Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations

Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations
Grinnell College (Grinnell, Iowa), one of the nation's top liberal arts colleges, seeks a successful and entrepreneurial Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations. Partnering with internal and external constituents, the ideal candidate will build on the college's exceptionally strong foundation by collaborating with outstanding faculty, staff, and students to shape Grinnell's next chapter and secure its place as a global leader in liberal arts education.

Grinnell is a private, coed, residential liberal arts college recognized for its rigorous curriculum and strong tradition of social responsibility. Founded in 1846, Grinnell enrolls approximately 1,700 students in 28 major fields and 19 concentrations and from all 50 states and from 64 countries. Among the nation's small liberal arts colleges, Grinnell is widely viewed as an institution of the first rank, with an excellent faculty, a skilled staff, a consistently strong and diverse student body and a well-equipped, beautiful campus. It is a national leader in college access, dedicating more than $70 million in financial aid each year to its students. Grinnell is also one of fewer than ten institutions of higher education in the country that are simultaneously need-blind for domestic students, test-optional and no-loan, making it possible to graduate debt-free. Grinnell's endowment of $2.4 billion (as of June 30, 2022) is one of the largest endowments of any small liberal arts college in the nation.

The new vice president will be an experienced, senior advancement professional with a compelling combination of fundraising, alumni relations and program/personnel leadership experience and achievement. Experience developing and managing a comprehensive campaign is a requirement. The ideal leader will demonstrate a personal track record of considerable success as a major and principal gift fundraiser, including as the primary strategist and solicitor of gifts at the seven and eight-figure level. The vice president will manage a talented and motivated staff of more than 40.

Grinnell seeks an inventive and strategic vice president who has outstanding organizational, communication and management skills. The selected candidate will have demonstrated success as the leader of a comprehensive advancement program of similar scope and complexity. At least 10 years of progressively responsible leadership and management experience is required, and candidates with a track record of volunteer management and program development are strongly desired. The vice president will be a champion of the liberal arts and understand and embody institutional values of diversity and inclusion. Previous experience in an institutional environment similar to Grinnell will be a substantial advantage, but not a requirement. A bachelor's degree is required, and an advance degree is preferred.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile available at www.wittkieffer.com.

WittKieffer is assisting Grinnell College in this search. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer's candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries may be directed to Mercedes Chacón Vance, Greg Duyck, and Jevon Walton at GrinnellVPDAR@wittkieffer.com.

Grinnell College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to attracting and retaining highly qualified individuals who collectively reflect the diversity of the nation. No applicant shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, veteran status, religion, creed, or disability.

This spirit of nondiscrimination will continue to be enforced in all aspects of College operations, both in the workplace, the classroom, and within the College community at large.


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