Position Summary

The Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts is a senior leadership position charged with the strategic development of Principal Gifts programs across Rice University. Reporting to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, Stephen Bayer, the Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts provides strategic leadership for the University’s ambitious fundraising goals. The Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts will collaborate with University leadership on crafting a strategy and execution plan to significantly increase annual fundraising. The incoming Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts is joining at an exciting moment in the University’s history with a new President, a highly committed Board, talented and passionate Deans, and a desire from the Rice community to grow and diversify charitable support to underpin critical initiatives.

The Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts is responsible for promoting Rice externally, developing strategic partnerships across campus and throughout the donor community, creating multi-year strategies for new donor pipelines, meeting annual fundraising goals, enhancing current systems, recruiting and retaining top talent, and improving alumni outreach and engagement across all schools and programs. 

The Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts leads all principal gifts efforts on behalf of the entire University. The Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts will build upon the fundraising successes of Rice, and develop, communicate, and lead a compelling, collaborative approach and vision for fundraising moving forward, and will work closely with the University President, Deans, and other leaders on campus. 

With subject matter expertise in philanthropy and alumni engagement, the Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts will keep Rice leadership and Trustees up to date on current trends, issues, problems, and activities in order to facilitate and recommend policy positions concerning development and alumni relations. With excellent communication and collaboration skills, the Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts will develop strategies, set goals, and direct activities to help achieve fundraising and engagement targets.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and related experience Ten years of related professional fundraising experience, including demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding principal gifts Experience managing team members and their work Skills Required Firsthand understanding of the fundraising stages of cultivation, solicitation and stewardship Comfort level working with high-net-worth individuals Understanding of assets and how to structure complex gift arrangements Ability and creativity to develop unique giving opportunities Understanding of working in an academic environment and how to develop innovative programs that can be successfully implemented Ability and confidence to create strategies and well-executed trips for the President, Vice President and other University leaders Ability to influence engagement and development colleagues across campus on collaborations around prospect management best practices Ability to manage team members and their work around the President’s and Vice President’s development work Creative, entrepreneurial outlook and strong intellectual curiosity Strong leadership and strategic management skills Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills  Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to lead and motivate others Ability to manage a large number of fundraising activities simultaneously Ability to engage and motivate groups of diverse individuals Excellent ability to understand constituent needs and show good judgment and diplomacy Excellent attention to detail and ability to quickly understand and remember details about alumni/donors and projects to which they are assigned

Essential Functions

Serve as a member of the senior leadership team of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR), reporting to the Vice President.  Augment the existing staff of two principal gift fundraisers to build a comprehensive program to raise ever-increasing funds in support of key University priorities. Collaborate with school and unit colleagues on tracking principal gift prospective donor identification, strategy, activity and stewardship. Oversee the Corporate and Foundation Relations team. Establish a new program at Rice University that will leverage our alumni, parent and friend networks to identify, cultivate and support solicitation of high-net-worth individuals, including foundations and corporations, who are not yet affiliated or engaged with Rice and whose philanthropic interests may align with the University's highest priorities. Represent the University before boards of visitors and other groups and individuals to enlist support for and explain fundraising activities supportive of University programs and projects.  Serve as a senior development leader in the execution of a comprehensive campaign. Together with the Vice President, drive and coordinate the President’s prospect portfolio and annual goals. Collaborate with the AVP for the Campaign and other members of the Development and Alumni Relations senior leadership team on monitoring campaign progress, developing and executing campaign plans and programs, driving fundraising growth and reporting on campaign progress, working with school and unit colleagues to identify funding opportunities for campaign priorities, particularly around interdisciplinary initiatives, and building the pipeline of prospective donors.  Facilitate relationships of key University Trustees, Deans, faculty, and staff, including the President, with campaign prospects and volunteers; assist administrators and faculty in the recognition and prioritization of institutional and departmental funding needs; keep abreast of institutional and departmental priorities, University programs, personalities, and events. Help identify synergies between Individual Giving departments in DAR (Annual Giving, Major Gifts, Principal Gifts, and Gift Planning), as well as Corporate and Foundation Relations, identifying programmatic leverage between the individual units. Direct various personnel functions including, but not limited to, hiring, performance appraisals, promotions, and transfers. Track and monitor identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of the principal gifts pool of prospective donors, as well as track pipeline of movement into this pool. Oversee goal setting for the principal gifts pool each year.  Determine fiscal requirements of the team and prepare budgetary recommendations; ensure expenditures are monitored, verified and reconciled.  Create and carry a personal portfolio of principal gift level prospects. Perform all other duties as assigned.

Additional Functions

Significant travel is required for this position. Some weekend and evening work hours are required. Will work with and supervise the efforts of volunteers involved in fundraising initiatives. Requires extensive contact within the University at all levels, including upper-level administration, in person, in meetings, in writing, and by telephone. Requires extensive contact outside the University with alumni, parents, and friends of Rice University, often in person, with follow-up by phone or in writing. 

Preferences

Master’s Degree or higher 10+ years of related experience at an institution of higher education or non-profit organization 5+ years of management experience  Skills Ability to demonstrate good judgment in dynamic situations Ability to display confidence as a mentor and collaborator Ability to utilize strong time management skills Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite Strong familiarity with fundraising CRM Ability to think strategically, to work collaboratively, to prioritize, and to create and follow processes Ability to build, manage and motivate a team License/Certification Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) 

Workplace Requirements

Must possess (or have the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire) and maintain a valid Texas driver’s license with no more than three moving violations and/or at fault accidents within the past 36 months, and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years.

Rice University HR | Benefits 

https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits 

Rice Mission and Values

Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19, currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID-19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies