Atlanta, GA

Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Development, Morehouse School of Medicine

The Organization

Morehouse School of Medicine
Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Development
Atlanta, Georgia

Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), located in Atlanta, Georgia, was founded in 1975 as the Medical Education Program at Morehouse College. In 1981, MSM became an independently chartered institution. MSM has a unique niche as a one-of-a-kind graduate medical institution. Housed within the cluster of Historically Black Colleges and Universities known as the Atlanta University Center, MSM attracts a diverse student body drawn by its unique social mission and academic excellence. MSM is among the nation’s leading educators of primary care physicians and was recently recognized as the top institution among U.S. medical schools for in fulfilling its social mission, a role emphasized as critical to improving the country’s overall health care. MSM faculty and alumni are noted in their fields for excellence in teaching, research, and public policy.

MSM stands at the vanguard of efforts to achieve health equity for people of color and the underserved in urban and rural populations, to advance a diverse healthcare workforce, and to ensure biomedical discoveries permeate such that all communities can realize the promise of science. And as our society broadly reassesses matters of race and equity, reorders priorities, embraces community, and looks to science, medicine, and public policy to extend and improve quality of life, MSM’s critical leadership role has been further highlighted. A wide range of individuals and organizations are carefully evaluating how to best align their philanthropy with the needs of minority populations and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, and MSM is well-positioned to leverage their partnership and investment. An abundant solution for an abundant need, MSM champions the innovative and forward-thinking models that allow every person the access and resources they need to be healthy.

Under the leadership of President and Dean Valerie Montgomery Rice, MSM has established a well-functioning Office of Institutional Advancement to build partnerships and financial support to carry the institution’s bold vision forward. Dr. Montgomery Rice has also launched MSM’s first-ever comprehensive campaign, called IMPACT: The World Needs What We Do Best, which has secured more than $111 million to date toward the $225 million goal. In addition, MSM is seeking to raise $150 million in support of its recently announced partnership with CommonSpirit Health, the first nationwide initiative between two of the country’s leading health organizations to address the underlying causes of health equity.

Morehouse School of Medicine is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran’s status. Morehouse School of Medicine does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment on the basis of any factor stated above or prohibited under applicable law. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in University programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination. Morehouse School of Medicine complies with Executive Order 11246, as amended, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action. Morehouse School of Medicine is committed to achieving a diverse workforce through application of its affirmative action, equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policy in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.

Position Overview

Amid this favorable backdrop of social consciousness, programmatic expansion, and growing investment, MSM seeks candidates for the role of Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Development (SVP). Reporting to the President and Dean, the SVP is responsible for visioning and leading a comprehensive development program, ensuring alignment with mission and strategy, promoting a culture of philanthropy, integrating high-quality and innovative alumni relations, and executing against short and long-term objectives in an evolving, growing organization. The SVP will leverage the committed partnership of the President and Dean, other executive leadership, and Board of Trustees in continuing sustainable growth of major, multi-year, and principal gifts from individual, foundation, and corporate sources. The SVP will prioritize a donor-centric, relationship-based approach, deepening existing partnerships and cultivating new support from both alumni sources and continuing MSM’s strong track record of securing non-traditional support. The SVP oversees the Office of Institutional Advancement comprising approximately 18 staff, serving as a hands-on, player-coach and effectively balancing strategic and operational management. The SVP will be a highly visible leader in articulating the case for support and play a key role in expanding high-level donor relationships through frontline engagement with current and potential partners, donors, and sponsors.

The ideal candidate will have the following personal and professional skills, qualities, and competencies:

  • Passion for the mission of Morehouse School of Medicine.
  • A seasoned development leader who has achieved progressive levels of responsibility, including extensive experience managing all dimensions of a comprehensive fundraising program (individual giving, institutional giving, annual giving, major and planned giving, stewardship, board relations) and leadership in a major fundraising campaign, preferably within an academic medical center, higher education institution, healthcare organization, or other environment of similar complexity.
  • Strong grasp of and commitment to best practices in all areas of development; experience integrating giving programs at various levels to cultivate greater donor commitments.
  • At least five to seven years of experience in a supervisory capacity in a nonprofit development role, with a strong record of providing strategic and operational leadership, including creating and managing a budget.
  • Experience in developing the case for support and strategic fundraising plans, particularly a major fundraising campaign, and executing plans to achieve goals and objectives. Demonstrated experience cultivating, training, and working collaboratively with senior-level colleagues, board members, and other high-level volunteer leaders on successful development-related activities.
  • Successful track record of personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from individual and institutional donors at the level of six to seven-figures or greater.
  • Demonstrated ability in planning and executing integrated, strategic, and innovative communications in support of achieving fundraising goals, including leveraging digital and social media.
  • Demonstrated analytical and organizational skills in evaluating existing programs, conceiving and implementing new programs or strategies, and resolving complex and/or sensitive operational and interpersonal issues. The ability to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about donor strategy and process, as well as working knowledge of modern data management practices and innovations that can streamline the development process and contribute to the integration of related functions.
  • A forward thinker with a track record of utilizing new methods of donor engagement and connectivity, who will be driven by innovation in developing philanthropic best practices in the current and post-COVID-19 world.
  • Masters or doctoral degree preferred in relevant specialty from an accredited institution of higher education
  • Ability for regional and national travel, consistent with public health guidelines.

How To Apply

Morehouse School of Medicine has retained the Diversified Search Group to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) should be directed electronically to:

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.
Managing Director
Fundraising & Advancement Practice Leader
Diversified Search Group
The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, New York 10174
gerard.cattie@divsearch.com | 212.542.2587

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