[Hiring] Director of Advancement @University of the People

Role Description

The University of the People is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Advancement to serve as a senior leader for the University's fundraising strategy and philanthropic initiatives. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Advancement, the Director will be responsible for developing and executing fundraising programs that increase philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, corporations, and institutional partners.

• Oversee annual giving, donor acquisition, major gifts, stewardship, fundraising campaigns, advancement services, and prospect research while building a high-performing development team.
• Requires a strategic leader with strong relationship-building skills, fundraising expertise, and a passion for advancing the University's mission of providing tuition-free higher education to students around the world.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• Master's degree is preferred.
• Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) or equivalent fundraising certification is highly desirable.

Requirements

• 8–12 years of progressive fundraising and advancement experience.
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience managing fundraising or development teams.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts and achieving annual fundraising targets.
• Strong expertise in annual giving, donor acquisition, stewardship, campaign management, and major gift fundraising.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, corporations, and institutional donors.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising CRM platforms such as Blackbaud Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar donor management systems.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and team development capabilities.
• Outstanding relationship management, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to interpret fundraising metrics and donor analytics.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Experience in higher education, non-profit organizations, or global education institutions is highly preferred.

Company Description

University of the People (UoPeople) is the first non-profit, tuition-free, American, accredited, 100% online university. Today, UoPeople has over 270,000 students enrolled from more than 200 countries and territories, including 50,000 students who are refugees. UoPeople is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

• Believes that higher education is a basic human right and can transform lives.
• Welcomes team members who bring creativity and innovation to their roles.
• Supported by the generosity of individuals and foundations, including the Gates, Hewlett, Ford Foundations, and others.
• Covered by leading media outlets such as The New York Times, BBC, NPR, Times Higher Education, and U.S. News & World Report.
• President Reshef’s TED Talk and Nas Daily interview about the University have more than 30 million combined views.