Vice President – WGU Advancement

Vice President – WGU Advancement

Requirements

• Exceptional leadership and organizational acumen with a proven ability to lead high-performing, cross-functional teams in complex, mission-driven environments.
• Proven success in securing major and principal gifts (5-, 6-, and 7-figure), driving multi-channel fundraising strategies, and exceeding ambitious philanthropic targets.
• Deep understanding of best practices in higher education fundraising, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship.
• Expertise in grant management, including full lifecycle development, reporting, and compliance.
• Proficient in using advancement technology, CRM systems, and fundraising analytics to optimize donor engagement and strategic decision-making.
• Ability to foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Inspirational, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leadership style that fosters innovation, accountability, and team empowerment.
• Skilled relationship-builder with a strong network and ability to engage high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners, and philanthropic institutions.
• Results-driven and analytical, with the ability to translate metrics into actionable fundraising strategies and performance improvements.
• Strong financial acumen with experience overseeing multi-million dollar Advancement budgets, ensuring responsible stewardship and high-return investment in fundraising initiatives.
• Managerial courage and willingness to tackle challenges and innovate in a rapidly evolving environment.
• Excellent judgment and adaptability, making strategic decisions that drive impact.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a bold and ambitious Advancement strategy to support WGU’s growth, long term sustainability, and transformative philanthropic partnerships and expansion in alignment with the organization’s priorities.
• Recruit, develop, and retain a diverse, high-performing Advancement team by modeling values driven leadership, setting clear expectations, and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, professional growth, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Provide visionary leadership across all fundraising domains—including major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, and donor engagement—ensuring a cohesive and high-impact fundraising ecosystem.
• Oversee the grants administration team, ensuring a streamlined and efficient grant lifecycle—from identification and application to compliance and reporting.
• Establish and maintain best practices in donor stewardship, recognition, and engagement.
• Optimize the allocation of Advancement resources, ensuring investments align proportionally with generated funds.
• Manage the advancement services team to enhance donor management, gift processing, and fundraising analytics.
• Champion the strategic use of technology, CRM systems, and data analytics to inform fundraising strategy, personalize donor engagement, monitor performance, and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate closely with WGU leaders, Trustees, and faculty, fostering a university-wide commitment to philanthropy and shared fundraising goals.
• Cultivate relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and corporate partners to build a strong philanthropic pipeline.
• Oversee the preparation and implementation of operating budgets to optimize resource allocation and impact.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and senior leadership, contributing to enterprise-level planning and championing Advancement’s role in achieving institutional goals.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field from an accredited institution.
• Existing relationships with high-net-worth individuals capable of $100,000+ donations.