Concordia is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body and spirit for service
to Christ in the Church and in the world.
Position Summary
The Assistant Vice President (AVP)
for Advancement will provide strategic leadership and operational support for the Office of Advancement, with a particular emphasis on major
gift fundraising, campaign execution, alumni and donor engagement, and the supervision of key advancement professionals. The AVP for
Advancement will build a network of CUWAA constituents, to include alumni, donors, donor prospects, past or current parents, church and
community leaders. The AVP for Advancement will personally participate in prospect qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
of major, planned, and estate gifts, focusing on solicitations of gifts or pledges of $25,000+.
This position reports directly to the
Vice President for Advancement and serves as a senior leader within the Advancement office. The Assistant Vice President for Advancement
will serve as an ambassador for development and alumni relations efforts, representing Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor with
integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to Christian values and principles.
This is a full-time position located on the Mequon,
Wisconsin campus.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide leadership in the planning, execution,
- and evaluation of major fundraising campaigns within higher education, including comprehensive, capital, endowment, and special initiative
- campaigns.
- Serve as the supervisor for various director-level positions within the Advancement office, providing accountability,
- coaching, and support in alignment with University goals.
- Cultivate existing major gift donors and qualify new major gift prospects
- for Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor, with an emphasis on connections within the community and select regions
- nationally.
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 60-80 major gift donors and donor prospects.
- Establish and manage a schedule
- of qualification, cultivation, and gift solicitation visits, especially among key alumni, parents, university friends, and Milwaukee-area
- community leaders.
- Work closely with the Vice President for Advancement and AVP for Advancement Services to develop and implement
- strategies that advance the priorities of the department and the goals of the University at large, connecting donor interests with
- institutional needs. Be open to other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the vice president.
- Represent the mission, values,
- and priorities of Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor to internal and external audiences, as well as serve as an ambassador for
- development and alumni relations efforts. Build relationships that allow for navigating the university structure to gain assistance from
- other departments and personnel.
- Support cross-functional tasks across the Advancement department, including collaboration with
- major gifts, annual giving, alumni relations, donor relations, advancement services, events, communications, and church
- relations.
- Assist in the planning and execution of special events related to major gift fundraising, alumni relations, donor
- stewardship, campaign activity, and community outreach.
- Conduct all activities within the budget established by the
- University.
- Other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Demonstrated
- understanding of development techniques, major gift fundraising, campaign strategy, and donor cultivation best practices to meet high
- performance and accountability standards. Preferred knowledge of and/or experience fundraising within the Lutheran community and/or
- Milwaukee-area community.
- Experience conducting major fundraising campaigns within higher education
- Build lasting
- relationships with prospects, donors, university colleagues, community and church leaders
- Possess the management skills to
- supervise, mentor, and lead director-level staff members in a collaborative and mission-focused environment, committed to Christian values
- and principles.
- Interpersonal skills using tact and patience through oral and written communication
- Maintain a high level of
- confidentiality
- Available and willing to accommodate evening and weekend work multiple times monthly
- Willingness to travel
- both locally (weekly) and outside of Wisconsin (quarterly)
- Supportive of the mission and values of Concordia University
- Wisconsin/Ann Arbor and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)
Education
and Experience
- A bachelor's degree is required, a master's degree is preferred.
- At least ten years of
- progressively responsible experience in advancement, development, fundraising, sales, external relations, or a related field is preferred,
- with demonstrated success in major gift fundraising.
- Experience fundraising within the Lutheran community and/or the Milwaukee
- community is preferred.
- Experience conducting major fundraising campaigns within higher education is required. Supervisory
- experience is preferred, particularly with professional-level or director-level staff.
- Must be computer literate with an
- understanding of development or fundraising techniques, donor database systems, prospect management, and best practices in advancement.
Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt (salary) staff position. The starting wage may be
determined upon education and/or experience. Concordia University benefit options include, but are not limited to the following:
- Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Personal Spending Account, Flexible Spending Account, and/or Health Savings
- Account
- Disability and Survivor Plan
- Retirement Pension Plan
- Retirement 403(b) Savings Plan
- Basic Life and
- Supplemental Life Insurance
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage
- Critical Illness and Accident
- Insurance
- Tuition waiver benefits (available for employees and their qualified dependents)
Compensation and Benefits (Click to View)
Application Instructions
To receive full consideration, all applicants are asked to complete and submit an online
employment application through the Concordia University Employment page. To begin, please
click the Apply Now section on the job page and then click the Apply For This Position button to begin the application process.
Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of CU to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants
for employment in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
The University will not discriminate against or
harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship
status, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, gender, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics,
domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
However, CU is an
institution of the LCMS and, to the extent allowed by law, CU reserves the right to give preference in employment based on religion. In
addition, preference in holding certain employment positions is given to ordained or rostered ministers of the LCMS. Based on a religious
tenet, CU recognizes only male, LCMS ordained Ministers of the Gospel, but recognizes both male and female LCMS Rostered Ministers of the
Gospel.
The Human Resources Department has been appointed to manage the equal employment opportunity program, including all equal
employment opportunity activities, as required by federal, state and local agencies. If any employee or applicant for employment believes
this policy has been violated, he/she must contact the Director of Human Resources.
Concordia University is a HLC accredited,
co-educational, liberal arts school offering more than 72 undergraduate majors, over 35 master's degree programs, and 5 doctoral programs.
There are also a variety of accelerated evening and e-learning programs
For more information, or to apply now, you must go to the
website below. Please DO NOT email your resume to us as we only accept applications through our website.