Lindenwood University · 1 month ago
Senior Vice President, Advancement and Alumni Relations
Lindenwood University is a dynamic institution seeking a Senior Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations. The successful candidate will lead the university's fundraising efforts, develop strategic plans, and enhance alumni engagement to support the institution's mission and growth initiatives.
AlumniEducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement strategic plan aligned with board approved institutional priorities
Set ambitious yet achievable fundraising goals with direct accountability for achieving results
Provide strategic counsel to the President and Board of Trustees on key philanthropic opportunities
Build a campus-wide culture of philanthropy
Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to amplify Lindenwood’s mission, impact, and message
Manage a personal portfolio of major gift prospects and donors
Design and execute programs for major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and annual giving
Develop and drive innovative fundraising strategies and tactics supporting capital projects, endowment growth, and annual operations
Deliver measurable fundraising growth annually, with clearly defined performance targets
Strengthen alumni loyalty and philanthropic participation
Develop dynamic programs that keep alumni engaged beyond traditional events
Leverage alumni networks and organizations for student recruitment, career services, internships, and institutional visibility
Establish modern engagement platforms and communications that connect multi-generational alumni communities
Oversee advancement services including gift processing, CRM optimization, prospecting research, reporting, and board-level metrics
Ensure adherence to the highest ethical standards and ensure compliance with all applicable (fundraising) regulations
Lead continuous improvement and implement best practices in donor stewardship
Manage the advancement budget to ensure effective as well as efficient resource allocations
Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing advancement team that embodies the university’s mission and values
Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and innovation
Implement performance-based evaluations aligned to measurable outcomes
Provide professional growth opportunities that enhance team capacity and retention
Qualification
Required
An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position
Master's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field
Minimum of 15 years of progressive advancement and fundraising leadership experience in higher education. Minimum of 3 years at the VP (no. 1) or higher level at a comparable or larger institution
Documented expertise and success in major gift fundraising with personal solicitations resulting in six and seven-figure individual commitments
Experience in planning and executing $25M capital campaigns
Comprehensive knowledge of major gifts, planned giving, corporate/foundation relations, annual giving, and multi-generational alumni relations
Proven leadership and communications skills with any audience while balancing coaching and managing duties of a high-performance team
Strategic thinker who is adept at translating vision (the WHAT) into actionable plans (the WHY and HOW)
Relocation to the greater St. Louis area is a pre-requisite
Preferred
Experience at another private, established, comprehensive university of at least comparable size and complexity
Track record leading advancement through growth, turn around or transformational change
CFRE or comparable certification
Established networks across the mid-west/central region including the greater St. Louis area or similar metropolitan markets
Strong relationships with corporate, civic, non-profit and government partners
Benefits
Upon hire, employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s (employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs (employee and spouse only).
Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only).
Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break (Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1).
Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free meal on Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman Dining Hall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included.
Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy.
Company
Lindenwood University
Lindenwood University is a school in Saint Charles.
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
unknownKey Investors
Missouri Technology Corporation
2022-03-22Grant
Leadership Team
Recent News
Smart Business News
2025-11-07
Seattle TechFlash
2025-04-14
Company data provided by crunchbase