The Organization:
At Scholarship America, our team members are motivated by our vision to create an America where every student’s educational dreams can come true. This position can work in a hybrid manner from either of our offices (Bloomington or Saint Peter, MN) or work fully remote within the continental United States. Our team-based, flexible work schedule is a top-rated employee benefit within our organization due to our commitment to supporting a healthy work/life balance. Our schedules allow employees to flex around our core hours of Monday-Friday from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
Scholarship America offers employees a robust total rewards package focused on supporting the health and well-being of employees now and in the future. We offer comprehensive choices in areas such as insurance (medical, dental, vision, basic life), disability (short-term & long-term), flexible spending accounts (medical & dependent care), and a 403(b) retirement fund with a 3% company match. Due to our commitment to excellence to support work/life balance, we offer flexible work schedules which vary depending upon the position and seasonality of the role. We also provide paid time away from work (vacation, sick, personal, and up to fifteen designated holidays annually), plus employee & dependent educational reimbursement programs that support our overall mission. Scholarship America offers robust learning opportunities for our employees to maintain knowledge of our industry and its practices as well as professional development.
Details on our company values and mission can be found at www.scholarshipamerica.org.
We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Position Overview:
The Associate Vice President of Philanthropy & Programs will influence the strategy of Scholarship America’s culture of philanthropy while implementing processes & procedures through the department resources and partners to meet or exceed goals as a part of a high-performance fundraising team. They will work collaboratively to develop, implement and achieve strategic plans for increasing private support; provides leadership and direction for major gifts, corporate and foundation gifts, planned giving, annual giving, donor relations, and prospect research; and are directly involved in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts. By cultivating a deep understanding of Scholarship America’s donors, this position will help fulfill their philanthropic goals in alignment with Scholarship America’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.
This role will serve in a leadership capacity for fundraising, but also in shaping the culture of philanthropy at Scholarship America, cross-departmental leadership, project management, supporting and championing integrated development in support of donors and our mission across Scholarship America. The AVP – Philanthropy & Programs will have an active voice and be a participant in helping to shape the vision, goals, and outcomes for the Development department.
Position Expectations:
• Manage and grow an existing multimillion-dollar portfolio of strategic individual, corporate, and planned giving donors while diversifying revenue streams through analysis of corporate fundraising performance and identifying opportunities to grow revenue while managing expenses. Regularly report on results, focusing on trends in areas that support long-term sustainable growth.
• Collaborate with the VP, Development & Marketing, other members of the Executive Team, and key stakeholders to maximize fundraising opportunities through strategic partnership with Fortune 500 companies and other major corporations.
• Coach and guide Gift Officers along with managing their own detailed cultivation and solicitation strategies for each corporate prospect/donor within the context of a multi-year strategy targeted to achieve annual fundraising goals and to create mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Build and communicate a clear major donor and corporate partner strategy in collaboration with Marketing that has defined objectives and deliverables.
• Work cross-functionally through an Agile process for prioritization of initiatives to identify and qualify donors and partners with aligned interests to fund prioritized strategic initiatives.
• Work with Vice Presidents of Development & Marketing and Partner Solutions to build, own and steward strategic relationships with key partners.
• In collaboration with Donor Relations Coordinator, sets direction and gives guidance to stewardship programs to recognize donors in effective and meaningful ways.
• Ensure effective strategies are utilized to increase income development opportunities. Income opportunities include sponsorships, strategic alliances, cause marketing campaigns and special event participation.
• Participate in community activities that contribute to the acquisition and retention of donors.
• Be a champion for the mission, goals, and programs of Scholarship America both internally and externally.
• Be an outstanding leader of the team and developer of individuals. Institute best practices to drive high performance and engagement within individual direct reports and the organization as a whole.
Minimum Requirements:
• Proven record of accomplishment securing seven-figure donations, grants, sponsorships and/or corporate partnerships.
• Experience building influential executive-level contacts within Fortune 500 companies.
• Proven record of success in implementing donor-centered strategies and cultivating sustainable revenue growth over time.
• Experience leading and managing fundraising team members and various development processes.
• Experience with a range of giving vehicles including annual giving, fundraising events, major, capital and planned gifts, sponsorship, and marketing partnerships.
• Highly organized, with strong attention to detail in order to produce the highest quality work, including follow-up and follow-through.
• Able to informally influence and inspire others with a genuine, empathic interest in people while exhibiting superior interpersonal skills.
• Able to take appropriate professional risks and challenge the status quo.
• Strong analytical skills: able to interpret and compare data to form meaningful insights and evaluate results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Results-oriented, motivated to meet or exceed individual and shared goals by carefully monitoring progress and demonstrating accountability through individual performance and team leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently, effectively, and cooperatively with other people.
• Excellent ability to communicate both verbally and in writing, including grammar, spelling and punctuation. Including the ability to effectively present to executives.
• Position will expect up to 30% of schedule spent traveling for donor visits & events nationally.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent experience with a demonstrated commitment to continued personal and professional development.
• Donor database management systems experience.
• Proficient with MS Office Suite, with a focus on Excel and PowerPoint functionality.
Preferred Requirements:
• Proven experience raising funds geared towards advancing equity with a focus on historically marginalized communities
• Work or life experience with diverse communities.
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credentials.
• Higher Education industry knowledge.
• Seven (7) or more years of experience in professional fundraising.
• Seven (7) or more years of people management.
Pay range: Exempt ($90,300 – $112,900 – $135,500)
We Have One Passion. Every Student.
How To Apply:
Submit resume and application online: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=4803858b-974e-40a2-8884-98e0a7f94c36&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=457568&source=CC2&lang=en_US
Check out www.scholarshipamerica.org/About/Careers