Midwestern University · 2 months ago
Vice President for University Advancement
Downers Grove, Illinois, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
15+ years expMidwestern University is a dynamic institution on the rise, and they are seeking a Vice President for University Advancement to provide strategic and operational leadership for all advancement functions. This role involves designing and implementing a comprehensive advancement strategy, fostering collaboration across campuses, and guiding a high-performing team to strengthen the University’s philanthropic support and brand visibility.
Higher Education
Responsibilities
Partner with the President, Chief Academic Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other senior leaders to develop and execute a multi-year Advancement Strategic Plan aligned with institutional goals
Lead and align advancement strategies across both campuses, ensuring consistent best practices, shared services, and responsiveness to campus-specific needs
Serve as a key partner in planning major capital initiatives, program launches, and clinical expansions where philanthropy plays a strategic role
Represent the University to major donors, foundations, corporations, and alumni communities nationwide
Establish and monitor key performance indicators across major and planned giving, annual giving, alumni engagement, stewardship, and campaign progress
Promote a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and ethical, data-driven fundraising across all advancement operations
Oversee the full advancement cycle, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
Strengthen major and planned giving programs to expand endowment resources, foster transformational gifts, and build long-term philanthropic partnerships that sustain institutional priorities
Lead annual giving initiatives and digital campaigns that build donor participation and broaden philanthropic engagement
Advance corporate and foundation relations by cultivating strategic partnerships aligned with the University’s academic and clinical mission
Oversee alumni relations programs across both campuses, including communications, mentoring networks, regional chapters, and signature engagement events
Ensure rigorous and consistent donor recognition, gift agreement compliance, reporting, and stewardship across campuses
Oversee marketing and communications efforts that advance both philanthropic and enrollment goals by strengthening storytelling, brand consistency, and digital engagement strategies that connect donors, alumni, and prospective students with the institution’s mission and impact
Leverage data analytics, CRM systems, segmentation, and reporting to strengthen donor pipelines and advancement effectiveness
Build, mentor, and retain a talented, collaborative advancement team across both campuses
Foster a unified advancement culture that values professional development, shared accountability, and cross-campus partnership
Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in advancement staffing, volunteer engagement, and donor relations
Align advancement activities with academic leadership, faculty, staff, and clinic partners to fully integrate philanthropy into institutional life
Manage advancement budgets and optimize shared service models to ensure efficient use of resources
Ensure all advancement operations comply with federal and state laws, institutional policies, and ethical standards (CASE, AFP, AHP)
Maintain policies for gift acceptance, donor privacy, and data governance
Provide transparent, regular reporting to the President and the Board of Trustees on advancement performance, outcomes, and strategic positioning
Serve as staff liaison or advisor to the Board of Trustees’ Advancement or Development Committee
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
Minimum of 15 years of progressive leadership in higher education advancement or major gift fundraising, including experience leading multi-unit or multi-campus teams
Demonstrated success in securing major gifts (multi-seven or eight figures), annual giving growth, planned gifts, and campaign leadership
Experience in higher education, healthcare, or other mission-driven organizations with complex structures
Familiarity with health sciences education, clinical operations, and the philanthropic landscape for healthcare and allied health programs is highly desirable
Experience collaborating with deans, faculty, and clinic leadership to integrate philanthropy across academic and clinical settings
Proven ability to foster strong relationships with donors, alumni, and institutional partners across geographically diverse regions
Strategic thinker with business acumen and the ability to translate institutional priorities into effective advancement strategies
Proven record as a team builder and mentor who inspires collaboration, accountability, and high performance
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and storytelling skills; able to engage diverse stakeholders and convey institutional impact
Data-informed decision-maker with experience leveraging CRM systems, analytics, and dashboards to manage pipelines and outcomes
Entrepreneurial, adaptable, and resilient, with the ability to lead in a dynamic environment where healthcare education, philanthropy, and innovation intersect
Deep commitment to ethical fundraising, transparency, and meaningful donor and alumni engagement
Benefits
Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience
Budget support
Travel resources for donor engagement
Company
Midwestern University
Founded in 1900, Midwestern University is a not-for-profit graduate institution of higher education offering degrees in the health sciences on two campuses.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Midwestern 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 (9)
2024 (8)
2023 (3)
2022 (12)
2021 (12)
2020 (5)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Joshua Baker
Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for Optometry, Pharmacy and Veterinary Education
Kathleen Player
Chief Academic Officer and VP of Health Science Education and VP of Clinic Operations
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