Blackburn College. Position Profile Vice President for Institutional Advancement

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1 Blackburn College Blackburn College Position Profile Vice President for Institutional Advancement Blackburn College is the third oldest college in the state of Illinois, now in its 180 th year. Founded as a Presbyterian seminary by Gideon Blackburn in 1837, Blackburn College evolved into a liberal arts college, first for the training of teachers, and later for the training of community leaders. In 1913, under the leadership of then-president William M. Hudson, Blackburn distinguished itself by adopting the Self-Help Plan, now known as the Work Program, which solidified the College s commitment to affordability and access. Today, Blackburn s commitment to the liberal arts links outstanding classroom instruction with hands-on learning experiences. As one of eight federally-recognized Work Colleges, all residential students are required to work at least ten hours per week on campus. The Work Program, the only student-managed program in the country, makes Blackburn distinct in several ways. It not only makes the college the most affordable independent college in Illinois, it creates a unique campus culture where everyone contributes to the community, working in all areas of campus ranging from dining and campus services to academic, business, and institutional advancement offices. The work program also positions Blackburn graduates for success in employment and graduate school: in the past three years 98% of graduates report full time employment or graduate school six months after graduation -- based on a 96% response rate to our exit surveys. Blackburn is uniquely positioned to offer students a liberal arts education partnered with career development. Blackburn is also distinctive in its long-standing commitment to access and affordability. Its admissions standards insist on college-readiness, resulting in an average ACT of 21 and high school GPA of 3.5. In addition to merit-based financial aid, Blackburn focuses on need-based aid. In 2014 Blackburn introduced the Affordable Access Award (AAA) program, which allows students with a $0 Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) on the FAFSA to attend tuition-free. This program was very successful in increasing Blackburn s enrollment, as well as the percentage of Pell eligible and first generation students while doubling our students of color to 21%. Funded in part by dedicated Blackburn donors, the concept of the AAA program was enhanced this year with two new programs: Macoupin Promise and Blackburn Promise. Macoupin Promise provides free tuition and fees to new high school graduates who live in Macoupin County and whose family income is under $60,000 annually. Blackburn Promise puts Page 1

2 Blackburn in the company of only 70 colleges and universities across the country by guaranteeing students that their EFC is the most they will pay toward Blackburn s tuition and fees. With both programs, students may receive their costs for room and board in an amount equal to their federally subsidized loan. Blackburn approaches these opportunities from a position of financial strength, with total net assets of about $100,000 per student. For the past five years of published data, Blackburn s Composite Financial Index has been an average of 45% higher than the national median, and its endowment has grown substantially every year. General Summary The Vice President for Institutional Advancement (VPIA) joins the President, Provost, Vice President for Student Life and Learning, and Vice President for Administration and Finance as a member of the senior management team in the President s Cabinet. The Cabinet is an effective and smooth-running team. The President, in his fifth year of office, is widely respected for his excellent leadership, and the members of his cabinet are highly regarded and work very well together. The VPIA is responsible for leading professional staff and students, as well as volunteers and members of the campus community at large, in activities that focus positive attention on a high-impact donorcentered philanthropy program. The College is seeking a seasoned, development professional with extensive experience in gifts of significance or management of a comprehensive development program. The successful candidate will be a proven, collaborative servant-leader, who thinks strategically and seeks pragmatic, creative solutions to challenges. The candidate must be dedicated to the roles of mentor, driver of the philanthropic culture, and steward of donor resources. The successful candidate will demonstrate a sincere interest in and understanding of higher education and evidence of continued professional development. The VPIA will steward contacts developed through the recently concluded and highly successful Creating Opportunity! fundraising campaign and will begin preparations for Page 2

