Vice President of Advancement - Keck Graduate Institute

At a glance

An opportunity to build, lead, and shape the future of advancement.Another Source is partnering with Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) in Claremont, CA, to recruit its next Vice President of Advancement.With preparations underway for its upcoming comprehensive fundraising campaign, KGI is seeking a strategic, entrepreneurial leader who can balance big-picture vision with hands-on fundraising and team leadership.A few highlights:

• Team leadership: Lead a five-person Advancement team across fundraising, alumni engagement, corporate and foundation relations, and operations.
• Fundraising momentum: Build on a $4.5M annual fundraising goal and a $70M institutional endowment.
• Opportunity to grow: Expand philanthropic relationships beyond KGI's approximately 3,000 alumni and help shape its upcoming comprehensive campaign.
• Meaningful impact: Lead advancement at an institution where you can directly influence strategy and remain closely involved in execution.

Location: Claremont, CA | OnsiteSalary: $190,000–$260,000Are you an Assistant Vice President or Executive Director ready to take the next step in your advancement career? This could be an incredible opportunity to expand your leadership impact, partner directly with institutional leadership, and help shape the future of advancement at KGI!Interested in learning more, or know someone who would thrive in this opportunity? I'd love to connect!

Description: What you'll be doing

Another Source’s client, Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) , is recruiting a Vice President of Advancement to join their team onsite inClaremont, California.

What makes this opportunity compelling:

• Part of The Claremont Colleges: Join Keck Graduate Institute, a member of The Claremont Colleges consortium, a distinguished community of higher education institutions in Southern California.

• Executive-level impact: Serve on the President's Cabinet and partner directly with the President, who is actively involved in fundraising and donor relationships.

• Lead a growing team: Oversee a five-person Advancement team spanning development, alumni engagement, corporate and foundation relations, and operations.

• Shape the next campaign: Play a pivotal role in developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising campaign currently in its early planning stages.

• Build on fundraising momentum: Advance a $4.5 million annual fundraising goal, following approximately $4 million raised last year, with a current institutional endowment of $70 million.

• Expand the donor network: Engage KGI's approximately 3,000 alumni while building new philanthropic relationships across the broader community.

• Visionary and hands-on leadership: Help shape the future of advancement at an institution where leaders can influence strategy, build meaningful relationships, and remain directly involved in execution.

Here’s a little about Keck Graduate Institute:

Keck Graduate Institute is a recognized leader in biotechnology and healthcare education and the only graduate institution within the prestigiousThe Claremont Colleges consortium. Founded to bridge the gap between life sciences, engineering, and business, KGI prepares students to become industry-ready leaders driving innovation across biotech, healthcare, and applied sciences.

With three specialized schools — the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences, the School of Health Sciences, and the School of Pharmacy — KGI offers a uniquely interdisciplinary environment rooted in collaboration, innovation, and impact. The institution maintains an impressive 9:1 student-to-professor ratio, operates 13 specialized research labs, and reports that 90% of graduates are employed within six months of graduation.

KGI is entering an exciting period of institutional growth and strategic momentum, supported by its Strategic Plan 2035 and preparations for its first comprehensive fundraising campaign.

Learn more about:

• Keck Graduate Institute:

• The Office of Advancement:

About the role:

The Vice President of Advancement serves as KGI's chief fundraising officer and a key member of the President's Cabinet. Reporting directly to the President, this executive will lead the Institute's comprehensive advancement strategy, bringing together institutional giving, major gifts, alumni engagement, corporate and foundation partnerships, and community relations.

This is an opportunity for a strategic, entrepreneurial advancement leader who enjoys both setting institutional direction and personally building relationships that inspire philanthropic investment.

The Vice President will partner closely with the President, Board of Trustees, academic leadership, and external stakeholders to strengthen KGI's philanthropic foundation, expand its network of supporters, and build a sustainable pipeline of future giving.

The role also offers the opportunity to lead and develop an established advancement team, with five direct reports spanning development, corporate and foundation relations, alumni engagement, operations, and administrative support.

