Associate Vice President of Development

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for PLNU's major gifts, planned giving, and foundation fundraising programs
• Lead and mentor a frontline fundraising team including Major Gift Officers, Planned Giving, and Foundation Relations staff
• Design and implement a comprehensive planned giving strategy focused on expanding revocable and irrevocable estate gifts
• Develop integrated strategies, engagement plans, and marketing efforts to grow planned giving and estate giving pipelines
• Serve as a player-coach by managing a portfolio of major donors and high-net-worth planned giving prospects
• Lead fundraising strategy development in preparation for PLNU's comprehensive campaign launching in 2027
• Establish moves management strategies, fundraising metrics, and accountability systems for development officers
• Partner with advancement leadership to implement campaign priorities, special initiatives, and presidential fundraising goals
• Collaborate with academic and administrative leaders to identify funding priorities and develop compelling cases for support
• Provide strategic oversight for donor stewardship, campaign reporting, and advancement communications
• Ensure accurate documentation and donor activity reporting within Raiser's Edge and related advancement systems
• Support integration of gift and estate planning strategies across all frontline fundraising activities
• Represent PLNU at donor meetings, engagement events, conferences, and philanthropic gatherings

Requirements

• Proven success leading major gift and planned giving fundraising strategies within higher education or complex nonprofit environments
• Strong ability to cultivate and steward relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and philanthropic partners
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing fundraising professionals in a metrics-driven environment
• Strategic thinker with the ability to build scalable fundraising systems, donor engagement strategies, and campaign initiatives
• Experience designing and implementing comprehensive planned giving and estate giving programs
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills with the ability to inspire donors, volunteers, and institutional leaders
• Ability to analyze fundraising data, pipeline activity, and campaign performance to drive strategic decisions
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to partner effectively across university departments and leadership teams
• High level of professionalism, discretion, judgment, and emotional intelligence
• Knowledge and experience working with a diverse population is preferred
• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred
• At least ten years of progressive experience in major gifts fundraising and team leadership, preferably within a higher education or comparably complex non-profit environment
• Thorough knowledge of development principles and a strong record of accomplishment in creating and managing a comprehensive major gifts program
• Demonstrated success discovering, cultivating, and soliciting major gifts in excess of $50,000
• Success soliciting and closing major, blended, and revocable/irrevocable estate and planned gifts
• Familiarity with estate planning instruments, products, principles, and marketing programs, and success integrating gift and estate planning into

Benefits

Additional Information

PLNU is a Christian liberal arts university in the evangelical, Wesleyan tradition, offering quality undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. We provide higher education in a vibrant Christian environment where minds are engaged and challenged, character is modeled and formed, and service is an expression of faith. PLNU is an institution that is committed to reflecting the rich diversity of God's kingdom. We therefore encourage applications from culturally diverse candidates.

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