Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Company Description:

When Bay Path opened its doors to students in 1897, it had a very clear goal: to provide a practical, affordable, and career-oriented education to meet the needs of companies, organizations, and communities. From the beginning, Bay Path prided itself on being entrepreneurial, constantly pushing the boundaries of the academic experience to fit the student...to start them on the road of success. We still do.

Today, that spirit and philosophy is more important than ever in higher education. At Bay Path, it's not just the number and breadth of undergraduate and graduate programs that defines us-and we have many-but it is our ability to connect the classroom to learning to leadership to experience to career that is at the core of what we do best. We know the work that needs to be done.

Bay Path University, an independent and not-for-profit institution, was named Among Fastest Growing Baccalaureate Colleges by the Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac, and is a member of the Women's College Coalition. With a main campus in Longmeadow, MA and three satellite locations, (East Longmeadow, Sturbridge, Concord), Bay Path offers undergraduate, graduate (for women and men) degrees, and professional certificates.

We're committed to preparing our students to navigate a constantly changing world. Whether it is one of our innovative academic programs, groundbreaking online learning platform, or through our Women as Empowered Learners and Leaders initiative, we educate our students in ways that will help them to grow, learn to adapt, and always to flourish. Be part of the change.

We invite you to visit our website at www.baypath.edu where you can learn more about Bay Path University.

Job Description:

• Position Code: VPIA
• Job Type: Full-time
• Standard Hours: 37.5 hours/week
• Location: Longmeadow, MA

Reporting to the President, the Vice President for Institutional Advancement will lead the Advancement team to cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals, and provide strategic leadership for fundraising programs for the University including responsibility for annual giving, corporate, major gifts and gift planning, endowment, capital campaigns, and alumni and constituent relations efforts, stewardship, and advancement services.

The candidate selected for this position will possess excellent communication skills with a talent for developing strategies and setting goals to achieve fundraising targets. Position will engage in networking, proposal writing, presenting, and leading a team of fundraising professionals. Position sets target donation goals and sees them to fruition via events and campaigns, on time and on budget.

Position Summary:

• Bay Path University seeks an accomplished, high achieving, seasoned education and/or non-profit leader for its Development Program. The Vice President will join a visionary new President as she charts the future course for Bay Path and its diverse students who ardently embrace Bay Path's motto: Carpe Diem (Seize the Day).
• S/he/they will work collaboratively to create, develop, implement and achieve donor-centric strategic plans with a new set of priorities with increasing private support incrementally and exponentially as a new vision for Bay Path is implemented over the next 3-5 years.
• The Vice President will be an important force and advocate for strategic campaigns to sustain and expand Bay Path's mission impact and outcomes, working collaboratively with Trustees, administration, faculty, other councils, staff and voluntary leadership. The Vice President will work closely with the President to effectively communicate the "new vision" and build a new base of major gift donors, who by virtue of known interests, deeply value Bay Path's institutional priorities and may be open to making significant contributions toward these (outright or pledged).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the Development Office: Annual Fund, Alumni Engagement, Major & Planned Gifts, Stewardship, Administrative Services, expanding the participation rates of Alumni giving, as well as increasing gifts; building key donor-centric programs to motivate and engage Alumni in deepening their commitment to Bay Path; increasing the pipeline of donors entering the major gift levels ($25,000+ annual or restricted gifts); strengthening all data and technology infrastructure supporting the development program; ensuring that stewardship & recognition of all donors remains a priority. In addition, the Vice President will oversee the Alumni and Advisory Councils.
• Advocate for Best Practice: Stay abreast of "best practice" in higher education advancement programs, and implement these best practices wherever and whenever they will most benefit Bay Path's educational mission, students, alumni and supporters.
• Lead "full scope" development strategies, including Corporate and Planned Giving programs: while Bay Path's current development department holds the Annual Fund and Major Gift programs, the new Vice President will lead building a stronger focus on corporate support and sponsorship (with understanding of the dynamics of corporate philanthropy), and fully integrate planned giving (legacy) opportunities into the development program.
• Institute Comprehensive Planning: Create and implement an annual development plan grounded in prior year(s) experience with "metric goals" for each type and level of giving and detailed timetables for strategies and tasks, with accountability clearly described. At the same time, create aspirational or "stretch" goals that motivate staff and donors alike to reach new levels of achievement.
• Manage Major Special Events (Annual): Lead and support voluntary leadership to implement one or more major "special events" each year to meet specific fundraising goals, and to deepen Bay Path's connections and relationships in the region and nation among its alumni, friends, corporate & individual supporters and boards.
• Adopt Gift-Cycle Focus: Ensure that the major phases of fundraising activity (research & identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and recognition) are "institutionalized" into development planning and ideation.
• Foster Cross-Segment Relationship Building: Cultivate, preserve and strengthen donor relationships and loyalty among alumni, friends, existing donors, board members and other volunteers and instill this practice in the development program.

