Assistant Vice President for Regional Advancement

The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) seeks an experienced and accomplished development leader to serve as the Assistant Vice President for Regional Advancement (AVP) and actively participate in devising strategies and goals that build on the success of the regional program. This includes developing a comprehensive regional program designed to draw alumni and friends closer to the university, collaborating with advancement leadership to maintain alignment on institutional priorities, and continuing to build a sense of belonging and community for members of the regional team.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join an innovative institution creating transformational impact for students and their families, contribute to a rising advancement organization with celebrated leadership and ambitious plans for greater success, and apply the principles of organizational effectiveness in ways that capitalize on the strengths of a skilled regional team empowered to operate in a remote environment.

POSITION OVERVIEW
Reporting to the Associate Vice President for University Advancement, the new AVP will chart the course to expand and deepen RIT’s presence in key regions and provide effective leadership and strategic guidance to a regionally deployed major gift fundraising team of six to eight individuals. In addition to managing the regional advancement program, the AVP will, in time, assume frontline fundraising responsibilities and personally manage a small portfolio of prospects. 

The AVP will collaborate with the Associate VP to set the strategic direction for the regional advancement program, identifying funding needs aligned with the institution’s top priorities and determining areas where donors would be interested in making philanthropic investments. They will also set appropriate short- and long-term fundraising goals in consultation with advancement leadership. There is a meaningful opportunity to leverage RIT’s Sentinel Society in conversations with new prospects and to pursue major gifts that increase scholarship funding, attract top faculty, support student clubs and organizations, athletics, and the performing arts, and enable experiential learning opportunities like study abroad and co-op. 

Integral to the success of the regional program will be the AVP’s ability to inspire, manage, and mentor a highly talented network of local and remote gift officers currently located in Rochester, NY, Washington, D.C., Charleston, SC, and San Francisco, CA. The AVP will establish metrics and set ambitious goals for discovery, solicitations, and gift closures for team members, managing and supporting each to succeed against those goals. In doing so, the AVP will consider the maturity of the donor pool in each region as well as the level of expertise of each gift officer to implement tailored goals and offer opportunities for professional growth and accomplishment. 

Leading a remote team presents unique opportunities and challenges requiring the AVP to work diligently to anchor team members to the Rochester campus. A frequent communicator and strong advocate for the regional team, the AVP will ensure strong connections are forged with colleagues and faculty, coordinate on-campus resources to support donor activities organized by remote team members—such as donor visits to campus—and enhance visibility into campus events and activities,

The AVP will work closely with university senior administrators, department leadership, and advancement colleagues, fostering a strong relationship with the Assistant Vice President for College Advancement. This partnership will enhance cooperation between the college advancement fundraisers and regional advancement fundraisers, ensuring a synchronized and thoughtful approach to all activities meant to engage RIT’s prospects and donors.

The successful candidate will be entrepreneurial, highly motivated, and goal-oriented with exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to develop meaningful relationships with their team, campus partners, and external constituents. They will bring an “all-in” mentality, ready to roll up their sleeves and contribute to the success of activities along the full donor continuum, from qualification and engagement to solicitation and stewardship. The AVP is mission-driven and actively works towards creating a rising tide that lifts all boats. They are expected to work collaboratively, constantly seeking ways to increase effectiveness and efficiency to reach annual metrics and achieve objectives. Ideally, the AVP will have operated within a regional development fundraising model within higher education or a similarly complex environment. 

Requirements

SELECT RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership & Management

• Oversee a regional advancement staff of 6-8 individuals.
• Lead the regional advancement team in planning and implementing long- and short-term strategies to secure major, planned, and annual gifts from individuals. 
• Mentor, train, supervise, and evaluate staff to ensure significant fundraising productivity in service to the University’s strategic goals; travel to regions to accompany team members on prospect and donor visits to provide support and coaching.
• Model effective management, decision-making, and coaching that empowers and energizes the team and provides high-level thought partnership, particularly as the team is focused on pipeline building and involved in heavy identification, qualification, and discovery in addition to solicitation, engagement, and stewardship activities. 

Program Strategy

• Collaborate with the Associate VP to create a strategic direction for the regional program.
• Work with the VP and Associate VP to establish measurable goals to increase fundraising results in ways that are aspirational and achievable. 
• Partner with colleagues across the advancement division including college advancement, planned giving, and corporate and foundation relations, as well as marketing, communications and stewardship, advancement services, alumni and constituent engagement, and prospect development to maximize the philanthropic experience for prospects and donors. 
• Serve as a member of the leadership team and a thought partner across the institution; contribute to overall advancement goals, priorities, and future directions.

Fundraising

• Manage a regionally based portfolio of approximately 30 prospects, creating fundraising strategies for those prospects, including those in early-stage cultivation and/or with whom the university has little to no relationship, and regularly soliciting gifts of $100,000 and higher. 
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift donors and prospects in coordination with faculty, staff, and volunteers through the proper clearance process.
• Make appropriate use of time and resources; plan travel efficiently; continuously update the prospect management database with information related to donor strategies, proposals, contacts, and results.

SELECT QUALIFICATIONS & CHARACTERISTICS

• 10+ years of progressively responsible development experience, with success as a manager and frontline fundraiser, ideally in a higher education setting. 
• Demonstrated success as a major gift and principal gift fundraiser.
• Prior experience providing leadership, management, and strategic direction to an advancement or development organization.
• Evidence of entrepreneurial approaches in engaging prospects and developing a prospect pipeline.
• Proven success in building productive relationships with university senior administrators, volunteers, colleagues, donors, and more.
• Experience in a regional development fundraising model or leading a remote team is preferred.
• Travel is required; some evenings and weekends are required.

APPLICATION INFORMATION
To express interest in the position, please submit your confidential resume and letter of interest to rit-avp@pearlstreetcollective.com.