Vice President for University Advancement
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The Vice President for University Advancement (VPUA) provides strategic and operational leadership for all advancement functions, including Development, Alumni Relations, and Marketing and Communications, across Midwestern University’s two campuses in Downers Grove, Illinois, and Glendale, Arizona. As a key member of the President’s senior leadership team, the VPUA will design and implement a comprehensive, institution-wide advancement strategy that strengthens the University’s philanthropic support, alumni engagement, and brand visibility while fostering collaboration across both campuses and honoring their distinct cultures and traditions.
Key priorities include student scholarships, academic innovation, clinical and health service expansion, and One Health initiatives, integrating advancement initiatives with the University’s mission and long‑term sustainability.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Partner with the President, Chief Academic Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other senior leaders to develop and execute a multi‑year Advancement Strategic Plan aligned with institutional goals.
- Lead and align advancement strategies across both campuses, ensuring consistent best practices, shared services, and responsiveness to campus‑specific needs.
- Serve as a key partner in planning major capital initiatives, program launches, and clinical expansions where philanthropy plays a strategic role.
- Represent the University to major donors, foundations, corporations, and alumni communities nationwide.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators across major and planned giving, annual giving, alumni engagement, stewardship, and campaign progress.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and ethical, data‑driven fundraising across all advancement operations.
Advancement Operations
- Oversee the full advancement cycle, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Strengthen major and planned giving programs to expand endowment resources, foster transformational gifts, and build long‑term philanthropic partnerships that sustain institutional priorities.
- Lead annual giving initiatives and digital campaigns that build donor participation and broaden philanthropic engagement.
- Advance corporate and foundation relations by cultivating strategic partnerships aligned with the University’s academic and clinical mission.
- Oversee alumni relations programs across both campuses, including communications, mentoring networks, regional chapters, and signature engagement events.
- Ensure rigorous and consistent donor recognition, gift agreement compliance, reporting, and stewardship across campuses.
- Oversee marketing and communications efforts that advance both philanthropic and enrollment goals by strengthening storytelling, brand consistency, and digital engagement strategies that connect donors, alumni, and prospective students with the institution’s mission and impact.
- Leverage data analytics, CRM systems, segmentation, and reporting to strengthen donor pipelines and advancement effectiveness.
Team Leadership and Culture
- Build, mentor, and retain a talented, collaborative advancement team across both campuses.
- Foster a unified advancement culture that values professional development, shared accountability, and cross‑campus partnership.
- Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in advancement staffing, volunteer engagement, and donor relations.
- Align advancement activities with academic leadership, faculty, staff, and clinic partners to fully integrate philanthropy into institutional life.
- Manage advancement budgets and optimize shared service models to ensure efficient use of resources.
Compliance, Ethics, and Best Practices
- Ensure all advancement operations comply with federal and state laws, institutional policies, and ethical standards (CASE, AFP, AHP).
- Maintain policies for gift acceptance, donor privacy, and data governance.
- Provide transparent, regular reporting to the President and the Board of Trustees on advancement performance, outcomes, and strategic positioning.
- Serve as staff liaison or advisor to the Board of Trustees’ Advancement or Development Committee.
Qualifications - Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 15 years of progressive leadership in higher education advancement or major‑gift fundraising, including experience leading multi‑unit or multi‑campus teams.
- Demonstrated success in securing major gifts (multi‑seven or eight figures), annual giving growth, planned gifts, and campaign leadership.
- Experience in higher education, healthcare, or other mission‑driven organizations with complex structures.
- Familiarity with health sciences education, clinical operations, and the philanthropic landscape for healthcare and allied health programs is highly desirable.
- Experience collaborating with deans, faculty, and clinic leadership to integrate philanthropy across academic and clinical settings.
- Proven ability to foster strong relationships with donors, alumni, and institutional partners across geographically diverse regions.
Leadership Skills and Competencies
- Strategic thinker with business acumen and the ability to translate institutional priorities into effective advancement strategies.
- Proven record as a team builder and mentor who inspires collaboration, accountability, and high performance.
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and storytelling skills; able to engage diverse stakeholders and convey institutional impact.
- Data‑informed decision‑maker with experience leveraging CRM systems, analytics, and dashboards to manage pipelines and outcomes.
- Entrepreneurial, adaptable, and resilient, with the ability to lead in a dynamic environment where healthcare education, philanthropy, and innovation intersect.
- Deep commitment to ethical fundraising, transparency, and meaningful donor and alumni engagement.
Compensation and Institutional Support
The University offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience and the dual‑campus scope of responsibility. The VPUA will have access to strong presidential leadership, dedicated advancement teams on both campuses, and resources that include budget support and travel resources for donor engagement and regular coordination between the Downers Grove and Glendale campuses.
About Midwestern University
Midwestern University is a dynamic institution on the rise – expanding its reach, deepening its impact, and shaping the future of health sciences education. With nationally recognized programs, growing philanthropic investment, and an unmistakable spirit of innovation, MWU is poised to erupt onto the national stage. This is an exceptional opportunity for an advancement leader who thrives on building momentum, driving collaboration, and fueling a mission that transforms lives through education, healthcare, and community impact.
Application Packet
As part of the application packet, please include a CV, cover letter and 4–5 professional references.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected class, in accord with all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Midwestern University complies with the Smoke‑Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. 36‑601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/). Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts.
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