Vice President for Advancement and President of the Concordia University Chicago Foundation

The Vice President for Advancement and President of the Concordia University Chicago Foundation (VPA) serves as the institution's chief advancement officer and provides strategic leadership for all fundraising, alumni engagement, donor relations, stewardship, communications, and philanthropic initiatives. The VPA is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive advancement strategy that increases philanthropic support for scholarships, capital projects, endowment growth, academic programs, faculty excellence, athletics, student success initiatives, and other institutional priorities. This leader builds and strengthens relationships with alumni, donors, parents, regents, community partners, foundations, corporations, and other friends of the institution. He or she also serves as the President of the Concordia University Chicago Foundation (Foundation). As a member of the President's Executive Cabinet (Cabinet), the VPA is a key leader and partner in shaping the University's future. He or she reports directly to the President, supports and advises the President, exercises executive-level leadership, and works collaboratively with his or her fellow members of the Cabinet to advance the University's mission, strategic priorities, financial sustainability, and long-term reputation.

Responsibilities/Duties:

Executive & Strategic Leadership:

• Serve on the Executive Cabinet and actively contribute to institutional strategic planning, policy development, and governance with the Board of Regents;
• Champion and advance the University's distinctive Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) identity and Christian mission across all external engagement efforts.

Philanthropy & Campaign Execution:

• Design, lead, and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies, including capital/comprehensive campaigns, major and planned giving, annual giving, and corporate/foundation relations;
• Manage a personal portfolio of principal gift prospects and partner closely with the President and Board of Regents to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors;
• Establish ambitious annual and multi-year philanthropic goals with clear metrics, benchmarks, and accountability systems.

 

Constituent & Church Engagement:

• Provide visionary leadership for alumni, parent, and family relations to foster lifelong engagement and a campus-wide culture of philanthropy;
• Deepen partnerships with LCMS congregations, church-related entities, and mission-aligned organizations through intentional Church Relations strategies;
• Represent the University at major church, alumni, civic, and donor gatherings.

 

External Relations, Communications & Events:

• Oversee University Communications to safeguard brand identity, manage public/crisis communications, and align messaging with enrollment and institutional goals;
• Guide the Advancement Events team to deliver signature institutional events that elevate the University's profile and deepen constituent engagement.

Foundation Leadership & Governance:

• Serve as President of the University Foundation, planning and facilitating Board of Directors meetings, engaging directors as key donors, and aligning Foundation efforts with the University's Board of Regents.

 

Operations & Team Stewardship:

• Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing, mission-driven advancement team;
• Oversee advancement services, database integrity, prospect research, stewardship reporting, and budget allocation to ensure strong ROI;
• Maintain strict compliance with CASE standards, gift acceptance policies, ethical fundraising practices, and relevant state/federal laws.

 

Skill Sets:

• Committed Christian actively involved in his or her congregation who is highly familiar with the Lutheran faith, and preferably is an active member of an LCMS congregation
• Commitment to advancing the University, its M&I, and its favorable relationships with the institutions and people of the LCMS
• Strong understandings of: higher education fundraising, alumni engagement, donor relations, advancement operations, campaign management, ethical fundraising, donor confidentiality, sound stewardship, donor intent, and a student-centered approach to philanthropy
• Ability to build authentic relationships with donors, alumni, faculty, trustees, and campus partners
• Entrepreneurial thinking, adaptability, and a willingness to pursue new approaches to donor engagement, as well as an ability to translate institutional priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities
• Superior interpersonal skills
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills
• Strong administrative skills, including planning, analysis, and problem-solving skills, as well as an ability to build and manage effective and collegial teams
• Executive presence, sound judgment, discretion, and political acumen
• Willingness and ability to travel and to work nights and/or weekends as may be necessary

 

Minimum Experience Required:

• Significant progressively responsible experience in advancement, development, fundraising, alumni relations, or related nonprofit leadership
• Demonstrated record of successfully cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gifts
• Experience developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies
• Experience supervising advancement professionals and leading high-performing teams

 

Preferred Experience:

• Experience serving in a senior advancement role at a college or university
• Successful experience planning, launching, and completing a comprehensive campaign or capital campaign
• Experience working closely with a president and board on major gift strategy
• Experience with advancement databases, CRM systems, prospect research tools, donor analytics, and moves management
• Knowledge of CASE standards, fundraising best practices, and current trends in higher education philanthropy

Education Requirements:

Bachelor's degree required.

 

Compensation and Benefits:

Starting range is dependent upon individual qualifications and experience. Concordia health, disability and retirement plan enrollment is available to full-time employees and their eligible dependents. Tuition benefits are also available for employees and their qualified dependents.

Application Information:

Interested individuals should include a cover letter, resume, and references with their online application.

Concordia does not discriminate in the employment of individuals on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, sex or age. As an institution of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, however, and to the extent allowed by law, Concordia University reserves the right to give preference in employment based upon religious affiliation.

Concordia University Chicago does not generally sponsor for employment visas except for positions that oversee, teach or support our international programs.

About Concordia University Chicago:

 

Concordia University Chicago is a liberal arts-based Christian university founded in the Lutheran tradition. Through its College of Theology, Arts & Humanities, College of Business, College of Education, and College of Health, Science & Technology, Concordia-Chicago offers more than 160 areas of study in small classes taught by professors who are passionate about teaching and student success. All undergraduate and graduate degrees are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Concordia University Chicago has been recognized as a College of Distinction since 2010, and is consistently ranked among the Best Regional Universities–Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. For more than a decade, combined undergraduate and graduate enrollment has exceeded 5,000 students. Concordia University Chicago is located in River Forest, 10 miles west of downtown Chicago. Learn more about our commitment to higher education, rooted in the Gospel, at CUChicago.edu.

 

Steadfast in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, Concordia University Chicago promotes academic rigor in its liberal arts and professional programs; grounds students in objective truth, integrity, and excellence; and practices faithfulness to the Confessional teachings of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, as it forms students for vocations in church, family, and the world.