Vice President for Development & Strategic Partnerships

Vice President, Development & Strategic Partnerships

Position Description

Organizational Overview

Complete College America (CCA) builds movements for scaled change and institutional transformation. Specifically, CCA drives systemic change that leads to better college

completion rates; more equitable outcomes; and greater economic and social

mobility, especially for historically excluded students. CCA operates at the federal,

state, and institutional levels and works with its national network of forward-thinking

state and higher education leaders. Since its founding in 2009, CCA and its network have

introduced bold initiatives that help states and institutions implement data-driven

policies, student-centered perspectives, and equity-driven practices.

Complete College America’s headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana. The selected

candidate will have potential for remote work, with periodic in-office meetings as

required.

Position Overview

Complete College America seeks an energetic, strategic, and collaborative development leader with excellent relationship skills and demonstrated success in building capacity and increasing fundraising revenue, to become its Vice President for Development & Strategic Partnerships (VP). The successful candidate must have a genuine interest in the mission of CCA and must be a highly skilled communicator able to make a compelling case for organizational support. This is a unique opportunity for an innovative and passionate executive to lead, enhance and redefine CCA’s philanthropic and collaboration efforts, at a critical time in the organization’s evolution.

Reporting to the CCA President and working closely with the Board of Directors and members of the organization’s executive team, the VP will oversee Complete College America’s development functions, shaping and implementing the organization’s overall fundraising strategy. The VP will be responsible for building on recent development efforts, as well as establishing additional sources of revenue to strengthen and enhance CCA’s impact and reach.

The CCA VP for Development must have a creative and entrepreneurial approach and be able to work in a fast-paced, mission-focused, and diverse environment. The VP will implement a comprehensive strategic alliance and fundraising program that builds upon and maintains a secure programmatic and financial foundation to support the organization’s overarching mission and strategic priorities.

Roles and Responsibilities

Serve as Key Strategic Advisor & Thought Partner to CCA President, Leadership & Staff

• Serve as a member of the CCA Executive Team and contribute to the team’s decision-making and organizational planning
• Partner with the President, Chief of Staff/VP and Executive Team to propose and align fund development and business development strategies as well as to strengthen donor acquisition and retention
• Provide guidance to the CCA President, the Chief of Staff/VP and other staff and leadership on important developments and trends that may impact CCA’s resource generation and diversification efforts
• Report on fundraising and strategic partnerships to the President and board of directors and justify program changes or proposals
• Partner with the CCA President and executive team members to develop program/ project plans for all assigned areas (Fund development and Strategic Partnerships) including mission statements and measurable goals and objectives; determine financial/technology requirements and resources, staffing requirements and evaluation/reporting procedures
• Leads vision and strategy development to catalyze fund development and diversification efforts to support CCA’s work on behalf of its 52-member Alliance

Fundraising, Donor Cultivation & Stewardship, Strategic Business Development

• Creates a clear, specific operational plan with milestones to achieve progress toward long-term and immediate operational and fundraising goals that provide philanthropic support for the organization’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that establishes goals for event income, individual giving, corporate contributions, Board giving and Board related giving, foundation, and in-kind support.
• Introduce and generate enthusiasm for new, actionable donor insights, including analysis of donor segments, key messages, and calls to action.
• Lead and oversee all aspects of CCA’s fundraising efforts including:
  • Cultivation, direct solicitation and stewardship of donors and prospects
  • Manage and develop proposals for foundation and corporate support in collaboration with program staff
  • Create and manage the year-end appeal through a direct mail and digital campaign
  • Oversee and manage all major fundraising events, including co-leading the implementation of the CCA Annual Convening
  • Ensure that all donors receive proper recognitions and acknowledgement
• Work closely with the Board of Directors to build and strengthen a culture of philanthropy and to increase fundraising revenue, particularly for the annual fundraising events and the year-end appeal.
• Oversee all Board involvement in fundraising and development activities
• Work with each Board member to identify donor prospects and execute related engagement and cultivation plans.
• Lead and manage a team of development professionals, including mentoring and coaching
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

Administrative Management

• Attend all Board meetings
• Provide direction and support to the Board Development Committee
• Oversee agency communications including the website, public relations, social media, and written materials. Work with program staff to create timely and targeted communications materials.
• Oversee development department systems and databases
• Track all historical and prospective donor gifts
• Maintain and generate prospect lists as well as donor and strategic partner engagement through a CRM tool
• Generate project reports for funders, CCA executive team, and the CCA Board of Directors
• Work in tandem with CCA leadership and staff to identify and support the creation of grant proposals
• In collaboration with the Chief of Strategy/Senior Vice President, Chief Finance Officer, prepare the annual department budget proposal for resource development and revenue generation from diverse sources
• Successfully manage departmental budget