3 the next campaign. The VPIA will carry a significant portfolio of major gifts prospects and will actively participate in the cultivation and attainment of gift commitments. Blackburn is a close-knit community, where faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends all feel a deep connection to, and ownership of, the College. This sense of pride is enhanced by the College s long-standing commitment to shared governance, transparency, and trust. Any successful VPIA at Blackburn must be open to feedback and ready to lead by example within a collaborative environment. Primary Responsibilities The VPIA will develop and implement a comprehensive, fully integrated advancement program, in cooperation with the President and the members of the Board of Trustees, and consistent with the mission and strategic plan to provide the foundation for the future. The program includes: Formation of a productive relationship with Blackburn s president that deepens the culture of philanthropy at the College on all avenues related to fundraising, communications and donor relationships Trustee development (in coordination with the Advancement Committee and the Trusteeship Committee of the Board of Trustees) Foster deeper relations with new donors and those developed during the newly-completed $26M Creating Opportunity! Campaign Enhancement of the comprehensive, integrated advancement program including donor stewardship for: the Gideon Blackburn Fund, major gifts (unrestricted, endowment and capital) and planned giving Creation of development-oriented and alumni-related publications Prospect research and database development Alumni relations and engagement Recruit, select, train, lead, and evaluate a comprehensive Institutional Advancement staff Cultivate local relationships and participate in campus and community programs and events Partner with Public Relations to share the Blackburn story and our successes Page 3

4 Opportunities Pride of Mission Blackburn s Vice President for Institutional Advancement has the opportunity to earn a singular sense of accomplishment. Blackburn College preserves the American Dream where students may earn their opportunities merely through their own hard work. Blackburn stands as a unique model for higher education affordable for all, regardless of financial means, with high quality and low debt. Blackburn achieves this success through two fundamental instruments: (1) a Work Program that substantially reduces students costs; and (2) a mission worthy of charitable support. Thus, to a degree greater than at other Institutions, Blackburn depends upon the ability and success of its Institutional Advancement Office to garner financial support to its worthy mission. Our VPIA is an absolutely essential part of Blackburn - and we believe that Blackburn and the opportunities that it provides are essential parts of American higher education. That is something to be proud of. Leadership and Building the Culture of Philanthropy The Vice President for Institutional Advancement for Blackburn College reports to the President and works in close coordination with the Board of Trustees, leadership staff, and faculty in a broad range of development activities, including creating strategic plans and budgeting for the College s fundraising efforts. The philanthropy program and its corresponding activities at Blackburn College are designed to be donor-centered and relationship based. Providing a unique donor experience is at the heart of all fundraising practices and initiatives. Creating positive and gratifying donor engagement is the hallmark of our Institutional Advancement endeavors. Although Blackburn has a long standing tradition of excellent stewardship, there is a need to continually fine-tune the standards and best practices of fundraising that are in place to ensure that donors have the best experience possible with the College. Page 4

5 Creating a Comprehensive Fund Development Program The Department for Institutional Advancement is responsible for all fundraising efforts, including Blackburn Society memberships, major gifts, planned gifts, underwriting sponsorships, special campaigns, restricted and unrestricted grants, special events, volunteer activities, and other fundraising initiatives that might be established. The team currently consists of the following staff and student workers: o Institutional Advancement Coordinator o Coordinator of Alumni Relations o Director of Annual Giving o 2 Development Officers o Senior Director of Development o 4 Student Workers directly supervised by select staff members. The VPIA will serve as the key leader in forming new partnerships and collaborations and generate new revenue sources in pursuit of the College s dynamic strategic vision. He/she will be a critical member of the senior leadership team, working closely with the President to seek specific sources of funding, develop major donors and meet strategic goals. Guiding a highly capable development staff, the VPIA will lead a positive, dynamic and successful initiative to attain impressive annual fundraising results. Major Gifts and Planned Giving Substantial opportunities exist at Blackburn for identifying, cultivating and securing Major Gifts and Planned Gifts. With a tradition of 180 years of creating positive relationships with alumni and other friends, the College is well-positioned to build on its previous fundraising success. Page 5

