Overview

The Associate Vice President for Fundraising Priorities (AVP) is a strategic, creative, and highly collaborative senior leader within a high-performing University Advancement organization. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Advancement and serving as a key member of the Advancement senior leadership team, the AVP provides the vision, strategy, and momentum that drive all capital and restricted fundraising efforts across the University.

The AVP plays a central role in shaping the University’s philanthropic priorities—leading the process that defines fundraising initiatives, partnering with faculty and administrative leaders to articulate compelling cases for support, and ensuring the effective “arc” of gifts from initial vision through engagement, solicitation, documentation, and stewardship. In addition to the Vice President for Advancement, the AVP will work closely with the President, Provost, Executive Vice President, Dean of the Faculty, Deputy Provost for Resource Planning, deans, and faculty across disciplines to advance initiatives aligned with the University strategic framework.

The ideal candidate is an innovative strategist and exceptional communicator with demonstrated experience navigating complex academic environments. They will bring highly honed judgment, strong management and interpersonal skills, deep analytical capabilities, and a deep commitment to the mission of liberal arts education and the University’s teaching and research enterprise.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Partnership

Work closely with the Vice President for Advancement and fellow senior advancement leaders to set long‑ and short‑term strategic goals that enhance alumni engagement, philanthropic impact, and the Office of Advancement’s overall effectiveness.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the VP and represent the VP and the division as a proxy when appropriate.
Provide leadership, coordination, and insight across the University to establish and advance fundraising priorities that support academic, co‑curricular, and capital initiatives.

Fundraising Priorities & Initiative Development

Lead the University-wide process to define, develop, and approve philanthropic priorities—including term support, endowed funds, capital projects, and strategic academic initiatives.
Partner closely with senior administrators, deans, and faculty to build compelling cases for support that align institutional aspirations with donor interest.
Manage the Fundraising Priorities team, guiding the creation of exceptional donor-facing materials, briefing documents, presentations, and other assets that articulate the University’s strategic opportunities.

Advancement Collaboration & Donor Strategy

Partner with frontline fundraisers and giving groups to coordinate strategies that maximize philanthropic outcomes for major institutional initiatives.
Participate in regular discussions with senior leadership regarding key donor conversations, gift purposes, and proposed terms; provide guidance to prospect managers navigating complex gift opportunities.
Ensure alignment and coordination across advancement teams to support successful donor engagement and gift closure.

Gift Documentation, Policy, & Compliance

Oversee development of gift terms and documentation for outright gifts and documented bequest intentions, working in consultation with senior University partners and the Office of General Counsel.
Lead the monitoring, updating, and enhancement of the University’s Gift Policy Guides, ensuring that gift-related policies and procedures are current, consistent, and clear across the institution.
Collaborate with colleagues within and beyond Advancement to draft new policies and determine best practices in gift acceptance, documentation, and counting.

Institutional Engagement & Governance

Represent University Advancement in key governance and planning forums, including but not limited to:

Fundraising Priorities Committee
Fundraising Priorities Working Group
Facilities Planning Group

Cultivate strong working relationships with campus leaders and faculty to ensure alignment between fundraising initiatives and the University’s mission, aspirations, and operational priorities.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and minimum of ten years of professional higher education, academic administrative or development-related experience or related work experience.
Strong leadership, exceptional judgment and discretion, superb communication skills, and the ability to work creatively and collaboratively with many constituencies, both on and off campus.
Demonstrated experience as a leader of staff, including the ability to provide vision and create an environment of collaboration, empowerment and accountability. Build and motivate teams; build buy-in around organizational goals, lead teams through change, measure and manage performance, address underperformance, promote diversity of thought and innovation, and develop processes and policies designed to optimize effectiveness, productivity, and celebrate achievements of the office and its members.
Ability to articulate Princeton's mission and priorities with enthusiasm, energy, and conviction, and in a manner that inspires others to action.
Knowledge of the principles of fundraising and the current philanthropic landscape, including current best practices, strategies, and policies related to annual and capital/restricted giving.
Strong strategic planning and project management skills necessary to set and monitor progress against goals, to develop plans and timelines, and to measure success toward goals.
Proven ability to develop and foster relationships with stakeholders at all levels across a complex organization, and to collaborate and influence at a high level.
Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and in teams, with high personal standards representative of Princeton’s commitment to excellence.
Sound judgment, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail; the ability to think strategically and act decisively and to make sound judgments and solve problems without close day-to-day supervision.
Ability to respond quickly to changing business needs and priorities. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and to produce high-quality and compelling work product under tight deadlines. Ability to work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly-collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment.
Commitment to the Office of Advancement's mission of maximizing philanthropic support for Princeton University and to adhering to its guiding principles of High Performance, Innovation, Civility, and Collaboration.

Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced academic degree at the doctoral or master’s level, or an advanced degree in another applicable field such as business or law.
Strong familiarity with academic mission and university operations.

Princeton University has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. Jack Gorman is leading the search with Grace Zakim and Ryan Cheung. For more information, to make a nomination, or to apply for this role, please visit: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/princeton-university/associate-vice-president-fundraising-priorities.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.

If the salary range on the posted position shows an hourly rate, this is the baseline; the actual hourly rate may be higher, depending on the position and factors listed above.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. Please see this link for more information.

Standard Weekly Hours

36.25

Eligible for Overtime

No

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Probationary Period

180 days

Essential Services Personnel (see policy for detail)

No

Physical Capacity Exam Required

No

Valid Driver’s License Required

No

Experience Level

Director

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Salary Range

$350,000 to $400,000