Description
The Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Purchase College Foundation and Charitable Entities (VPIA) will serve as SUNY Purchase's chief advancement strategist, partnering with the President and the College's Foundation Board to build an energetic fundraising, alumni engagement, and philanthropy program that expands support for students, academic excellence, and the College's nationally recognized arts and liberal arts mission. The role requires a…
transformational and engaged leader and manager with a proven record of success in individual and institutional giving, of Foundation governance, and organizational growth who can elevate Purchase, grow the Foundation's $100M endowment, and cultivate a culture of philanthropy across our stakeholders.
Reporting directly to the President of the College and serving as a member of the President's Cabinet, the VPIA also serves as Executive Director of the Purchase College Foundation, reporting to its Chair. The VPIA oversees all fundraising, working with the Executive Director of Alumni Engagement, gift and alumni relations officers and advancement services staff. The VPIA also serves as the institution's principal giving officer and supports the President through active alumni and donor travel as well as local engagement.
This position will:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive advancement strategy aligned with institutional goals.
- Work closely with Foundation Board and Board Chair.
- Manage a portfolio of principal and major gift prospects; cultivate, solicit, and steward high level donors.
- Expand digital and online giving, including giving platforms, campaigns, and donor engagement tools.
- Collaborate with Communications and Marketing to ensure consistent messaging and strong donor communications.
- Strengthen alumni and community engagement through programs and volunteer initiatives.
- Lead all phases of comprehensive campaigns, including planning, execution, and stakeholder engagement.
- Oversee all advancement operations, staff, and activities including prospect research, database management, and reporting.
Qualifications
Required Education and Experience
- 10+ years of progressive advancement or development experience including management of an advancement team
- Proven success with fundraising (i.e. capital campaigns and securing major/principal gifts).
- Experience with online giving strategies and digital engagement.
- Experience working with a Foundation Board and Board Chair.
- Strong leadership, communication, and relationship building skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across departments, especially with Communications and Marketing.
- Familiarity with advancement CRM systems.
- Strategic, collaborative, and innovative leader.
- Strong commitment to the institution's mission.
Preferred Education and Experience
- Higher education experience.
- Master's degree in a related field.
Special Note
About SUNY Purchase
A top 10 public school, according to U.S. News & World Report, SUNY Purchase, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, is a dynamic campus that combines conservatory training in the visual and performing arts with programs in the liberal arts and sciences, in order to inspire an appreciation for both intellectual and artistic talents in all students. SUNY Purchase is a community of students, faculty, and friends where open-minded engagement with the creative process leads to a lifetime of intellectual growth and professional opportunity. For more information about the college, visit SUNY Purchase.
Benefits
- Health, dental, and vision benefits are available to eligible employees after a 28-day waiting period. More information regarding other benefits such as generous paid time off, tuition assistance, and retirement systems can be found on SUNY's Benefit Summaries website.
- SUNY Purchase is a qualifying government employer allowing eligible employees to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
- Access to the NAEYC-accredited, on-campus child care at The Children's Center.
- Discounted access to the world-class Performing Arts Center, free admission to the Neuberger Museum of Art, and free access to the athletic facilities.
- Other benefits include business-casual dress and an opportunity to telecommute (dependent on job function and operational need). For detailed information on some of the College's employee benefits, visit the College's Human Resources/Benefits website.
How to Apply
The search committee for SUNY Purchase's next Vice President for Institutional Advancement/Executive Director is being assisted by Academic Search. To apply, applicants should visit the following link: https://www.academicsearch.org/SUNYPurchaseVPIAApply.
Applications should consist of a substantive cover letter addressing the qualifications and expectations in the position profile and a curriculum vitae, both submitted as PDFs. A list of professional references will be required later in the process. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, those received by September 17, 2026, can be assured full consideration. Nominations and expressions of interest can be submitted in confidence to SUNYPurchaseVPIA@academicsearch.org.
To learn more about this opportunity and discuss your qualifications and interest, potential applicants are encouraged to send a copy of their curriculum vitae to SUNYPurchaseVPIA@academicsearch.org for review by Senior Consultants, Dr. Tara Singer and Ms. Lisa Ryan. The anticipated start date for the position is January 1, 2027.
AA/EEO Statement
SUNY Purchase is an AA/EEO employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Clery
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University's crime statistics for the past three years; and the availability regarding the University's current campus security policies. The Annual Security Report is available at Purchase College NYS University Police Website.
Nondiscrimination Policy
SUNY Purchase is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to service, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction. Employees, students, applicants, or other members of the Purchase community (including vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic. To view the entire policy, please visit the following website: SUNY Purchase Equity and Civil Rights Website.
Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. SUNY Purchase is an AA/EEO employer. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish, and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University's crime statistics for the past three years; and the availability regarding the University's current campus security policies. SUNY Purchase's Annual Security Report is available at SUNY Purchase's NYS University Police Website.
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