Description

The Executive Director for Institutional Advancement is a senior level administrator who serves as the chief fundraising and external relations office for the college. This individual oversees the College Foundation, all advancement operations, fundraising programs, grant strategy, alumni engagement, and external partnerships. This individual provides leadership and support for initiatives in advancement that are aligned with the College’s strategic plan. The Executive Director will establish and maintain positive relations with all constituencies of the College, including development of new relationships with business and industry. Previous experience with Capital Campaigns is desired. The Executive Director reports directly to the Chancellor and serves as a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet.

Strategic Leadership

•  Maintain performance standards and pursue goals, objectives, and activities that promote the mission, vision and value statement of the College.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction for the College’s Advancement Office including oversight of the operations, budget and systems that support efficient and effective use of resources.
• Provide leadership and staffs the Foundation Board.
• Design a comprehensive strategy for communicating the value proposition of the College in the community.
• Develop and implement an Advancement strategic plan with measurable fundraising goals, KPIs, annual performance dashboards, and progress reporting to the Chancellor and the Foundation Board.
• Serve as senior advisor to the Chancellor and the Foundation Board on philanthropy, external relations, visibility, and community partnership strategy.

 Fundraising, Campaigns and Donor Engagement

• Provide strategic guidance and leadership for all annual, campus and capital campaigns as well as special events designed to secure donations, expand community support and build endowment funding for the college.
• Lead a comprehensive fundraising program including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, and endowment growth. Maintain a personal portfolio of major donors and prospects and conduct regular cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities. 
• Implement best-practices fundraising methods including moves management, donor pipeline development, wealth screening, and CRM-driven analytics.
• Set annual fundraising targets and donor engagement expectations for the Advancement team and track performance against established KPIs.
• Ensure all major donors receive timely, customized stewardship, recognition, and impact reporting. 

 Foundation Board and Volunteer Engagement

• Provide leadership and support for the Foundation Board and all committees of the Board.
• Manage board agendas, materials, philanthropic training, and board development strategies. Ensure 100% board giving and active participation in fundraising initiatives.
• Oversee the Alumni & Ambassador program efforts to continually recruit friends and volunteers who support the mission of the college.
• Develop a comprehensive alumni engagement plan including communications, volunteer cultivation, events, and pathways to philanthropic involvement. 

 Corporate and Foundation Relations

• Provide leadership and oversight to secure maximum grant funding to the College through oversight of strong and well written, well placed grants and partnership opportunities.
• Develop and coordinate grants strategy aligned with academic programs, workforce development priorities, and institutional needs.
• Oversee grant writers or external grant partners, ensuring timely submissions, compliance, and outcome reporting.
• Maintain a positive and productive working relationship with industry partners and businesses.
• Strengthen corporate and industry partnerships to support philanthropic investment, scholarships, equipment donations, and programmatic funding. 

 Scholarship Administration and Continuing Education

• Collaborate with Financial Aid Office to administer scholarships funded through individual endowments and/or grants.
• Ensure scholarships are awarded in accordance with donor intent and regulatory requirements, with timely communication to donors.
• Develop and oversee a comprehensive Continuing Education program.
• Align Continuing Education programming with workforce trends and industry needs while identifying grant and philanthropic opportunities to support program growth. 

 Community and External Relations

• Attend and network through a variety of College and community events such as conferences, receptions, cultural events, productions, etc. and engages with civic organizations and professional associations that will advance the college.
• Participate in professional organizations such as CASE, AFP, and CFRE.
• Represent the College and Chancellor in the community.
• Serve as a highly visible ambassador for Fletcher, cultivating partnerships and relationships that enhance resource development and institutional reputation.

 Administrative and Institutional Responsibilities

• Recommend, monitor, and allocate the division’s budget.  Make provisions for obtaining and maintaining equipment needed for effective learning.
• Direct projects and assumes other duties as assigned by the Chancellor.
• Foster, demonstrate, and actively participate in a culture of mutual respect for students, guests, and co-workers from all backgrounds, perspectives and abilities. Communicate effectively with students, colleagues, and supervisors and utilize appropriate channels of communication within the college community concerning procedures and/or inquiries.
• Attend and participate in scheduled activities, which include graduation, open house/recruiting events as assigned, convocation, and required meetings. Share ideas and information, and work toward common department and College goals.
• Serve on college committees as a member or as chair. Serve on search committees.
• Participate in professional development activities that enhance effectiveness (convocation, LCTCS conference, etc.).
• Represent the college in a manner that promotes a professional and positive image.
• Adhere to College and LCTCS policies.
• Embrace college culture.
• Complete all required assignments prior to deadlines (Fletcher/LCTCS trainings, etc.).
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education Leadership, Advancement, Business, Marketing, Human Relations, Communications, Finance or related fields. Demonstrated fundraising success with measurable outcomes. Experience leading major gift strategies, donor portfolio management, stewardship, and solicitation; systems, data analytics, and moves management; excellent organization, communication and supervisory skills. Collaborative and team-oriented management style. Strong technology knowledge and skills. Superb project management skills and the ability to work on many fronts simultaneously. Experience with Board and donor relations, cultivation, major gift solicitation, on-line giving, grants, and planned giving.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership, Advancement, Business, Marketing, Human Relations, Communications, Finance or related fields. Experience leading or supporting comprehensive campaigns. CFRE or CFRE Eligible; capital campaign management.