Princeton University · 9 hours ago
Associate Vice President for Fundraising Initiatives and Donor Relations
Princeton, NJ
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$315K/yr - $360K/yr
10+ years expPrinceton University is seeking an Associate Vice President for Fundraising Initiatives and Donor Relations to provide vision, strategy, and momentum for all capital/restricted fundraising and donor stewardship initiatives. The AVP will lead a team of approximately 20 staff members, working collaboratively to develop fundraising priorities and ensure a best-in-class donor stewardship experience.
AlumniEducationHigher EducationUniversities
Hiring Manager
Sanya Boyd, PHR, SHRM-CP
Responsibilities
Work with the Vice President and colleagues on the University Advancement senior leadership team to determine long- and short-term strategic goals in alumni engagement, fundraising, and a culture of impact
Serve as a trusted advisor to the VP and an occasional proxy when and as appropriate
Lead the process through which the University develops and approves fundraising priorities and gift opportunities, including for term support, endowed funds, and facilities
Oversee and work closely with the Fundraising Initiatives Group to partner with administrators and faculty across initiatives to create compelling materials, prepare for meetings and events with potential and current donors, and, collaborating with the giving groups, drive coordinated strategies to maximize fundraising results supporting the University’s strategic priorities
Participate in regular conversations with Nassau Hall colleagues regarding key gift conversations and gift purposes and restrictions; provide guidance on fundraising initiatives and campus priorities to prospect managers
Lead Fundraising Initiatives Group in drafting gift acceptance terms and documents for outright gifts and documented bequest intentions, in consultation with Nassau Hall partners and with General Counsel; serve as one of two individual authorized to accept restricted gifts on behalf of the University
Oversee the monitoring, updating, and expansion of two Gift Policy Guides, collaborating with colleagues within and outside Advancement to ensure currency and completeness of gift-related policies and procedures. As needed, collaborate to draft new policies and determine best practices for gift acceptance, documentation, and counting
Represent Advancement in key campus meetings, including but not limited to the Fundraising Priorities Committee and Facilities Planning Group meetings
Lead, mentor, and motivate a team of approximately 20 FTE’s prepared to meet the ongoing opportunities and challenges of higher education fundraising and donor relations. Provide direct supervision of the Director of Donor Relations; the Senior Associate Director, Fundraising Initiatives Group; and a Senior Associate Director who manages a team focused on written fundraising and stewardship materials. Maintain a leadership style that fosters collaboration and empowers staff through active communication and delegation
Serve as the Executive Sponsor for Donor Relations events, including large-scale campus events, international conferences, and dedications and other donor recognition experiences, ensuring their success through a key set of objectives; also oversee the continued development and implementation of a Donor Relations program that includes acknowledgment, recognition, fund reporting, and lifetime giving groups
Working with the Senior Associate Director, lead a team of writers focused on proposals, speeches, letters, and other materials, ensuring the highest quality in keeping with the standards of the University’s senior administration
Play an active role in the life of the University, including but not limited to committees, task forces, and areas of personal interest
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree and minimum of ten years of professional higher education, academic administrative or development-related experience or related work experience
Strong leadership, exceptional judgment and discretion, superb communication skills, and the ability to work creatively and collaboratively with many constituencies, both on and off campus
Demonstrated experience as a manager and supervisor of staff, including the ability to motivate people, build buy-in around organizational goals and decisions, lead teams through change, measure and manage performance, address underperformance, and develop processes and policies designed to optimize the effectiveness and productivity of the office and its members
Ability to articulate Princeton's mission and priorities with enthusiasm, energy, and conviction, and in a manner that inspires others to action
Knowledge of the principles of fundraising and the current philanthropic landscape, including current best practices, strategies, and policies related to annual and capital/restricted giving
Strong strategic planning and project management skills necessary to set and monitor progress against goals, to develop plans and timelines, and to measure success toward goals
Proven ability to develop and foster relationships with stakeholders at all levels across a complex organization, and to collaborate and influence at a high level
Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and in teams, with high personal standards representative of Princeton's commitment to excellence
Track record of recruiting, mentoring, motivating, and leading a strong, cohesive, and high-performing team; the managerial skills to establish a collaborative, team- and goal-oriented environment, providing vision and encouraging innovation; the ability to empower staff through active communication and delegation, building confidence, promoting diversity of thought, and celebrating achievements
Sound judgment, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail; the ability to think strategically and act decisively and to make sound judgments and solve problems without close day-to-day supervision
Ability to respond quickly to changing business needs and priorities. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and to produce high-quality and compelling work product under tight deadlines. Ability to work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly-collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment
Strong familiarity with Princeton University and its mission
Commitment to the Office of Advancement's mission of maximizing philanthropic support for Princeton University and to adhering to its guiding principles of High Performance, Innovation, Civility, and Collaboration
Preferred
PhD or other advanced academic degree
Benefits
Comprehensive benefit program
Company
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private Ivy League university that offers a variety of master’s degrees and Ph. D.s.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Princeton University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (301)
2024 (220)
2023 (218)
2022 (172)
2021 (207)
2020 (193)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$11.44MKey Investors
US Department of EnergyAlfred P. Sloan FoundationNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
2024-06-06Grant· $2M
2023-08-14Grant
2022-02-15Grant· $5.5M
Leadership Team
Amy Robinson Sterling
Executive Director, Eyewire
Anne-Marie Maman
Founding Director - Princeton Entrepreneurship Council
Recent News
2025-12-28
2025-12-22
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2025-12-16
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