Scope & Impact

Advancement Strategy & Executive Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement strategy aligned with KGI's mission, institutional priorities, and long-term financial goals.

• Partner with the President, Cabinet, Board of Trustees, deans, and faculty to identify philanthropic priorities and translate them into compelling opportunities for investment.

• Establish clear fundraising goals, performance measures, and operating plans that support accountability and sustained growth.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary advancement team, creating a collaborative, results-oriented culture.

• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees' Advancement and Marketing Committee, providing strategic insight and supporting board engagement in fundraising.

Institutional Giving & Philanthropic Partnerships

• Lead the development and execution of short- and long-term fundraising and campaign strategies, including major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, and institutional partnerships.

• Personally manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, cultivating relationships and securing significant philanthropic commitments.

• Build and deepen partnerships with individuals, corporations, foundations, and other supporters whose interests align with KGI's mission.

• Collaborate with the President and institutional leaders on donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Establish and achieve institutional giving revenue goals while strengthening prospect management, donor engagement, and fundraising operations.

• Leverage advancement technology, CRM systems, and donor analytics to strengthen fundraising effectiveness and inform strategy.

• Engage staff, faculty, and volunteers in building a campus-wide culture of philanthropy.

Alumni Engagement & Community Relations

• Develop and lead an integrated alumni engagement strategy that creates meaningful, long-term relationships with KGI graduates.

• Expand alumni programming through networking opportunities, professional panels, recognition events, reunions, and other activities that provide ongoing value to graduates.

• Connect alumni engagement with admissions, student experience, academic excellence, and corporate partnerships.

• Build an intentional pathway from alumni participation and volunteerism to advocacy, ambassadorship, and philanthropic support.

• Represent KGI in the broader community, developing relationships with business leaders, government representatives, professional organizations, and institutional partners.

• Work closely with the President to strengthen KGI's visibility, reputation, and community relationships.

What you will bring:

• The successful candidate will bring a combination of strategic vision, demonstrated fundraising success, strong relationship-building capabilities, and the ability to inspire and lead a high-performing advancement organization.

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience.

• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible development and advancement experience, within an innovative, forward-looking college environment.

• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and securing major gifts and developing strategic philanthropic relationships.

• Experience leading comprehensive advancement initiatives, including institutional giving, donor stewardship, prospect management, and fundraising strategy.

• Proven ability to develop, motivate, and lead advancement professionals while establishing measurable goals and accountability.

• Experience partnering with senior executives, trustees, academic leaders, and external stakeholders to advance institutional priorities.

• Strong understanding of fundraising practices, marketing techniques, donor engagement, and relationship management.

• Ability to develop and communicate a compelling case for philanthropic support to individuals, corporations, foundations, and community partners.

• Strong analytical and organizational skills, including experience using fundraising data, CRM platforms, and performance metrics to guide decisions.

• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse audiences.

• Collaborative, transparent, and entrepreneurial leadership style, with sound judgment and a commitment to ethical fundraising practices.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and navigate complex organizational relationships.

• Willingness to travel approximately 20% or more, including local and occasional overnight travel, and attend evening or weekend events as needed.

Additional qualifications that would be valuable:

• Advanced degree or professional fundraising certification.

• Experience leading higher education fundraising campaigns.

• Demonstrated success building alumni engagement programs and connecting alumni relationships to philanthropic support.

• Experience developing corporate and foundation partnerships that advance institutional goals.

What’s in it for you:

The anticipated salary range for this position is $190,000 –$260,000 annually, with an annual performance incentive bonus of up to 10% of base salary.

KGI offers a comprehensive benefits package through The Claremont Colleges consortium. Benefits include medical, dental, retirement, and work-life programs designed to support employee well-being and long-term financial health.

One standout benefit is KGI’s generous retirement contribution program, which includes an automatic 10% employer contribution to an employee’s 403(b) retirement plan after 12 months of service, regardless of employee contribution level.

Learn more about benefits here:

Learn more about KGI’s Strategic Plan 2035 here:

Follow KGI on LinkedIn:

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Keck Graduate Institute is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable laws.

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