Vice President for Development
and Executive Director of the SOU Foundation
Application Information
Southern Oregon University has engaged the services of Paschal Murray, Inc., an executive search firm, to assist with this recruitment. Interested candidates are asked to visit www.paschalmurray.com where the Position Announcement describes the position and provides instructions for making an application.
Our contact:
Colette M. Murray, JD, CFRE, Search Consultant
82782 Matthau Drive, Indio California, 92201
(760) 863-4512
Position Description
The Vice President for Development and Executive Director of the SOU Foundation serves as the University’s chief development officer, providing leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the administration and management of the SOU Foundation and Office of Development. Working with a volunteer Foundation Board of Directors, University leadership, faculty, and staff, the Vice President is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive resource development initiatives that support Southern Oregon University and its students.
The Vice President has a significant effect on the University’s ability to engage current and future donors in a meaningful way. He or she is responsible for enhancing the University’s ability to identify, establish, create and maintain strong relationships with individuals, corporations and foundations.
Supervising the alumni, annual giving, planned giving, and major gifts staff, this position reports directly to the University President and works in close partnership with the University Foundation President. The Vice President serves on the President’s Cabinet and the Executive Council and chairs the Development Management Council.
Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive development plan aligned with the University’s mission, vision, and goals. The development plan: Focuses on expanding and enhancing corporate, foundation, and private relationships; Coordinates activities to obtain corporate, foundation, and private monetary support; Contains clear benchmarks and goals for success as well as steps needed to attain those goals.
- Works on a regular basis with the University President to develop high value corporate, foundation, and personal alliances and identify, evaluate, cultivate, and solicit philanthropic commitments to support the mission and goals of the University.
- As Executive Director of the Foundation, ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Board of Directors and the Foundation staff.
- Work closely with the leadership of the University Foundation to ensure Foundation participation in and support of the execution of the comprehensive development plan.
- Work closely with Alumni Relations, development staff, and other University representatives to build awareness among corporate and foundation constituencies and significantly expand fund-raising relationships. Identify key alumni within corporations/foundations and review corporate profiles that suggest potential relationships.
- Create and train a development team of University faculty and staff to cultivate and steward prospective donors.
- Work with the Enrollment Services Center and academic departments to ensure scholarships for students are available for timely award and donors are recognized appropriately.
- Initiate opportunities for faculty, administrators, and deans to interact with corporate and foundation prospects and interpret corporate and foundation interests to University constituencies. Assist the schools and units in identifying and maximizing resources and support required to advance their fundraising.
- Maintain a rigorous schedule of contacts with corporate, foundation, and private representatives, creating management plans, compelling presentations and comprehensive fundraising proposals. Develop highly competitive proposals for corporate and foundation prospects and leverage diverse corporate and foundation goals and preferences in conjunction with University goals.
- Monitor proposal deadlines, prepare and edit proposals, and manage proposal submissions.
- Maintain high quality stewardship process for active prospects and donors. Ensure that stewardship and reporting requirements are met to sustain successful partnerships by maintaining detailed records of solicitation activities.
- Supervise the daily operations, including budget development and management, of the Office of Development.
Required Qualifications
- Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and techniques, particularly in the area of corporate and foundation fundraising techniques.
- Demonstrated ability in grant and proposal writing at appropriate levels for varied proposal development.
- Demonstrated knowledge of methods, practices and procedures for obtaining information about the giving programs of corporations and foundations.
- Self-motivation and discipline to regularly set and achieve work goals.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal and networking skills with large groups and individuals. Ability to maintain a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances. Ability to build and motivate a strong campus team.
- Ability to initiate and build relationships with prospective corporate, foundation, and private donors.
- Demonstrated ability to take primary responsibility for diverse number of projects and to complete them in a timely manner with limited supervision.
- Demonstrated record of success in generating significant commitments from corporations, foundations, and private individuals.
- Ability to travel frequently and to entertain prospective donors throughout the state and region.
Experience and Education
- A bachelor’s degree required; CFRE certification and advanced degree preferred.
- A minimum of 5 years progressively responsible development and stewardship experience and successful corporate and/or foundation fundraising preferably in public higher education.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to interact with a variety of organizations and individuals to significantly increase the visibility of the University. Able to convey appropriate messages and represent the University to prospective donors to encourage interest in and support of the University’s mission and goals.
- Demonstrated experience working with institutional and development boards.
- Proven record of successful management of development activities with successful annual and major gifts campaign experience.
- Experience developing an assessment process to identify and attain appropriate benchmarks for development.
- Knowledge and understanding of budget practices and investment principles with the ability to analyze information for reports and organize data into effective oral and written presentations.
