Boston University
VICE PRESIDENT FOR PRINCIPAL GIFTS, INTERNATIONAL & FOUNDATION ADVANCEMENT, Adva
Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02108
Vice President For Principal Gifts, International & Foundation Advancement
The inaugural Vice President for Principal Gifts, International and Foundation Advancement (VPPIF) at Boston University will have the opportunity to establish first-in-class Principal Gifts, International and Foundation Relations programs. Building on the momentum of a new, dynamic University President who is focused on securing impactful gifts to advance Boston University's growing reputation on the global stage as a R1, internationally diverse university. Reporting to the recently announced Senior Vice President for Advancement, the VPPIF will serve as a key member of the Advancement leadership team. A central priority of the new SVP's vision is for 60% of philanthropic contributions to Boston University come from individuals and foundations with principal gift ($5M+) capacity. In close collaboration with senior colleagues, the VPPIF will design and implement integrated, strategic programs for principal gifts, international and foundation relations that will have the following features: Principal Advancement Portal to the President's and Provost's Offices
dedicated team member(s) will partner closely with the President's and Provost's office on calendaring, communications, correspondence and ensuring that both offices always have the information and materials needed for principal gift related work. All advancement team members needing to communicate with the President and Provost offices will be through this portal. Data protocols
dedicated team member(s) will identify data needed for a comprehensive/matrixed program, establish data hygiene for principal gift prospects, establish the approval process for identifying, cultivating and soliciting principally rated prospects, and implement a process to ensure that all advancement professionals working with principal gift prospects are aware and use these protocols. Prospect Management protocols
dedicated team member(s) will establish a central process for assigning principally rated prospects, guidelines for number of principally rated prospects in a portfolio and hosting weekly meetings to establish strategies foreach prospect that will likely include colleagues from multiple schools and units across campus. Research expertise
establish and oversee the research component for the principal gift program, ensuring all schools and units have access to the same quality of information. Stewardship and Donor relations expertise
establish and oversee stewardship and recognition opportunities for principal gift donors, principally rated prospects and identify opportunities for bringing the entire principal gift community together on an appropriate cadence. Communications
establish a communication process so that all BU leaders and advancement professionals working with principally rated prospects are informed. The new VPPIF will have the opportunity to organize a team of BU advancement professionals and as needed, grow the team to achieve success. The VPPIF will maintain a personal portfolio of principal gift and presidential prospects, manage a team of principal gift, international and foundation relations officers, and at times staff the President's prospect visits. They will also ensure that the SVP, Advancement is staffed by the team for her portfolio. Working closely with deans, faculty, and development and alumni relations officers, the VPPIF will ensure that principal gift prospects are impactfully cultivated, solicited and stewarded in each of BU's schools and colleges. International Advancement Boston University is proud of its globally diverse community, with over 43,000 international alumni representing nearly 10% of its alumni population. Building on this strong foundation, the Vice President for Principal Gifts, International and Foundation Advancement (VPPIF) will lead and expand the university's international advancement efforts. This includes overseeing a successful existing team and developing a comprehensive, integrated strategy that aligns alumni engagement, major and principal gifts, annual giving, and global family philanthropy. The VPPIF will be a visionary leader who can inspire and grow the International Advancement team, while also building a cohesive international alumni engagement strategy that supports the university's long-term philanthropic goals. This role requires a deep understanding of global relationship-building, creative engagement approaches, and the ability to align international advancement with institutional priorities. Key Responsibilities: Lead and Expand the International Advancement Team: Provide strategic direction and mentorship to the current team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance. Identify opportunities to grow the team and enhance its impact across regions. Develop a Comprehensive International Advancement Strategy: Integrate alumni engagement, major gifts, annual giving, and family philanthropy into a unified global strategy. Emphasize the development of a robust principal gift pipeline while nurturing long-term relationships with international alumni and donors. Innovate in Digital and Global Engagement: Leverage technology and creative online platforms to engage international alumni and donors, especially in regions where in-person engagement is limited. Explore new tools and strategies to enhance virtual outreach and storytelling. Coordinate Strategic International Travel and Engagement: Collaborate with BU's 17 Schools and Colleges, as well as university-wide centers and initiatives, to plan meaningful international travel and events that involve deans, faculty, and university leadership in donor cultivation and stewardship. Grow the Global Parents Network: Expand this initiative to ensure a continuous pipeline of parent donors, engaging them throughout their family's journey with BU. Support Presidential and Provost-Level Engagement: Partner with the SVP of Advancement and the Office of the President to plan and execute high-level international travel and engagement strategies. Strengthen Advisory and Global Networks: Support the recruitment and engagement of the International Advisory Board (IAB) and identify strategic opportunities for IAB members to enhance BU's global presence. Expand networks for international foundation and corporate relations. Enhance Infrastructure and Processes: Recommend and implement tools, platforms, and procedures to improve international advancement operations, including prospect research, engagement tracking, and performance analytics. Foundation Advancement Consisting of ten team members, the office of Foundation Relations secures invaluable support from private philanthropic