Complex, Creative Leadership:

• The Vice President works together collaboratively with the President and other critical stakeholders to develop effective and motivating "cases for support" for myriad initiatives, time-sensitive projects and potential campaigns (University priorities & vision). This process is creative and is a combination of both analysis and "educated guess work", and must be aligned with major gift prospects' capacity and willingness to give. Building the case for support requires: a deep understanding of "why" Bay Path is moving in a direction; what motivates and drives the setting of new priorities (always student-centric); and how this aligns with current and future potential among supporters.
• Provides guidance, leadership and education to the development team as it coalesces and matures into a strong department of best practice in both the art and science of fundraising.
• Values Bay Path's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Vice President will be attuned to the complexities of the donor/prospect, with tact and respect for donor perspectives and concerns, while maintaining the focus on university priorities and initiatives.
• The Vice President will inspire the development staff through effective motivation, mentoring and team building. S/he/they will embrace diversity and equity and have the management capability to leverage the strengths of individual staff members, driving this staff unit toward incrementally increasing financial goal outcomes.

Impact on Bay Path's Institutional Mission:

Positive

• Bay Path continues to receive a steady and increasing flow of charitable gifts to support students, faculty, programs, initiatives and facilities; an effective plan is implemented for identifying and developing new prospects who are engaged and moved toward making a major gift; current donors continue to give because of meaningful stewardship; lapsed donors are not forgotten and are made aware of giving opportunities.

Complex

• Fundraising is never static and requires a careful balance of process, discipline and relationship-building. Fundraisers must be coached and encouraged to refresh best practice and find the best balance to move forward to increasing major gifts.

Guidance & Review

• The Vice President reports to the President of Bay Path, and meets (at a minimum) monthly with her to discuss progress toward goals, in depth. These goals are developed collaboratively and are focused on university priorities, which necessarily change over time.

Department & Procedures

• The Vice President will be adept in all development best practice and an ardent advocate for adopting strong strategies that move the program forward, such as: moves management, prospect clearance, and fundraising ethics. The Vice President must be knowledgeable of all legal (and ethical) requirements related to fundraising, including IRS regulations relating to charitable giving as well as the gift-acceptance policies and procedures adopted by Bay Path University.

Internal/External Content:

• Inside Bay Path, the Vice President will be working as a peer professional, closely with the President; the Executive Leadership Team composed of Chief Academic Officer, Vice President for University Relations (who is supervisor of institutional marketing and communications, government/private foundations, and corporate grants staff); Deans, and Administrative leadership. The Vice President will also connect with the broader university community of faculty, staff, and students. S/he/their role will include frequent contact concerning university funding priorities and clear communication regarding strategies of cultivation and solicitation.
• Outside of Bay Path, the Vice President will serve as one of the "leading representatives" of the university, building relationships with major donors, community leaders, and successful business people on a continual basis. S/he/they must be able to communicate and navigate well with individuals from all walks of life, as an ambassador for Bay Path, representing the university positively at all times, and articulating strongly the quality and value of a Bay Path education.
• The Vice President will staff the Institutional Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees, working closely with the Committee chair to develop agendas and present salient information.
• The Vice President, in addition to managing the Institutional Advancement staff, will carry a portfolio of prospective donors, the number to be determined in collaboration with the President.

Fiscal Accountability

The Vice President has oversight of the development budget, which includes both revenues and expenses, including determination of salary levels for staff.

Requirements:

Education:

• B.A./B.S and/or graduate degree, preferred.

Experience:

• 10 years progressively responsible leadership in advancement/development in higher education, or equivalent (mission/budget) non-profit organization(s).

Certification:

• NSFRE is not required but will be a plus; and/or other matriculation in non-profit or development education certificate or degree programs.

Ability:

• Proven ability to acquire 6-7 figure major gifts in higher education or non-profit environments is required for this position, as well as the ability to demonstrate that prior professional coaching of staff has resulted in major gifts, planned or legacy gifts, and/or increasing annual funds.

Special Considerations:

• Knowledge and comfort with technology, including familiarity with Raisers Edge, NXT, Research Point, BlackBaud Analytics or Wealth Engine for the purposes of both accurate donor base information and analytic planning.

Other:

• Ability to adhere to University policies and procedures.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and within FERPA and HIPAA guidelines.
• All new employees must complete the FERPA, Anti-Harassment, and any other required online trainings within 15 days of employment.
• Must adhere to University COVID-19 testing, symptom tracking and all other COVID protocols established by the University.
• Should be committed to a culture of diversity, equity, respect and inclusion; demonstrated ability to build working relationships with people having a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences different from ones' own.
• General knowledge of the University's mission, purpose and goals and the role this position plays in achieving those goals.

Additional Information:

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Bay Path University is a diverse community devoted to proactively nurturing a campus-wide culture that promotes and ensures equity, respect, inclusion, and safety for all members regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic background, or physical ability. We are one University that opens our hearts and minds to conversations, to learning and to creating a community that is welcoming of all. Regardless of position, it is expected that each employee will embrace this commitment and demonstrate an attitude of respect toward and acceptance of all members of our community.

Application Instructions:

Applicants for this position should attach a cover letter, resume / curriculum vitae, the contact information for four (4) professional, work related references and any other relevant information pertaining to this position and your candidacy. Please apply online. Faxes and emails will not be accepted.

Bay Path University is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty committed to teaching and learning in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from minorities, women and all underrepresented backgrounds. An Equal Opportunity Employer, Bay Path University is committed to fostering diversity in its student body, faculty, and staff.

Bay Path University is a smoke and tobacco-free community.

All offers of employment are contingent on satisfactory background checking.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position please email us at HR@baypath.edu or call 413-565-1168.

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