Qualifications

Leadership and Relationship Management  

• Natural leader and advocate
• Able to effectively and accurately represent the CCA to a variety of audiences
• Knowledge and skills in all aspects of people management
• Demonstrated ability to build strong partnerships internally and externally.
• Ability to influence leaders within program and outside of program with or without direct authority to make change
• Leadership skills to shape the culture of a multi-team organization
• Ability to advance work with minimal direction from managing executive
• Knowledge and experience working as a part of a leadership team including direct knowledge of how organizations are structured and managed
• Ability to successfully operate in a non-partisan environment working on a bipartisan basis to advance and accelerate the CCA policy agenda
• Serve as a member of a leadership team to ensure that the issues of import and consequence to the CCA Alliance are integrated across the entire organization
• Identify areas of growth, opportunity, and impact for CCA, and participate in development strategies to grow CCA’s presence nationally, within and among states
• Ability to identify and analyze key national and international events and trends and the ways in which they may impact CCA’s programmatic, state policy and advocacy agendas
• Willingness and ability to codify and articulate the value proposition and return on investment of membership in the CCA Alliance
• Unequivocal, unabashed commitment to equity and equitable outcomes

Experience and Excellent Judgement  

• Ability to use quantitative and qualitative data to present options for decision making, highlight tradeoffs, and propose recommendations
• Ability to ideate and strategize with passionate commitment to a successful outcome
• Skilled in strategic thinking, planning and execution, change management and system-thinking – with knowledge of strategy development and implementation, performance management systems of goals, targets, and monitoring process
• Ability and adaptability to engage with program teams to understand critical issues and facilitate President’s consistent engagement
• The highest personal and professional integrity along with an optimistic outlook and a solid sense of humor
• High level of interpersonal maturity, grace, self-awareness, and sound judgment
• Ability to maintain an elevated level of confidentiality

 Organization, Communication, & Execution  

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to synthesize and analyze information and translate it to diverse audiences
• Outstanding interpersonal skills including engaging verbal and written communication and ability to influence a wide range of individuals from diverse backgrounds and at different levels
• Crisis management experience that may have earned from a diverse set of environments (nonprofit, government, corporate, etc.)
• Fluency (not expertise) across key operational areas such as strategic communications, financial analysis, HR, IT, legal, and ability to navigate a wide range of operational issues with a solid understanding of these core business/ organizational disciplines
• Experience in a role requiring advanced collaboration skills, as well as a demonstrated ability to work with efficiency and diplomacy, particularly as part of a team effort
• Effective decision-making skills and ability to juggle multiple and competing demands and establish priorities in a highly dynamic environment, while providing continual attention to detail
• Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a complex team effort
• Exceptional ability to ensure high quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with both internal partners and partners in the field
• An innovative, solution-oriented thinker that understands complex systems and has strong relationship-building skillsets that lead to high quality organizational practices and results
• An ability to operate both independently and as a member of a high functioning team.
• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to respond and adapt to rapidly changing priorities
• Entrepreneurial and can thrive in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment, remaining cool under pressure
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively throughout the year, as needed and requested by the CCA President or as necessary for the role

Education and Experience  

• Bachelor’s Degree required, Advanced Degree preferred
• Significant (15 years’) professional experience in the nonprofit sector successfully securing six- and eight-figure gifts from a variety of sources
• Significant senior-level experience in areas including corporate, foundation and individual fundraising, proposal writing, event planning and management, and communications
• Minimum of ten years of work experience in higher education
• A flexible and adaptable style such that the individual can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives, partnerships, and business development opportunities
• Extensive experience with procuring and successfully overseeing the implementation of state and federal government agency, organizational and other grants and contracts
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with keen attention to detail
• Outstanding oral presentation and written communication skills
• Ability to articulate complex higher education issues in a manner that can be clearly understood by a variety of audiences
• Ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and strategic partners to build long-term relationships
• A firm commitment to equity in the workplace and the achievement of equitable outcomes for under-served students
• Experience in training teams, including the creation of templates and documents for action planning
• An innovative, solution-oriented thinker that understands complex systems and has strong relationship-building skill sets that lead to high quality organizational practices and results
• An ability to operate both independently and as a member of a high functioning team as a collaborator who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside of the organization
• Acuity in data analysis and utilization of student success metrics to make the case for organizational support
• Willingness to learn and build new skill sets that are important to achieving work objectives
• Clear understanding and commitment to the CCA mission, values, goals, and objectives
• Extensive understanding and working knowledge of office software to include Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Raiser’s Edge, Banner, etc.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule. This position requires non-standard hours including some weekend and evening work

Salary

Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Salary requirements should be included in the cover letter for the role of Vice President for Development and Strategic Partnerships.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of the minimum met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At Complete College America, we strive to attract, develop, and retain highly qualified individuals representing the diversity of America. Toward this end, CCA is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Employment policies and decisions at CCA are based upon merit, qualifications, performance, and business needs.

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity or expression, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, legally protected genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.