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Description
Job Summary
WGU Advancement, the university’s fundraising arm, embodies WGU’s commitment to growth and impact. The Vice President, Advancement (VP) is responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive and forward-thinking strategy that prioritizes the deepening of relationships with alumni, donors, foundations, and strategic partners that guides all fundraising efforts at WGU. This strategy will be intricately aligned with WGU's mission, vision, and strategic priorities and will reflect the university’s innovative model and student-centric approach to higher education.
Central to this role is fostering a culture of philanthropy across WGU, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and impact through data-informed decision-making, innovative fundraising practices, and technology-enabled systems that strengthen fundraising initiatives that will resonate deeply with every stakeholder. The VP leads and develops a high-performing fundraising team, oversees advancement services, and manages grants administration—ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and impact.
The VP is responsible to foster close collaboration with academic leadership, enrollment, marketing, and student services to align messaging and maximize the impact of university-wide initiatives, As a key member of the President’s Leadership Team, the VP will actively contribute to shaping and communicating the President’s vision, strategic direction, and operational decisions affecting both the university and its affiliated initiatives.
Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities
- Develop and execute a bold and ambitious Advancement strategy to support WGU’s growth, long term sustainability, and transformative philanthropic partnerships and expansion in alignment with the organization's priorities. Recruit, develop, and retain a diverse, high-performing Advancement team by modeling values driven leadership, setting clear expectations, and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, professional growth, and cross-functional collaboration. Provide visionary leadership across all fundraising domains—including major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, and donor engagement—ensuring a cohesive and high-impact fundraising ecosystem. Oversee the grants administration team, ensuring a streamlined and efficient grant lifecycle—from identification and application to compliance and reporting.
- Establish and maintain best practices in donor stewardship, recognition, and engagement.
- Optimize the allocation of Advancement resources, ensuring investments align proportionally with generated funds.
- Manage the advancement services team to enhance donor management, gift processing, and fundraising analytics.
- Champion the strategic use of technology, CRM systems, and data analytics to inform fundraising strategy, personalize donor engagement, monitor performance, and drive continuous improvement. Collaborate closely with WGU leaders, Trustees, and faculty, fostering a university-wide commitment to philanthropy and shared fundraising goals. Cultivate relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and corporate partners to build a strong philanthropic pipeline.
- Oversee the preparation and implementation of operating budgets to optimize resource allocation and impact.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and senior leadership, contributing to enterprise-level planning and championing Advancement’s role in achieving institutional goals.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Exceptional leadership and organizational acumen with a proven ability to lead high-performing, cross-functional teams in complex, mission-driven environments. Proven success in securing major and principal gifts (5-, 6-, and 7-figure), driving multi-channel fundraising strategies, and exceeding ambitious philanthropic targets. Deep understanding of best practices in higher education fundraising, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship.
- Expertise in grant management, including full lifecycle development, reporting, and compliance.
- Proficient in using advancement technology, CRM systems, and fundraising analytics to optimize donor engagement and strategic decision-making. Proficient in using advancement technology, CRM systems, and fundraising analytics to optimize donor engagement and strategic decision-making. Ability to foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization and engage stakeholders at all levels.
- Inspirational, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leadership style that fosters innovation, accountability, and team empowerment. Skilled relationship-builder with a strong network and ability to engage high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners, and philanthropic institutions. Results-driven and analytical, with the ability to translate metrics into actionable fundraising strategies and performance improvements. Strong financial acumen with experience overseeing multi-million dollar Advancement budgets, ensuring responsible stewardship and high-return investment in fundraising initiatives.
- Managerial courage and willingness to tackle challenges and innovate in a rapidly evolving environment.
- Excellent judgment and adaptability, making strategic decisions that drive impact
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited institution.
Experience
- 10+ years of progressive senior leadership experience, including leading teams of directors and multiple managers.
- 10+ years of progressive leadership in fundraising, with a proven ability to develop and implement successful strategies.
- Demonstrated success in securing 5-7 figure gifts from high-net-worth donors.
- Experience in an entrepreneurial business, political fundraising, or education-related environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in a related field from an accredited institution.
- Existing relationships with high-net-worth individuals capable of $100,000+ donations.