foundations (and organizations, associations, and societies) to advance scholarly and scientific research, educational initiatives, and community outreach. The office partners with faculty, academic leaders, researchers, and key staff members to build sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships between the University and charitable organizations that share BU's research, teaching, and social service missions. University-wide, foundations typically contribute $60 million annually. The Foundation Relations team identifies funding opportunities, connects faculty with funders, and assists in the development of competitive funding requests. In addition, the team has built and maintains a number of resources to increase success in securing funding. These resources are rare or nonexistent at other universities, but at BU, they have led to higher funding levels and a greater sense of support for faculty members. Key Responsibilities: Guide the management and expansion of the Foundation Relations team to achieve the next level of fundraising success. Identify new principal-gift level foundation prospects ($5M+), especially at the intersection of Principal Gifts, International Advancement, Parent Philanthropy, and Schools and Colleges. Work closely with the President, Provost, SVP of Advancement, and other colleagues to drive relationship-driven proposals to foundations in university priority areas. Create processes and systems to guide and optimize the collaborative work of Foundation Relations with other Advancement teams. In partnership with the leader of the Foundation Relations team, develop new tools and resources, leveraging AI when appropriate, to better support faculty, optimize team operations, and derive insight. Also in partnership, recruit new Foundation Relations Advisory Board members, particularly from principal gift-level foundations. Also, to establish a new suite of metrics to incentivize collaboration across Advancement to secure funding, especially from relationship-driven, principal gift-level foundations. Leadership The VPPIF will serve as a senior member of the Advancement strategy team and will have the opportunity to play a key role in the planning and execution of the University's next fundraising campaign. The VPPIF will have the opportunity to build and train the next generation of senior development officers and to design the structure and processes best suited to raising funds for the university. Perhaps most importantly, they will help set the course of the University for the foreseeable future. Boston University is at an inflection point. There is now an opportunity to accelerate this progress
the current leadership of the University views this as one of their highest priorities. The VPPIF will play a vital role in fueling acceleration. Essential Functions: Program Development Create first-in-class principal, international and foundation advancement programs that exemplify the following principles: Integrity, Trust, and Excellence. Components will include strategic program development, operations and donor services and donor relations to achieve significant growth in funding to BU's strategic priorities. Recognize the changing needs of principally rated donors, international donors and foundations, and create and implement systems to ensure mutually beneficial partnerships. The VPPIF will play an essential role in helping to identify and create transformational opportunities from BU's strategic priorities and effectively communicate them to BU's community
The inaugural Vice President for Principal Gifts, International and Foundation Advancement (VPPIF) at Boston University will have the opportunity to establish first-in-class Principal Gifts, International and Foundation Relations programs. Building on the momentum of a new, dynamic University President who is focused on securing impactful gifts to advance Boston University's growing reputation on the global stage as a R1, internationally diverse university. Reporting to the recently announced Senior Vice President for Advancement, the VPPIF will serve as a key member of the Advancement leadership team. A central priority of the new SVP's vision is for 60% of philanthropic contributions to Boston University come from individuals and foundations with principal gift ($5M+) capacity. In close collaboration with senior colleagues, the VPPIF will design and implement integrated, strategic programs for principal gifts, international and foundation relations that will have the following features: Principal Advancement Portal to the President's and Provost's Offices
dedicated team member(s) will partner closely with the President's and Provost's office on calendaring, communications, correspondence and ensuring that both offices always have the information and materials needed for principal gift related work. All advancement team members needing to communicate with the President and Provost offices will be through this portal. Data protocols
dedicated team member(s) will identify data needed for a comprehensive/matrixed program, establish data hygiene for principal gift prospects, establish the approval process for identifying, cultivating and soliciting principally rated prospects, and implement a process to ensure that all advancement professionals working with principal gift prospects are aware and use these protocols. Prospect Management protocols
dedicated team member(s) will establish a central process for assigning principally rated prospects, guidelines for number of principally rated prospects in a portfolio and hosting weekly meetings to establish strategies foreach prospect that will likely include colleagues from multiple schools and units across campus. Research expertise
establish and oversee the research component for the principal gift program, ensuring all schools and units have access to the same quality of information. Stewardship and Donor relations expertise
establish and oversee stewardship and recognition opportunities for principal gift donors, principally rated prospects and identify opportunities for bringing the entire principal gift community together on an appropriate cadence. Communications
