Vice President For Advancement

Company: Antioch College
Location: Yellow Springs
Posted on: January 16, 2022

Job Description:

Position Summary:
"Win Victories for Humanity." - Horace Mann... Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, seeks an entrepreneurial vice president for advancement who will be energized and motivated by a rare opportunity and a singularly challenging role.

Consistent with our tradition of breaking boundaries to face the challenges of now, Antioch is in the unique position of being a 170-year old "start-up." We used our 2011 re-opening to build & scale a model for what the liberal arts experience can be for all students in the 21st century - instead of a four-year retreat from the world, we created a deeper engagement with it. Since that time, the budget has been driven primarily by donations - not tuition. The College's fundraising efforts have been incredibly successful, generating more than $120M in gifts & commitments since the college reopened - the vast majority being unrestricted donations. The next vice president for advancement will be a skilled system builder & inspiring leader, who possesses both a command of best practices across advancement areas & the ability to see creative opportunities unique to Antioch. They will be actively committed to recruiting, retaining, mentoring & actively engaging with underrepresented & underserved populations in advancing the College.

Reporting to President Jane Fernandes, the vice president will join a dynamic new leadership team with both the opportunity & the challenge to make an immediate & long-term impact on this icon of American higher education. In August 2021, President Fernandes became the third president of Antioch College, the second woman, & first Deaf person in this role. She is guiding Antioch College to operational & financial sustainability.

The vice president for advancement will maintain a significant major gifts portfolio & serve as an active partner to the President, focusing initially on the following priorities:

Assessing & strengthening advancement systems & staffing
Communicating effectively with our communities & constituencies
Strengthening the infrastructure & culture of philanthropy
Planning & executing fundraising initiatives

Longer term, the vice president will have the opportunity to devise a capital campaign, building upon effective core operations they have established & thinking creatively about new funding opportunities for Antioch.

The proven leader who wants to be part of this singular community will be an active participant in leading change, sharing the campus's commitment to equity, and the centrality of diversity & inclusion to our mission. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a significant track record as a fundraiser & team builder, who uses analytics to structure success, solicit gifts and plan and execute a capital campaign. This person's cultural competency will move them to nurture relationships in an environment where numerous distinct ethnic, religious, racial, gender, LGBTQ, disability, language & cultural groups interact constructively & strive for substantive equity.

Essential Functions:
The vice president for advancement reports to the president & will be responsible for organizing, leading, & aligning the fundraising efforts of the College so as to best utilize the strengths of the institution's donors, leaders, faculty, students, & staff in both furthering its current programs, and in creating new and strategic fundraising opportunities around the College's landmarks - Own Your Education, Learn Experientially, & Act for Justice - and its new student recruitment initiative, Antioch College Works. The following are the specific responsibilities & duties of this position:
Maintain a portfolio & have a demonstrated track record of success in asking for & closing major gifts from individual donors & foundations
Envision, articulate, and implement an organizational strategic plan for the Advancement Office in order to create & reach annual fundraising goals
Work closely with the president to identify areas of success & strengthen areas of weakness within the advancement operation at the College
Work closely with finance, academic affairs, admissions, & other key areas of the College to identify institutional needs & be well prepared to represent those needs to potential funders
Ensure best fundraising & donor engagement practices including but not limited to creating a culture of accountability, setting minimum dollar & donor visit expectations of gift officers, overseeing core functions such as research & stewardship, & improving the annual performance review process
Effectively engage alumni in ways that link their own exceptional experiences at Antioch College to equally exceptional experiences for future generations of students. Encourage the commitment & contribution of both a greater number of gifts to the College & greater levels per gift. In particular, work to bring sustainable resources to the College
Significantly increase funding from foundations, corporations, & individuals capable of making planned gifts. Continue to identify alumni from the '70s, '80s, & '90s who have not been engaged & energize them with the College's vision & aspirations. Build on loyalty in the existing Alumni Chapters across the country & connect their work with development goals
Provide comprehensive, timely, & innovative stewardship. Elevate the importance of stewarding all gifts & programs in ways that strengthen donors' interest in, satisfaction with, & commitment to the College. Refine & build on stewardship programs which are both comprehensive & innovative
Be an active partner to the president & a contributing member of the senior leadership.
Possess a willingness & ability to participate in community life at the college above & beyond the confines of development & advancement
Become an active member of the local Yellow Springs community. Help to build on the existing goodwill that the president & Antioch College receive from residents, & convert long-lasting relationships into giving opportunities.

Qualifications & Experience:
The vice president for advancement is expected to have the following personal characteristics & professional experience:
A deep appreciation for the mission & aspirations of Antioch College & the vision of the president for its new direction; the ability to effectively articulate this collective vision to the College's key stakeholders
The desire to play a meaningful role in the life of the College & its extended community & to share in Antioch's commitment to a unique, life-changing undergraduate educational experience
A demonstrated ability to plan, execute & successfully close significant major gifts; meaningful experience working in an academic setting is desirable
A demonstrated track record of success in asking for & closing gifts
Experience in leading, or being a part of a comprehensive campaign aimed at securing transformational gifts during a time of rapid growth is preferable
The professional credibility & maturity required to effectively engage & leverage the president, faculty, volunteer leadership, & other key stakeholders in building a new traditional of fundraising
A track record of success leading a small team; an approach to management that brings out the best in staff & yields pride, ownership, & a sense of collaborative effort
A respect for operational efficiency & optimal use of resources; the ability to plan, monitor, & tightly manage a budget
Excellent communication skills, both written & verbal; the ability to influence & inspire.
The intellectual depth necessary to understand & translate academic, technical, & other information for a variety of audiences, crisply & concisely
Honestly, integrity, enthusiasm, & perspectives; a strong work ethic, supported by commitment & follow-through
The confidence & knowledge required to advance & defend ideas & programs in an environment that respects conviction but demands analytical rigor; a love of intellectual exchange & lively dialogue
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or study preferred
Ability & willingness to travel throughout the United States & around the world in non-COVID times
Willingness & ability to engage with the Dayton & Great Miami Valley community
An entrepreneurial spirit
At least five years of experience managing a comprehensive advancement team

Application Process:
Nominations for and expressions of interest in the vice president for advancement at Antioch College will be accepted until an appointment is made.

To apply, email hr@antiochcollege.edu. Include the position title in the subject line & submit in one attachment in Word or PDF format the following Application Materials:
A letter of application, in which you address the leadership priorities & attributes above
A resume detailing your positions & relevant experience
Three professional references who are familiar with your work & who will speak with Antioch College about your capabilities (will not be contacted without your permission)
Provide their contact information including name, association with you, telephone number, & email address

Your application will not be reviewed unless all application materials are received.

Electronic applications are preferred. Alternatively, you may send the same information by US mail. See info here: https://antiochcollege.edu/job/vice-president-for-advancement/

Antioch College is an equal opportunity employer; the College offers employment, advancement opportunities & benefits in a harassment-free environment on the basis of merit, qualifications, & competency to all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, gender identity, national origin, handicap, sexual orientation or covered veteran status. Candidates who can contribute to Antioch's commitment to diversity & its evolving multilingual culture are encouraged to apply.

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