Assistant Vice President for Principal Gifts

Assistant Vice President for Principal Gifts

Fordham University’s Office of Development and University Relations has partnered with Boyden Executive Search to fill this role.

Position Information

About Fordham

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its nine colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom.
The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plans; life insurance; short and long-term disability; employee assistance program ( EAP ); tuition remission; and generous time off.
Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.

Title of Position

Assistant Vice President for Principal Gifts

Reporting to the Vice President for Development and Alumni University Relations ( DAUR ), the Assistant Vice President for Principal Gifts will play a pivotal role in the success of the University’s comprehensive fundraising campaign. This position is tasked with driving the pursuit of excellence, or magis, at the highest levels of philanthropy. The incumbent will personally cultivate and solicit a select group of principal, major, and planned gift prospects while providing strategic oversight and mentorship to a multi-disciplinary team of gift officers comprising the principal and major gifts team and the gift planning team.
By aligning donor passions with the University’s greatest philanthropic needs, as determined by the President and Board of Trustees, the SAVP ensures these critical units meet ambitious campaign targets while staying deeply rooted in the University’s Jesuit mission. The AVP works closely with the VP, the Assistant Vice President and Campaign Director, and other DAUR senior leaders to develop, execute, and dynamically optimize annual and multi-year fundraising and donor engagement plans.
Occasional evening and weekend work required.

Essential Functions

Utilizes reflective discernment in partnership with the Vice President to align principal and major gift donors and prospects with the University’s strategic campaign priorities, igniting excitement and inspiring transformational philanthropic support.
Collaborates with the Provost, Deans, and other university partners to develop compelling multi-million-dollar gift opportunities, serving as the primary liaison and neutral partner for complex, multi-divisional gifts of $5M+, and ensuring all divisions’ priorities are represented in strategic briefings and proposals.
Provides strategic oversight, leadership, and coaching to the Principal and Major Gifts and Gift Planning teams, ensuring these specialized units are fully integrated, effectively resourced, and structurally optimized to drive campaign success. Applies the principle of cura personalis to staff development, balancing ambitious fundraising targets with genuine care for team members’ well-being, while intentionally upholding a culture of innovation, transparency, trust, accountability, and collaboration.
Builds and maintains a portfolio of approximately 75 principal, major, and planned gift prospects.
Devises individual engagement strategies for each prospect in their pool with the goal of soliciting annual gifts and/or multi-year gift commitments at the $100,000+ level. Specific solicitation goals to be determined in an annual goal-setting process.
Navigates highly complex gifts and institutional relationships with integrity and ethical discernment required to advance proposals toward execution.
Collaborates with University partners and DAUR colleagues to develop creative and compelling stewardship programs and communication strategies to deepen principal donor engagement and connection to Fordham.
Serves as a member of the DAUR senior management team ( SMT ) and helps create a culture of excellence, accountability, and high performance.

Essential Functions Note

This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list.
The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

Management Responsibilities

Provides strategic leadership and contributes to higher-level direction. Typically oversees managers via direct and indirect reports. Responsible for hiring, developing leaders, managing performance, corrective action, and compensation decisions.

Additional Functions

Serves as a resource for the Campaign Cabinet and serves on university-wide committees as assigned.

Required Qualifications: Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree.
Minimum 10 years of experience in development and managing fundraising teams.

Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills

Strong communication skills, high attention to detail and follow-up, and excellent organizational and project management skills.
Demonstrated track record of meeting capital and campaign goals and securing seven- and eight-figure gifts.
Proven ability to provide strategic direction, leadership, and daily management of fundraising teams resulting in improved performance and increased philanthropic revenue.
Proven capacity to address unexpected challenges and adapt to change.
Demonstrated ability to navigate complex situations with integrity and a foundation of ethical discernment.
Proven ability to balance the drive to achieve aspirational fundraising targets while maintaining a person-centered approach with both donors and internal teams.
Demonstrated competency in using Google and Microsoft Office suites, as well as CRM and fundraising applications commonly found in higher education and non-profit organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s Degree.
Experience in a complex higher education setting.

Minimum Starting Salary

Minimum Starting Salary $230,000

Maximum Starting Salary

Maximum Starting Salary $260,000

Note

Note Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.

Is this a Union position?

No

Posting Number

Posting Number A1152P

Number of Vacancies

Number of Vacancies 1

Start Date

Posting Date 09/25/2026

Special Instructions

Fordham University’s Office of Development and University Relations has partnered with Boyden Executive Search to fill this role.

EEO Statement

Fordham University is committed to excellence and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.
Fordham University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Physical Activity and Work Environment

Physical Activity

Sitting Nearly Continuously

Repetitive Hand Motion (such as typing)

Repetitive Hand Motion (such as typing) Nearly Continuously

Hearing, Listening, Talking Nearly Continuously

Standing

Standing Seldom

Walking

Walking Seldom

Running

Running Not Required

Bending, Stooping, Kneeling, squatting, Crouching, Crawling

Bending, Stooping, Kneeling, squatting, Crouching, Crawling Not Required

Climbing stairs Not Required

Climbing ladders

Climbing ladders Not Required

Reaching overhead

Reaching overhead Not Required

Pulling, pushing

Pulling, pushing Not Required

Shoveling

Shoveling Not Required

Lifting – up to 20 pounds

Lifting – up to 20 pounds Not Required

Lifting – up to 50 pounds

Lifting – up to 50 pounds Not Required

Lifting – over 50 pounds Not Required

Work Environment Office Environment: Employees are protected from weather conditions or contaminants, but not necessarily occasional temperature changes.

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Supplemental questions you will be required to answer on the application (No action is needed on this page)

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you have a bachelor's degree?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have 10 years or more of development experience?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Have you managed fundraising teams for ten years or more?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have a demonstrated track record of securing seven- and eight-figure gifts?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Are you an alumnus/a of Fordham University?
  • Yes
  • No