establish a communication process so that all BU leaders and advancement professionals working with principally rated prospects are informed. The new VPPIF will have the opportunity to organize a team of BU advancement professionals and as needed, grow the team to achieve success. The VPPIF will maintain a personal portfolio of principal gift and presidential prospects, manage a team of principal gift, international and foundation relations officers, and at times staff the President's prospect visits. They will also ensure that the SVP, Advancement is staffed by the team for her portfolio. Working closely with deans, faculty, and development and alumni relations officers, the VPPIF will ensure that principal gift prospects are impactfully cultivated, solicited and stewarded in each of BU's schools and colleges. International Advancement Boston University is proud of its globally diverse community, with over 43,000 international alumni representing nearly 10% of its alumni population. Building on this strong foundation, the Vice President for Principal Gifts, International and Foundation Advancement (VPPIF) will lead and expand the university's international advancement efforts. This includes overseeing a successful existing team and developing a comprehensive, integrated strategy that aligns alumni engagement, major and principal gifts, annual giving, and global family philanthropy. The VPPIF will be a visionary leader who can inspire and grow the International Advancement team, while also building a cohesive international alumni engagement strategy that supports the university's long-term philanthropic goals. This role requires a deep understanding of global relationship-building, creative engagement approaches, and the ability to align international advancement with institutional priorities. Key Responsibilities: Lead and Expand the International Advancement Team: Provide strategic direction and mentorship to the current team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance. Identify opportunities to grow the team and enhance its impact across regions. Develop a Comprehensive International Advancement Strategy: Integrate alumni engagement, major gifts, annual giving, and family philanthropy into a unified global strategy. Emphasize the development of a robust principal gift pipeline while nurturing long-term relationships with international alumni and donors. Innovate in Digital and Global Engagement: Leverage technology and creative online platforms to engage international alumni and donors, especially in regions where in-person engagement is limited. Explore new tools and strategies to enhance virtual outreach and storytelling. Coordinate Strategic International Travel and Engagement: Collaborate with BU's 17 Schools and Colleges, as well as university-wide centers and initiatives, to plan meaningful international travel and events that involve deans, faculty, and university leadership in donor cultivation and stewardship. Grow the Global Parents Network: Expand this initiative to ensure a continuous pipeline of parent donors, engaging them throughout their family's journey with BU. Support Presidential and Provost-Level Engagement: Partner with the SVP of Advancement and the Office of the President to plan and execute high-level international travel and engagement strategies. Strengthen Advisory and Global Networks: Support the recruitment and engagement of the International Advisory Board (IAB) and identify strategic opportunities for IAB members to enhance BU's global presence. Expand networks for international foundation and corporate relations. Enhance Infrastructure and Processes: Recommend and implement tools, platforms, and procedures to improve international advancement operations, including prospect research, engagement tracking, and performance analytics. Foundation Advancement Consisting of ten team members, the office of Foundation Relations secures invaluable support from private philanthropic foundations (and organizations, associations, and societies) to advance scholarly and scientific research, educational initiatives, and community outreach. The office partners with faculty, academic leaders, researchers, and key staff members to build sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships between the University and charitable organizations that share BU's research, teaching, and social service missions. University-wide, foundations typically contribute $60 million annually. The Foundation Relations team identifies funding opportunities, connects faculty with funders, and assists in the development of competitive funding requests. In addition, the team has built and maintains a number of resources to increase success in securing funding. These resources are rare or nonexistent at other universities, but at BU, they have led to higher funding levels and a greater sense of support for faculty members. Key Responsibilities: Guide the management and expansion of the Foundation Relations team to achieve the next level of fundraising success. Identify new principal-gift level foundation prospects ($5M+), especially at the intersection of Principal Gifts, International Advancement, Parent Philanthropy, and Schools and Colleges. Work closely with the President, Provost, SVP of Advancement, and other colleagues to drive relationship-driven proposals to foundations in university priority areas. Create processes and systems to guide and optimize the collaborative work of Foundation Relations with other Advancement teams. In partnership with the leader of the Foundation Relations team, develop new tools and resources, leveraging AI when appropriate, to better support faculty, optimize team operations, and derive insight. Also in partnership, recruit new Foundation Relations Advisory Board members, particularly from principal gift-level foundations. Also, to establish a new suite of metrics to incentivize collaboration across Advancement to secure funding, especially from relationship-driven, principal gift-level foundations. Leadership The VPPIF will serve as a senior member of the Advancement strategy team and will have the opportunity to play a key role in the planning and execution of the University's next fundraising campaign. The VPPIF will have the opportunity to build and train the next generation of senior development officers and to design the structure and processes best suited to raising funds for the university. Perhaps most importantly, they will help set the course of the University for the foreseeable future. Boston University is at an inflection point. There is now an opportunity to accelerate this progress
the current leadership of the University views this as one of their highest priorities. The VPPIF will play a vital role in fueling acceleration. Essential Functions: Program Development Create first-in-class principal, international and foundation advancement programs that exemplify the following principles: Integrity, Trust, and Excellence. Components will include strategic program development, operations and donor services and donor relations to achieve significant growth in funding to BU's strategic priorities. Recognize the changing needs of principally rated donors, international donors and foundations, and create and implement systems to ensure mutually beneficial partnerships. The VPPIF will play an essential role in helping to identify and create transformational opportunities from BU's strategic priorities and effectively communicate them to BU's community