Job Description

Job Summary

Under the leadership of the Vice President for University Advancement, the Assistant Vice President will work with the VP and other AVPs to create, implement, and maintain a broader advancement strategy that includes but is not limited to building a pipeline that will sustain the university short and long-term goals, working with deans to prioritize their needs and bring forth fundable priorities, and work with other AVPs to package priorities for higher level giving opportunities. AVPs will oversee a team of development officers at varying levels and will be responsible for a team fundraising goal as well as an individual fundraising goal.


AVP will have a niche portfolio of prospects with a capacity of $500k or more. AVP is responsible for having comprehensive understanding of university priorities meeting with prospects and donors (with a focus on face-to-face visits), regularly meeting with advancement colleagues and academic leaders, preparing briefing materials and gift proposals, attending events and staffing and/or supervising projects as assigned.

Successful candidates will approach their role with a sense of donor-centeredness, collaboration and transparency. They will have strong communication skills and be willing to serve as role models to other professional and support staff. High integrity, strong self-motivation, innovation, flexibility and passion are all valued qualities on the University Advancement team. Additionally, successful candidates will have a proven ability to build long-term relationships while also consistently meeting fundraising goals. Individuals will also be required to work nights and weekends, when necessary, travel (via plane, train, or car) at least 15% of the time within and outside of the state of Georgia. As our program is complex and in a phase of rapid innovation, the ability to adapt to quickly changing environments is key.



Job Duties

Leadership & Strategy

Lead, manage, coach and mentor a team of development professionals, setting performance goals and fostering professional growth.

Provide appropriate feedback in a timely manner to individuals within the reporting structure.

Lead and execute fundraising strategies, including major gifts, corporate & foundation giving, and planned giving for the cohort. These activities require close collaboration with various offices.

In concert with the VP, oversee the execution of comprehensive & capital campaigns, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and donor interests.

Collaborate with the VP, deans, and other university leadership to establish annual and long-term fundraising goals.

Provide strategic direction for advancement operations, ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation.

Develop data-driven fundraising strategies using metrics and analytics to optimize donor engagement and retention.


Fundraising and Prospect Management

Manage a portfolio of corporate and foundation prospects, frequently interact with c-suite/executives that include the most influential, complex or highest capacity-rated donors. Ensure regular contact with the corporations/foundations through various activities and communications, including face-to-face and virtual visits.

Qualify corporations and foundations for potential major gifts and solicit gifts via proposal, consistently raising a minimum cohort goal of $20M. Identify new major gift prospects: develop and execute cultivation and solicitation plans for gifts primarily $500,000 and above from corporations and foundations. Ensure that predetermined fundraising goals are met by designing and implementing highly specialized activities for portfolio prospects and donors.

Independently lead and direct a comprehensive fundraising plan for assigned portfolio and University Advancement fundraising initiatives. Create, write, implement, and/or evaluate individualized marketing plans and/or strategies for cultivation and solicitation of corporate/foundation prospects that require a high degree of innovation. Collaborate with Advancement departments, deans, faculty, and university administrators in developing plans and strategies customized for prospects and donors, as appropriate.

In consultation with VP and peers, identify, develop, initiate and manage fundraising efforts in support of University Advancement goals for campus cohorts to include current funding priorities, special fundraising initiatives, prospect pipeline, and developing individual and programmatic strategies for moving prospects from identification and qualification to solicitation and closure. Coordinate activities with other development officers and entities, including deans, faculty, staff and administrators. Identify, organize and direct the efforts of philanthropic volunteers.

Write complex proposals for solicitation of high value corporations and / or foundation prospects. Corresponding to prospect’s interest, develop persuasive written and oral presentations, gift proposals, concept papers, and/or informal descriptions for gift ideas for presentations to donors, adhering to campus policies and procedures governing gifts. Present formal fundraising proposals to major donors and prospects or prepare senior management for the presentation of proposals. Meet with administration to identify needs and develop specific proposals and solicitation methods.

The National Institute of Student Success (NISS) is its own complex entity that requires dedicated attention by the AVP of Corporate / Foundation Relations as the proposals not only work to support GSU but other Universities/Colleges around the United States.

Work collaboratively with the VPs of Advancement and Researcher, Procurement, and campus leadership, deans etc. to develop holistic relationships with corporations that will multiple purposes of the campus including but not limited to philanthropy, research, IP/Patent/Start Ups, community connects, workforce develop, volunteerism, internships, and talent pipeline.

May attend functions, meetings and serve on internal / external committees as a lead of assigned cohort, Advancement, or the University. Must attend many internal and external meetings. May attend meetings in the stead of the VP. Work nights and weekends, when necessary, travel (via plane, train, or car) at least 15% of the time within and outside of the state of Georgia.


Donor Recognition & Stewardship

Develop reports in a timely fashion according to the requests of the corporations and foundations. Work with multiple units to ensure budgets and facts are correct for the corporate and foundation reports.

Serve as a resource for assigned cohort, interacting with prospects, donors, staff and outside professionals to provide information, advice and counsel regarding assigned specialized program(s). Work with University Advancement leadership and the Offices of Donor Experience and Engagement to develop, implement and coordinate donor recognition and stewardship opportunities.

Work with University Advancement leadership and the Offices of Donor Experience and Engagement to develop and present reports to donors on the use of gift funds, with emphasis on longer-term outcomes and leveraging of gift funds.

Create, establish and evaluate methods for building / maintaining prospect and volunteer constituencies and identify, recruit, and direct the activities of high level volunteers. Provide leadership to implement successful donor relations and stewardship programs and initiatives to ensure regular contact with donors through various activities and communications. Provide vehicles for continued awareness on the part of donors of current unit needs and objectives in order to encourage continued giving.


Leadership & Administration

Serve as an expert or lead development professional in cohort area, such as corporate and foundation relations gifts, that includes donors capable of making very significant contributions to the University. Responsible for ensuring collaboration with Prospect Management & Research, Donor Relations, Gifts & Records, Development IT, and Foundation Accounting to ensure proper records are kept during all phases of fundraising.

In accordance with division practices and procedures:

Maintain accurate records for prospects and donors within Ascend CRM;

Report the status of pledges and gifts to the Offices of Gifts & Records and Foundation Accounting.

Enter and review contact reports, attend prospect management meetings, and compile meaningful reports of Advancement operations that will adequately inform the various GSU constituents.

Connect with donors related to endowed funds and scholarship, including sharing endowment reports, connecting with scholarship students, and other specialized activities.