Vice President for Advancement & Alumni Relations
Position
Bucks County Community College seeks an experienced leader and frontline fundraiser to serve as Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the BCCC Foundation (Vice President for Advancement). We seek someone to join our vibrant community to help us increase philanthropy by engaging alumni, friends, foundations, and corporations as partners in supporting our mission of changing lives and improving our communities through accessible and affordable high-quality education and workforce development.
Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Vice President for Advancement is a member of the college cabinet, leads a team of advancement and alumni relations professionals, and facilitates the work of dedicated volunteers on the Alumni Council and BCCC Foundation board.
The next Vice President for Advancement has the opportunity to build and lead a high-performing advancement operation for one of Pennsylvania’s top community colleges with high academic standards and a strong transfer rate, a responsive and broad portfolio of workforce training programs, strong and supportive government, community and corporate relationships, and dedicated volunteer groups, all situated in one of the most dynamic and desirable locations in the country. An exciting opportunity for the next Vice President of Advancement will be to plan and lead the College’s first comprehensive capital campaign since 2019.
Qualifications
- Dynamic and focused leader with experience developing high performing teams, motivating and guiding volunteers, and increasing philanthropic gifts.
- Proven success in having raised major gifts and understand the workings of high-quality fundraising operations.
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher and 8+ years of relevant experience, including 3+ years in a management position
- Experience in managing and leading goal-oriented teams and in planning development strategies
- Experience building prospect pools from scratch and developing case for support materials
- A track record of success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts and meeting fundraising goals
- Experience planning board meetings and engaging volunteers
- Exemplary interpersonal and communication skills, with a particular sensitivity to working with College leaders, faculty, and volunteers
- Impeccable writing, presentation skills, and ability to use various technologies
- A passion for higher education and the capacity to clearly communicate the mission and value of Bucks County Community College
Salary
Commensurate with background and experience.
Benefits
Bucks County Community College offers an exceptional benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, 403B pension plan, life insurance, short & long-term disability, generous paid time off, summer hours, tuition waivers, tuition assistance, wellness center, cafeteria, and free parking on a beautiful Bucks County campus.
Benefits
Bucks County Community College offers an exceptional benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, 403B pension plan, life insurance, short & long-term disability, generous paid time off, tuition waivers, tuition assistance, wellness center, cafeteria, and free parking on a beautiful Bucks County campus.
Appointment / Deadline
Consideration of applications will begin on December 1, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Application
Applications must include a letter of application addressing this specific position and the candidate’s interest and qualifications for coming to Bucks County Community College, curriculum vitae, and a list of five professional references. References will not be contacted without prior permission. Finalists may be asked to provide additional materials.
Questions about the position or process should be addressed to Urszula Zak (Deputy Chief of Staff to the President) at Urszula.Zak@bucks.edu or (215) 968-5899.
We are proud to be an organization that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.
Please Note: At this time, the College does not provide work visa sponsorships. To be considered for employment at Bucks County Community College, applicants must be permitted to legally work in the United States without employer sponsorship. Bucks County Community College participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
Detailed Position Responsibilities
Build a high-functioning advancement operation that includes motivated professional staff members, dedicated volunteers, and engaged College leadership in order to position the College for long term success in fundraising. Refine assessment methodologies and mentor a dedicated advancement and alumni relations team to implement best practices in Collegiate fundraising. Develop and manage a comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with the College’s mission and philanthropic goals, working closely with the president, leadership team, and deans to drive advancement efforts. Secure transformative gifts while fostering vital connections with key donors, corporations and foundations throughout Bucks County and across the Greater Philadelphia region. Facilitate the work and leverage the talent and dedication of the Alumni Council and BCCC Foundation Board to fully engage and support them in realizing the Colleges’ philanthropic priorities. In addition, accomplish the following:
- Articulate Bucks County Community College’s needs, ambitions, and values through excellent informal and formal communications, including written proposals
- Identify a pool and a pipeline of prospects for immediate and long-term cultivation
- Supervise, train, and mentor a team of fundraisers, alumni relations professionals, and support staff, with a sustained focus on fostering relationships that yield meaningful results
- Develop annual goals, metrics, plans, and budgets for a comprehensive, strategy-driven fundraising program
- Develop the tools, capability, and capacity to launch the College’s first comprehensive capital campaign since 2019
- Support and guide a dedicated volunteer board with meaningful roles and responsibilities in the fundraising process
- Travel and attend events throughout the region to build enduring relationships, tracked to a fixed and appropriately aggressive set of fundraising metrics
Department Oversight
The Department of Advancement and Alumni Relations currently consists of seven professional staff members who raise funds, steward donors, manage scholarships, present events, and facilitate the work of dedicated volunteers on the Alumni Council and the BCCC Foundation Board of Directors.
The BCCC Foundation is a 501c3 that is authorized by the Board of Trustees to accept gifts on behalf of the College. The endowment is currently $12.6MIL and the Department has been raising approximately $1.3MIL in gifts and $2.5MIL in grants annually. The Department administers the award of 145 scholarships annually, Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funds for dual enrollment, summer bridge, and youth programs, and the Student Emergency Fund.