6 Donor Acquisition and Stewardship Cultivating lifelong donors, practicing exemplary stewardship and fostering a joyous donor experience is how Blackburn College achieves donor loyalty and retention. Personal attention, excellence in communications and enjoyable interactions are the standards by which the College s philanthropy-related endeavors are conducted. Our goal is to always engage Blackburn donors in ways that are positive, gratifying and memorable. It is important for the VPIA to develop an integrated approach which recognizes the interests and communication preferences of our diverse alumni base. Campaigns The College has recently completed the Creating Opportunity! campaign - the largest and most successful in its history. As of June 30, 2017, the campaign exceeded its $25 million goal and now has commitments totaling $26.3 million. This was a blended campaign that included support for capital improvement projects, scholarships, the Gideon Blackburn Fund, and the endowment. It was also the first campaign in the college s history that made extensive use of volunteers including both alumni and friends of the institution. Aside from its monetary success, which is considerable, the Creating Opportunity! campaign has set a new standard for fundraising at Blackburn College - one that the next VPIA will be charged with maintaining. Building upon past success, the new VPIA will work with the president, Board, and Blackburn community to develop the next campaign. External Grants Blackburn has been successfully garnered small grants from foundations and corporations. There is, however, great potential for the College in seeking major grants that can enhance our service to students, particularly those who are disadvantaged. The VPIA, with the Board and leadership team, will explore various approaches for increasing Blackburn s grantsmanship. Alumni Development and Engagement The continued development of Blackburn s alumni engagement program, including the Alumni Association Board of Directors, represents a major opportunity for fostering gratifying and productive relationships. The alumni represent all that is finest among our many assets as a higher education institution. This represents a major, ongoing priority for the Institutional Advancement Program at Blackburn. Page 6

7 Qualifications The successful Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Blackburn College will possess many talents and experiences. Successful candidates must have the following qualities: Passion and enthusiasm for Blackburn College's mission and programs A proven ability to communicate effectively with widely diverse audiences in print and in person Proven experience and strong capability with major gift philanthropy, planned giving, and building solid, productive donor relationships Capability to establish an effective working relationship with, and provide leadership to, Blackburn s president in all areas related to philanthropy and Institutional Advancement initiatives Collaborative and ethical leadership style with the ability to mentor staff, students, and volunteers individually and in teams High performance standards, and the ability to inspire excellence in others, while maintaining a healthy work-life balance for self and colleagues. A resourceful, flexible, and adept strategist and problem solver who can effectively balance multiple projects and deadlines A willingness to travel 50% of the time or more Proficient with budgeting and software tools useful in development Bachelor's degree required, Master s degree preferred Applicants holding CFRE or CFRM certification are particularly welcome to apply. Carlinville, Illinois Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, Illinois, a city of 6,000 with award-winning public schools, a picturesque downtown square, numerous seasonal festivals, and a quaint, small-town feel. The city is located 50 miles from St. Louis, Missouri, and 45 miles from Springfield, Illinois. With its ideal location, cultural, shopping and other larger-city opportunities are within easy distances for residents of Carlinville, while they enjoy a low cost of living, a tight-knit community, and a family-friendly, small town environment. Application Process & Timeline Confidential inquiries are encouraged. Blackburn seeks to build an inclusive faculty and administration that can engage the interests of a diverse population; underrepresented persons are strongly encouraged to apply. Nominations and applications may be sent to: Page 7

8 Vice President for Institutional Advancement Search Human Resources Blackburn College 700 College Ave. Carlinville, IL Applicants should send a letter of application addressing the above expectations and the promotion and support of a diverse and inclusive campus alumni association, a curriculum vita or resume, and the names, addresses, telephone numbers and addresses of three to five references. References will not be contacted without the applicant s permission. Review of applications will begin November 15 and continue until the position is filled. The successful applicant must provide proof of authorization to work in the United States. Blackburn College is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law. Page 8