supportive and empowering leader who values team development, fosters a culture of collaboration, and inspires high performance within their team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:

Leadership and Strategic Management

• Leads the development, tactical planning and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising strategy.
• Reports to the President and actively participates on the leadership team which includes sitting on the President’s Council, Leadership Council, and serving as a liaison for the Community Engagement Committee of the Board of Trustees. Accordingly, provides relevant professional insight and advice based on a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience in higher education and fundraising.
• Leads the Office of Alumni & Development and strengthens relationships with external and internal constituencies, by building trust, inspiring confidence, and motivating others.
• Strategically generates new ideas, sets goals and objectives, and builds consensus among campus constituents around cultivation and proposal strategies.
• Acts as an ambassador for Millikin travelling throughout Illinois and the United States, building relationships with the University’s alumni, donors, prospects and friends.

Operations Leadership

• Provides oversight and guidance to department leadership in the areas of Development, Operations, Prospect Research, Alumni Engagement, Donor Engagement and Grants.
• Fosters collaboration and coordination of the Office of Alumni & Development with colleges, schools, and departments on campus.
• Organizes and develops a strategy for cultivating strong relationships between the President and key donors, facilitating their management of a portfolio of major gift prospects.
• Orchestrates the participation of the President, Trustees, President’s Council, Leadership Council, Faculty and Students in advancement activities. Provides focus for their efforts so that their time spent is productive, meaningful, and personally rewarding.
• Responsible for short- and long-range planning and goal setting for the department, including setting and realizing goals and objectives, performance metrics (fundraising and otherwise), allocating budget and managing a personal portfolio.
• Strengthens Millikin’s relationship with alumni by creating and implementing initiatives that meaningfully engage graduates.
• Cultivates and sustains strong relationships with donors at all levels, ensuring they feel valued and connected to Millikin, to include designing and overseeing stewardship programs that recognize and honor donor contributions and maintain high levels of donor satisfaction.
• Collaborates closely with the Marketing department and external vendors to guide the development of targeted marketing and communications strategies that promote Millikin’s fundraising goals, ensuring that messaging resonates with alumni, potential donors, and broader audiences, aligning with Millikin’s brand and values, and enhancing the University’s image.
• Sets the standard for what it means to be a Millikin University advancement professional, including cultivating a culture that strengthens employee retention in the department and attracts top advancement talent to the University.
• Ensures University policies and procedures related to advancement are upheld, reviewed and revised as needed (i.e. university naming policy and pledge/gift policies).
• Ensures all institutional advancement activities operate within budget, institutional and external regulatory policy, professional standards, and ethical practices.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES Directly supervises the Alumni and Development team. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the university’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training staff members, planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining staff members; and addressing complaints and resolving issues.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to succeed in a result-driven professional organization. Ability to manage results through a staff of direct and indirect employees.Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to drive a team in a focused direction. Expert knowledge of higher education processes and practices. Professional performance and results working under pressure in a dynamic environment. Demonstrated proficiency with computers, including Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. Customer, budget, quality, and delivery conscious mindset. Ability to establish priorities, work independently with minimal supervision, and facilitate teamwork. Highly organized, with the ability to plan, execute and multitask in order to meet deadlines and keep projects under budget. Must have a demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity and inclusion.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Required Job Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required
• Professional Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible fundraising and managerial experience in advancement; fundraising; and donor, alumni, and community engagement.
• Fundraising Expertise: Proven experience in planning and executing comprehensive fundraising programs, securing major gifts at the $500,000 level or higher, annual giving, and planned giving. Successful experience leading capital campaigns a plus.
• Skills: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to draft persuasive proposals, deliver compelling presentations, and engage diverse audiences effectively.
• Knowledge: Deep understanding of current trends and best practices in advancement and philanthropy. Demonstrated experience in the design, implementation, and management of a sophisticated advancement program (including prospect research and portfolio/moves management, annual giving, major and planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, endowment, alumni engagement, stewardship, advancement infrastructure and operations, and volunteer leadership) Direct experience in the design and execution of a comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
• Attributes:
  • A driven professional who sets and achieves ambitious goals, with a strong focus on measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
  • Leads with integrity, understanding and upholding the legal and ethical aspects of fundraising.
  • Charismatic and personable with a naturally engaging approach, capable of connecting with individuals and building lasting relationships.
  • A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with the ability to engage diverse constituencies and promote an inclusive advancement culture reflective of the Universities values.
  • A passion for higher education and a commitment to the University’s mission and values.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Education: Master’s or higher (preferably in higher education administration, business, or non-profit management) and/or CFRE or other fundraising certification.
• Experience: The ideal candidate has experience serving as a senior administrator in higher education, reporting directly to the president.
• Skills: Demonstrated ability to create and implement strategic advancement plans that integrate fundraising, alumni engagement, and communications.
• Attributes:
  • Existing connection with the Millikin University community.
  • Strong community relationships in Central Illinois.
  • Understands and appreciates Millikin’s role within the local, regional, and national communities, showing commitment to building partnerships that benefit both the University and the broader community.

Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information of three professional references to millikin.edu/employment. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Employment and first day of work is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Millikin University is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups in this field are encouraged to apply. Beyond meeting fully its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Millikin University is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive. Millikin offers a competitive salary and full benefit package, including eligibility for tuition waiver. To view Millikin’s benefits, please go to https://millikin.edu/about/administration/human-resources/benefits.