Vice President for Advancement

Institutional Mission:
Nelson University exists to equip students spiritually, academically, professionally, and cross-culturally for their God-given careers and callings. The American Indian College (AIC) campus carries this mission forward through Christ-centered higher education with a unique commitment to Native American leadership development, ministry preparation, and marketplace excellence.


Position Overview

The Vice President for Advancement serves as the chief development and external relations officer for the Nelson University American Indian College (AIC) campus in Phoenix, Arizona. Reporting directly to the President of Nelson AIC, Dr. Jonathan Gannon, and serving as a member of the AIC Executive Team, this position provides strategic leadership for fundraising, donor relations, alumni engagement, church partnerships, community relations, and institutional advancement initiatives that strengthen and expand the mission of Nelson AIC.

The Vice President for Advancement will work closely with campus leadership to cultivate philanthropic support, elevate institutional visibility, and build meaningful partnerships that advance student success, spiritual formation, Native leadership development, athletics, scholarships, facilities, and long-term institutional sustainability.

This role requires a relational and visionary leader who can effectively communicate the mission and impact of Nelson AIC to churches, donors, tribal communities, alumni, foundations, ministry partners, and friends of the institution. The Vice President serves as a visible ambassador for the college and plays a key role in helping shape the future growth and influence of the Nelson AIC campus.

As a senior leader within the institution, the Vice President for Advancement is expected to model Christian character, foster collaboration across departments, and help cultivate a culture of generosity, stewardship, excellence, and Kingdom-minded service throughout the campus community.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all advancement and development efforts for the Nelson University American Indian College campus, including annual giving, major gifts, donor cultivation, church relations, grants, scholarships, capital initiatives, and special fundraising projects.
• Collaborate closely with the President and AIC Executive Team to advance the strategic vision, enrollment growth, student development priorities, and long-term sustainability of the campus.
• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies aligned with institutional goals and mission priorities.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with donors, alumni, churches, tribal leaders, foundations, ministry partners, civic leaders, and community stakeholders.
• Strengthen and expand partnerships with Assemblies of God churches, Native ministries, and supporters of Christian higher education.
• Serve as liaison to advancement-related boards, advisory groups, foundations, and alumni constituencies connected to the Nelson AIC campus.
• Help foster a campus-wide culture of philanthropy, stewardship, and donor engagement among faculty, staff, alumni, students, and volunteers.
• Provide leadership, direction, and accountability for advancement personnel, volunteers, and advancement operations.
• Assist in coordinating donor communications, advancement campaigns, special events, public relations efforts, and strategic storytelling initiatives that effectively communicate the mission and impact of Nelson AIC.
• Utilize data-informed decision making, donor analytics, and advancement metrics to assess effectiveness and improve advancement outcomes.
• Partner with athletics, admissions, academics, student life, and other departments to support institutional advancement initiatives and collaborative fundraising opportunities.
• Represent Nelson AIC at conferences, churches, ministry gatherings, community events, and donor meetings locally and nationally.

Work Environment

• Generally scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; however, evening and weekend responsibilities should be expected based on institutional and advancement activities.
• Work is primarily performed on the Nelson University American Indian College campus in Phoenix, Arizona.
• Position requires regular local and national travel for donor development, church relations, conferences, and institutional representation.
• This position is considered essential for emergency response purposes and may require work during certain campus closures or special events.

Qualifications

• Faith and lifestyle that align with the mission, values, and expectations of Nelson University and the American Indian College campus.
• Must be a committed Christian in agreement with the doctrinal positions of the Assemblies of God and hold, or be eligible to obtain and maintain, Assemblies of God ministerial credentials in good standing.
• Must demonstrate active involvement and regular attendance in an Assemblies of God church or a church aligned with Assemblies of God doctrine and values.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in advancement, fundraising, higher education administration, nonprofit leadership, ministry leadership, or related fields preferred.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor development, relationship management, or organizational advancement.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to lead strategically while also functioning relationally within a highly collaborative and mission-driven environment.
• Experience working with churches, ministry organizations, tribal communities, alumni, or nonprofit constituencies preferred.
• Strong organizational skills, administrative leadership ability, and capacity to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Familiarity with advancement systems, donor databases, digital communication platforms, and fundraising technologies preferred.
• Sensitivity to the unique spiritual, cultural, and educational mission of the American Indian College campus.

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time exempt position offering competitive compensation based upon education, experience, and qualifications, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Application Process

Questions may be directed to the Human Resources Office at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Application materials should include:

• Letter of interest addressing qualifications and alignment with the mission of Nelson University and the American Indian College campus
• Current curriculum vitae or resume
• Contact information for professional references

How to Apply:

Complete the fields to the right of this screen under "Apply here". These fields contain intake information. After clicking submit application, you will be taken to the Nelson Employment Application where you will be asked to list references and previous employment positions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.


Join us in helping shape the future of Christian higher education and Native leadership development through the mission of Nelson University American Indian College.

Nelson University (formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God University) is a vibrant, private Christian university located just 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie. Founded in 1927, the university now offers over 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, available on campus and online.

As an evangelical Christian institution rooted in Biblical truth, Nelson University fosters a Spirit-empowered community where faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to live out their faith with purpose and integrity. We are passionate about equipping our team members to make a meaningful impact in both personal and professional spheres, embodying values that inspire and transform.

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Nelson Univetsity is an equal opportunity employer and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, pregnancy, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with its Christian heritage and mission, and where permitted by law, Nelson University reserves the right to exercise a religious preference in employment and seeks to hire indiviauls who affirm and support the instituion's mission and statment of faith. These principles apply to all employment practices across the University. Nelson University is committed to a hiring process gounded in qualifications, merit, and the operational needs of the instituion.