Vice President for Advancement

Overview George Fox University's seeking a strategic, relational, and mission-driven Vice President for Advancement to lead and shape the future of philanthropic engagement at the university. About the Job This is a pivotal moment for Advancement at George Fox. With a newly integrated leadership structure that brings together enrollment, marketing, and advancement, the university is positioned to take a more unified and strategic approach to growth, storytelling, and donor engagement. The Vice President will play a central role in building this future. Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing, and Advancement, this leader will oversee all advancement functions while partnering closely across the institution to expand philanthropic support, strengthen donor relationships, and align advancement with the university's broader mission and brand. Job responsibilities Strategic Leadership Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement strategy that aligns with the university's mission, vision, and strategic priorities, ensuring that philanthropic efforts meaningfully support institutional growth and long-term sustainability. Partner with the Executive Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing, and Advancement to integrate advancement into a unified institutional strategy, aligning fundraising, storytelling, and engagement efforts across the university. Assess current advancement operations, including systems, processes, team structure, and performance metrics, and implement improvements that strengthen effectiveness, scalability, and long-term impact. Provide leadership in long-term planning efforts, including preparing the university for future capital campaigns and identifying opportunities to expand philanthropic support. Fundraising and Donor Engagement Provide strategic and operational leadership for all areas of fundraising, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and campaign development, ensuring a cohesive and effective approach across all channels. Personally manage and actively engage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and donors, focusing on cultivating deep relationships and securing transformational philanthropic support. Oversee the development and execution of strategies to expand and strengthen the donor pipeline, increasing donor participation and overall giving levels over time. Partner with the president and other senior leaders to effectively engage in fundraising efforts, providing guidance, support, and coordination to maximize impact in donor cultivation and solicitation. Team Leadership and Culture Lead, develop, and inspire a growing advancement team, fostering a culture of excellence, ownership, and shared commitment to the university's mission. Establish clear expectations, goals, and accountability measures for team members, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and progress toward fundraising objectives. Recruit, mentor, and retain high-performing staff, investing in professional development and creating opportunities for team members to grow in skill, confidence, and leadership capacity. Strengthen team cohesion and effectiveness by building trust, encouraging collaboration, and clarifying roles, responsibilities, and priorities. Partnership and Collaboration Work closely with university leadership, including academic and administrative partners, to align fundraising priorities with institutional needs and opportunities. Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to ensure donor-facing messaging, storytelling, and campaigns are compelling, consistent, and aligned with the university's brand and voice. Engage the Board of Trustees and the Advancement Committee as active partners in fundraising, equipping and supporting them in meaningful donor engagement and philanthropic efforts. Build strong relationships across campus, fostering a broad culture of engagement in advancement and helping faculty and staff understand their role in supporting philanthropic success. Performance and Accountability Establish clear and measurable fundraising goals and key performance indicators, aligned with institutional priorities and advancement strategy. Monitor progress toward goals on an ongoing basis, providing regular reports and updates to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees. Use data, analytics, and performance insights to inform decision-making, refine strategies, and improve overall effectiveness of advancement efforts. Ensure strong stewardship practices that build trust, demonstrate accountability, and cultivate long-term relationships with donors. Communicate effectively and courteously with others, including employees, students, and the public, in a spirit of teamwork, respect, and customer service. By actions, words, and lifestyle, be a Christian role model to students, whether through casual contact or in a formal supervisory role. Demonstrated experience working cross-culturally with respect, appreciation, and humility. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, fundraising, or a related field, including senior leadership experience. Demonstrated success personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing six- and seven-figure gifts. Proven experience leading and developing teams, including setting strategy, managing performance, and building culture. Experience managing or contributing to comprehensive fundraising programs, including major gifts, annual giving, and donor engagement strategy. Demonstrated the ability to partner effectively with executive leaders, board members, and key stakeholders in fundraising efforts. Experience using data, metrics, and CRM systems to drive strategy and track performance. A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Legal authorization to work in the United States. This position does not offer visa sponsorship; therefore, only applicants who do not require sponsorship for employment visas should apply. A commitment to the University\'s Theology of Racial and Ethnic Diversity. A desire to work with a diverse community of students and employees who represent various cultures, backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, political views, and expressions of Christian faith. A personal commitment to Jesus Christ and to live in accordance with the Community Lifestyle Statement and the Statement of Faith. Preferences Experience preparing for or leading a comprehensive capital campaign. Experience building or rebuilding advancement infrastructure, including systems, processes, and team structure. Familiarity with planned giving strategies and long-term donor pipeline development. A Master's degree from an accredited institution. Job information Hours Per Week: 40 hours per week Primary Work Location: Newberg Campus Working Conditions: Physical requirements are those of a normal office environment. Supervisor: Executive Vice President for Enrollment, Advancement and Marketing About George Fox University and our community George Fox University has been transforming students\' lives for over 125 years. We are a Christ-centered community that prepares students spiritually, academically, and professionally to think with clarity, act with integrity, and serve with passion. Our vision is to be the Christian university of choice known for empowering students to achieve exceptional life outcomes. We put students first, with Christ at the center of our work, embracing change to improve. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates to join us in creating transformational experiences for our students. Being part of our community means a commitment to faith and to a lifestyle that is consistent with the university\'s mission as described in the Statement of Faith and Community Lifestyle Statement. As a Christ-centered community, George Fox University values diversity as an essential dimension of God\'s design for human communities and encourages applications from women and candidates from racial and ethnic backgrounds underrepresented in our community. What is most appealing about working at George Fox University? Faith-friendly: Our culture is aligned with higher education, including prayer and a mission-focused environment. Unapologetically Christian: A commitment to Christ, his kingdom, and the truth of God\'s Word. Live out your calling: Use your God-given talents to influence students\' spiritual growth. Equip students for kingdom work: Help students discover their callings to glorify God. Employee well-being and benefits A strong Christian vision and mission-led organization with opportunities for growth. Supportive peers and a vibrant student population. A beautiful campus, with amenities nearby, including coffee shops and restaurants. Free Fitness Center membership. Free parking. Rich employee benefit package. Application procedures Apply through this website. When completing the online application, upload the following as Word or PDF documents in the section marked Letter of Interest and Curriculum Vitae or Resume: Letter of Interest; Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume; Other materials may be requested later in the review process. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. We invite you to Be Known at Oregon\'s largest private and nationally recognized Christian University. This position is subject to close at any time; questions or assistance with the application process may be directed to View email address on click.appcast.io. Equal Employment Opportunity The university is an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants will be considered without regard to sex, age, race, color, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. George Fox is Christian-owned; employment requires agreement with the university\'s faith statements and community responsibilities. The university may solicit applicants from underrepresented groups to increase workforce diversity. Hiring decisions are based on qualifications related to the position. #J-18808-Ljbffr