Position Title: Vice President for University Advancement
Department: University Advancement
Reports to: President
Dominican University invites applicants and nominations for the position of Vice President for University Advancement.
Over the past three years, Dominican University has demonstrated a remarkable track record of enrollment growth. This sustained increase reflects Dominican's commitment to providing a high-quality, mission-driven education that resonates with today's students. Dominican's enrollment success speaks to the strength of our academic offerings, our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and our proactive strategies in meeting the evolving needs of students and families. The next Vice President for Advancement will build upon this foundation, expanding resources and partnerships that sustain our mission-driven commitment to inclusive excellence.
Dominican University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) where over 52% of students identify as Latine. DU transforms lives through education while advancing equity and access. Dominican combines robust financial aid, culturally responsive practices, and comprehensive support systems to empower first-generation and historically underserved students. Our graduates' success and strong retention rates demonstrate our effectiveness in creating pathways to leadership for diverse communities.
Joining at a transformative time, the next Vice President will have the opportunity to shape the future of advancement at Dominican and lead the planning and execution of the next comprehensive campaign. With a focus on Dominican's newly established Chicago campus, the Vice President will champion building and guiding robust fundraising initiatives vital to supporting the campus's growth and impact. Harnessing the momentum of this expansion, the Vice President will collaborate closely with campus leaders to craft targeted strategies that unlock the philanthropic potential within the Chicago metropolitan area. A primary objective will be to drive increased donor engagement and secure significant investments to provide the Chicago campus with the financial foundation needed to achieve its bold aspirations.
The Vice President for Advancement serves as a key member of the President's Cabinet and is responsible for the strategic leadership and oversight of all university advancement functions, including campaign and major gift fundraising, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, stewardship, and advancement administration, as well as alumnae/i relations and special events. Working closely with the President, Cabinet, academic deans, and the Board of Trustees, the Vice President aligns strategic and philanthropic priorities, building best-in-class advancement systems, processes, and policies to support Dominican University's mission and growth. A passion for the Catholic Dominican mission of the university and the ability to mobilize alumnae/I and other donors in the service of that mission are keys to success and job satisfaction.
This role requires a deep commitment to strengthening operational capacities within the advancement division, implementing results-oriented fundraising plans, and developing high-impact alumnae/I engagement strategies. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong aptitude for data-driven decision-making, using a constituent relationship management (CRM) system to build a robust pipeline of major and principal gifts and to enhance donor engagement, efficiency, and accountability.
Specific responsibilities include:
- Fundraising Strategy and Execution
- Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy in alignment with the institution's overall advancement goals.
- Oversee all fundraising initiatives, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and capital campaigns.
- Establish and update a five-year plan for advancement, setting annual fundraising goals and ensuring the use of data and analytics to drive strategies and measure success.
- Major Gifts and Donor Relations
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and close leadership gifts.
- Develop and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, ensuring personalized and strategic engagement.
- Ensure that major gift strategies are informed by data and CRM analytics, providing targeted engagement that aligns with Dominican's campaign objectives.
- Work closely with the President and other senior leaders to coordinate major gift solicitations and stewardship activities.
- Annual Giving and Planned Giving
- Oversee the planning and execution of the annual giving program, including direct mail, digital campaigns, and donor engagement events.
- Develop and implement strategies for growing the planned giving program, including marketing, donor education, and stewardship.
- Corporate and Foundation Relations
- Develop and maintain relationships with corporate and foundation partners.
- Identify and pursue grant opportunities that align with the institution's mission and goals.
- Oversee the preparation and submission of grant proposals and reports.
- Campaign Management
- Lead the planning and execution of capital campaigns and other special fundraising initiatives.
- Develop campaign plans, timelines, and budgets, ensuring effective coordination and communication with all stakeholders.
- Monitor campaign progress and provide regular updates to the President and other senior leaders.
- Advancement Systems and Process Development
- Lead the creation and continuous improvement of best-in-class advancement systems and processes to streamline operations, improve donor relations, and maximize fundraising potential.
- Develop policies that reflect best practices in higher education advancement, ensuring a sustainable and scalable approach to university fundraising.
- Operational Capacity Building
- Strengthen the operational capacity of the advancement team by recruiting, retaining, and developing a high-performing staff.
- Cultivate a collaborative work environment, fostering diversity, innovation, and a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing fundraising team, promoting professional growth and continuous improvement.
- Establish clear goals, performance metrics, and accountability measures for team members.
- Collaboration and Communication
- Collaborate with the President, advancement team, and other departments to ensure alignment and coordination of fundraising efforts.
- Communicate fundraising goals, strategies, and progress to internal and external stakeholders.
- Work with volunteer groups related to fundraising.
- Represent the institution at donor events, community gatherings, and other public engagements.
- Reporting and Accountability
- Prepare reports as appropriate and review them with the President.
- Monitor and report on the progress and impact of fundraising activities to ensure accountability and transparency.
The Vice President for University Advancement represents Dominican University to a broad range of constituents, inside and outside the institution, and should be engaged professionally and within the not-for-profit community as well as with community leaders, business and corporate partners in ways that benefit the university. Qualifications:
- Seven to ten years of leadership experience in advancement, including ongoing interaction with boards of trustees and/or advisory boards, preferably in higher education or organizations of similar complexity.
- Proven track record of achieving institutional fundraising goals and a personal history of fundraising success at the major or principal gift level.
- Campaign experience and/or experience designing broad-based engagement strategies.
- The ability to extract and analyze data to make effective decisions about prospect/constituency engagement strategies and processes.
- Demonstrated ability in planning and executing communications to complement advancement initiatives.
- Ability to articulate and integrate Dominican's mission and Catholic identity into the work of the advancement office.
- Proven commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Exemplary communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Astute interpersonal skills, with a contagious enthusiasm for the work and a relentlessly collaborative style.
- A Master's degree is preferred.
A background screening is required.
Dominican University, a Catholic HSI, is a comprehensive teaching university located in River Forest, a suburb of Chicago, with a total enrollment over 3,900 students. The University was designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2011, with 53% of undergraduates first generation in college, 68% female, 52% Latine, and 6% Black/African-American.
Dominican University's mission is to prepare students to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world. Toward that end, the university is committed to building a culturally diverse educational environment. For more information about Dominican University, see .
Dominican University is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to the goal of building a faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. We seek a diverse pool of applicants who bring varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
