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Vice President for Advancement

Employer
Princeton Theological Seminary
Location
Princeton, New Jersey
Salary
Competitive
Date posted
Apr 28, 2023

Vice President for Advancement

Princeton Theological Seminary

Princeton, New Jersey

The Search

Princeton Theological Seminary (the Seminary) seeks a strategic, experienced, and collaborative fundraising leader to serve as vice president for advancement (VP). Established in 1812, for over 200 years the Seminary has stood at the forefront of theological education, shaping generations of Christian professionals for ministry around the world. Partnering closely with a visionary president early in his tenure, the VP will develop and implement best practices throughout the advancement operation, raising philanthropic sights internally and externally among alumni, friends, unaffiliated, and institutional donors, and significantly enhancing overall fundraising success.

Princeton Theological Seminary was the first seminary founded by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. The Seminary stands with the Reformed tradition, which shapes the instruction, research, practical training, and continuing education provided by the Seminary, as well as the theological scholarship it promotes. Poised to build on the momentum of new presidential leadership, a recently finalized strategic plan, and commitment to historical tradition while embracing innovation, the VP will have the unique opportunity to build and execute a best-in-class fundraising enterprise.

As the Seminary embarks on a new era of success and excellence, the incoming VP will develop and institute a strategic, comprehensive, and systematic institutional advancement program that is reflective of contemporary industry best practices and consistent with the Seminary’s mission and core values. Reporting to President Jonathan Lee Walton and serving as an integral member of the senior leadership team, this is an exceptional opportunity for a high-performing and accomplished individual to partner with a dynamic and visionary leader to play a critical role in building and strengthening the Seminary’s advancement enterprise. Working closely with the president and board leadership, as well as division leadership across the Seminary, the vice president will determine and implement appropriate strategies to enhance and elevate the Seminary’s fundraising success. Historically, the Seminary’s operating budget has been supported almost exclusively by a significant and well-stewarded endowment. Fundraising success and focus over recent decades have primarily originated from the annual fund, foundation grants, and planned giving. The vice president will strengthen a culture of philanthropy among the Seminary’s various constituencies, while simultaneously refining the overall strategy and structure of institutional advancement and readying the Seminary for future fundraising endeavors.

Princeton Theological Seminary seeks a vice president who is experienced, strategic, and capable of building and developing a best-in-class fundraising program. The VP will reinforce connections with the Seminary’s alumni and current donor base while strategically cultivating and engaging new relationships and pipelines with unaffiliated populations. The VP will broaden the overall donor base of individuals who are inspired and engaged by the mission and impact of the Seminary and are motivated to give. With at least ten years of leadership experience in advancement, the ideal candidate must possess strong managerial, strategic planning, and motivational skills; a keen understanding of fundraising best practices and a comprehensive knowledge of all major development and alumni engagement functions, including a depth of campaign experience; and a track record of significant personal success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship at the major and principal gift levels. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned team leader adept at motivating, empowering, and advocating for staff, and facilitating cohesion and team success. The vice president must be poised to build and enhance the fundraising program, including the implementation of a new CRM and developing and implementing related policies, procedures, and best practices to effectively leverage the use of data and moves management in all aspects of advancement work.

The vice president must be an integral member of the Princeton Theological Seminary community. This individual will reflect and embody the core values of the Seminary by serving with authenticity, warmth, compassion, and humility. The successful candidate must demonstrate a high level of integrity, trust, diplomacy, emotional intelligence, and maturity to effectively engage and partner with key internal and external stakeholders. The vice president must possess superb written and oral communication skills, along with the ability to foster strong collaborative relationships across the Seminary. The ideal candidate will be a data-driven, results-oriented professional with a collegial and accessible leadership style. It is imperative that this individual bring a deep appreciation and passion for the mission, goals, history, and uniqueness of Princeton Theological Seminary and its constituents. A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.

Princeton Theological Seminary has retained Jack Gorman of the national executive search firm, Isaacson, Miller, to assist in this important recruitment. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed to the search firm at https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/princeton-theological-seminary/vice-president-advancement.

Princeton Theological Seminary is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment with regard to race, creed, color, ancestry, age, gender, marital status, military status, national origin, religious affiliation (except as religion may be a bona fide occupational qualification for certain positions at the seminary), disability, sexual or affectional orientation, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait of an individual, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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