Associate Vice President

The Associate Vice President, Institutional Advancement oversees the team responsible for major giving, planned giving, and corporate and foundation relations at Meharry Medical College. With the Senior Vice President and Senior Associate Vice President, this advancement leader will advise on fundraising strategies for the College, including Campaign 150, the College’s $350 million capital campaign, which is scheduled to close in 2026, the 150th anniversary of Meharry.

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President, Institutional Advancement, the Associate Vice President will manage four to five direct reports, and work to build a sustainable donor pipeline, develop donor and prospect strategies, and support gift officers in creating and managing portfolios with the highest potential donors. The Associate Vice President will collaborate with campus colleagues across academic and administrative departments to understand funding priorities and engage them as needed to build strong donor relationships, and support the implementation of major giving and campaign initiatives.

Daily Operations

• Oversee the planning and implementation of all programs and activities designed to advance major and planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and campaign fundraising by helping to establish goals for all team members, and by directing the strategic implementation and assessment of fundraising and engagement strategies to achieve those goals.
• Manage the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of a small portfolio of leadership gift prospects through personal visits and other forms of communication.
• Work with select volunteer leaders to ensure coordination and continued progress of all fundraising and constituent engagement activities.
• Directly manage four to five professional staff members who have responsibility for major and planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and Campaign 150.
• Represent the College at events, to volunteer groups, and in the community with the goal of increasing the visibility of Meharry’s advancement priorities and needs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Six to eight years of progressive advancement leadership, preferably with proven success heading a major fundraising function in higher education.
• Demonstrated experience as a successful fundraiser in a complex and dynamic environment such as a higher education institution, healthcare and hospital system, or voluntary health association.
• Familiarity with and history of securing planned and blended gifts, and of working to establish and administer high-level corporate partner programs.
• Previous capital campaign experience, ideally in a higher education institution.
• The ability to help determine the fundraising priorities of Meharry Medical College.
• A collaborative and inspiring approach that is supported by data-centered rigor and a strong emphasis on accountability.
• Creative and entrepreneurial thinking.
• Leadership presence that is effective with a variety of constituencies, including trustees, faculty, senior administration, and high-level volunteers.
• Authentic appreciation for the role that Meharry Medical College plays as a premier medical college and a Historically Black College and University institution.
• The ability to travel 30% with advancement team members.

Required Education and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree is required. A Master’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience would be an advantage.