Posted: Jun 13, 2025

Vice President for Advancement

College of the Holy Cross - Worcester, MA

Salary: $325,000.00 - $380,000.00 Annually

Application Deadline: N/A

Vice President for Advancement

College of the Holy Cross

Description

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The new VPA joins Holy Cross at an exciting and pivotal moment in its history. In early 2023, the College launched https://aspire.holycross.edu/downloads/aspire-strategic-plan-2023.pdf, our strategic plan for a hope-filled future, which asserts a bold vision for igniting the college's reputation as an academic powerhouse and delivering a transformational residential experience for all students regardless of their economic means. In support of this vision, the College is in the early/quiet stages of a comprehensive campaign. The VPA will serve as a key leader in that endeavor. This role offers a unique opportunity to develop a modern, 50+ person mission-driven advancement team and organization capable of sustaining generous, lifelong engagement from the Holy Cross community. A central responsibility of the VPA is the cultivation and stewardship of a select portfolio of the College's highest-rated donors and philanthropic partners. In close collaboration with https://www.holycross.edu/about-holy-cross/leadership/office-of-the-president and other senior members of the administration, Trustees, and key volunteers, the VPA will help secure transformational gifts that bring the aspirations of the strategic plan to life and ensure the College's bright and enduring future.Key Responsibilities:

Provide visionary and strategic leadership for all advancement-related functions, including major, principal and planned giving, annual giving, alumni and parent engagement, donor relations, corporate and foundation relations, advancement communications, and advancement operations.
Serve as a key leader-alongside the President and Board-in orchestrating and driving the success of the comprehensive campaign in support of Aspire, the College's strategic plan.
Personally manage a portfolio of the institution's most generous, loyal, and influential donors and prospects, building lasting relationships that align donor interests with strategic priorities.
Inspire, mentor, and lead a talented advancement division, fostering a culture of teamwork, collaboration, innovation, high performance, results orientation and mission alignment.
Elevate systems, practices, and metrics to support an efficient, data-informed advancement enterprise, enabling sustained growth over time.
Serve as a trusted and valuable member of the President's leadership team to move strategic and organizational goals and priorities forward. Work collaboratively across College administrative divisions.
Partner regularly with the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance ("SVP for A&F") and related team members to ensure employment of best practices and alignment including reporting fundraising results internally and externally. Meet regularly with the President and SVP for A&F.
Work closely with the Vice President for Communications and Marketing, the chief communications strategist collegewide, to integrate Advancement into the College's comprehensive communications plans and ensure proper alignment across the two divisions.
Engage senior academic and administrative leaders across the College to identify compelling philanthropic opportunities and co-create strategies for donor engagement.
Provide staff support to the Board of Trustees as needed.
Serve as a key external ambassador for the College's mission, impact, and vision.
Uphold and articulate the values of Jesuit, Catholic higher education in all aspects of advancement work, ensuring alignment with the institution's identity and commitment to inclusive excellence.
Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Authentic appreciation for the https://catalog.holycross.edu/about/missionstatement/ of Holy Cross and the Jesuit educational tradition.
10 or more years of successful leadership experience in an advancement role in a major academic, cultural, healthcare, or other not-for-profit institution with a sophisticated donor base.
Demonstrated success identifying, cultivating and soliciting six to eight-figure gifts, and managing a personal portfolio of high-capacity donors.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to inspire confidence, build strong relationships, and represent the College's mission with intelligence, empathy, and integrity.
Strong record of success in comprehensive and endowment fundraising, campaign execution, and principal gift development. Experience leading campaigns is highly desirable.
Demonstrated ability to be a trusted advisor and build a strong working relationship with the president/institutional leader.
Experience working with a highly engaged and dedicated board of trustees, and other key alumni/donor volunteers.
Familiarity with the regional and national philanthropic communities.
An inspirational, collaborative and transparent leadership style, with proven success in the development of high performance teams.
Commitment to best practices in the advancement field and an understanding of the full range of fundraising strategies and tactics, both established and emerging.
Strategic thinking and comfort working in complex, mission-driven institutions, especially through change.
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Additional information: This is a full-time exempt level position with a salary ranging from $325,000 - $380,000. The College is committed to providing competitive market pay for its employees. The College also offers a competitive benefits package for full-time staff, including:

10% College contribution to 403(b) Retirement Plan with a required 2% employee contribution (increases to 12% and 5% respectively above the Social Security Wage Base)

In addition, this position qualifies for the College of the Holy Cross 457(b) deferred compensation plan

Tuition & Education Benefits

Note:The waiting period for the 403(b) Retirement Plan and Tuition Benefits may be waived with qualifying prior service.

Robust Health and Welfare plans
Wellness and Training opportunities
4-day condensed summer work week

The College is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and complies with all Federal and Massachusetts laws concerning Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action in the workplace. To review our Employee Benefit Options, please go to: https://www.holycross.edu/human-resources/benefits

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: To be considered for this opportunity, it is essential to upload both a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter please address how your work might support the College's mission as a Jesuit, undergraduate liberal arts college (see http://www.holycross.edu/mission) and its core commitment to justice and https://www.holycross.edu/diversity-and-inclusion/office-justice-equity-belonging-identity. Also please provide examples of any past work that illuminate your commitments in the following areas:

leadership experience in strategic advancement
campaign experience and philanthropic vision (including experience with fundraising for comprehensive campaigns with access/people/programmatic areas of focus not just capital)
approach to donor engagement and team leadership style/culture
readiness to relocate or travel as the position requires
interest in entering the search process and your belief in the unique opportunity offered by the institution at this time

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with a consideration deadline of July 18, 2025. The College also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities during the hiring process in compliance with law. Please contact Merrilee Grenier, Senior Associate Director of Employee Relations and Legal Compliance, for questions or to request an accommodation via email at mailto:[email protected], or by calling 508-793-3957.

To apply, please visit: https://apptrkr.com/6279734

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