POSITION GUIDE: Full Description
July 2010

SAN MIGUEL SCHOOLS Chicago
Back of Yards Campus / Gary Comer Campus

Position: Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Reports to: President & Executive Director
Start date: Summer, 2010

 

About San Miguel Schools

Founded in Chicago in 1995 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, San Miguel Schools’ mission is to work in the transformation of two of Chicago’s most challenged communities: Austin, on the city’s west side and Back of the Yards, on the south side. Two private, non-tuition driven middle schools provide a combination of quality education, a high level of family engagement, and support through the high school years, to empower children and families so they may become active, contributing and competitive members of the global community. The schools today serve nearly 200 students in the 5th through 8th grade and another 200 students and their families through a high school support program. While 84% of San Miguel alumni have graduated from high school – well above Chicago’s average of less than 60% - the goal, within five years of 8th grade graduation, is for 100% of alumni to be high school graduates pursuing post secondary education or gainfully employed. Please visit www.sanmiguelchicago.org for more information on the Schools’ mission and achievements.

 

Position Summary

The Vice President for Institutional Advancement is a highly visible position at San Miguel Schools (SMS). Working with the President & Executive Director and the Board of Directors, the position serves as the chief advancement officer for SMS. The Vice President provides leadership, direction and coordination for all San Miguel fundraising and public relations activities, including major and planned giving, annual giving, foundation and corporate support, and special events. The position is responsible for raising funds for the annual operating budget, scholarships, and capital and endowment projects. Key priorities include strengthening the fundraising function, increasing the size of the major gift prospect pool and helping to build board and volunteer leadership. The Vice President serves as a vital member of the San Miguel leadership team.

 

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as chief advancement officer for SMS.

• Plan, direct and implement a comprehensive long-range and annual fundraising and communications plan that meets San Miguel’s contributed income goals, generates individual, foundation, and corporate support, and maximizes resources in keeping with the School’s strategic plans and Board goals.

• Provide leadership and management to the department’s staff and fundraising efforts to achieve or exceed San Miguel’s annual fundraising goals. Facilitate effective departmental planning, implementation and communications.

• Staff the President & Executive Director in his advancement activities, including cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.

• Develop prospect strategies and participate in the direct cultivation and solicitation of major donors. Spend approximately 50% of time in cultivation, solicitation and stewardship meetings/site visits with a portfolio of major and planned giving donors and prospects. Maintain and upgrade existing donors while recruiting new donors to the San Miguel mission.

• In conjunction with the President & Executive Director, provide leadership support to the Board of Directors and appropriate Committees toward the development of financial resources and to ensure a broad base of financial support for the organization’s fundraising efforts. Provide staffing support to various committees as necessary to accomplish financial development and communications goals.

• Assist the Development Committee of the Board to develop funding priorities and strategies for individual and corporate fundraising.

• Analyze potential funding sources and provide leadership in expanding the donor base and implementing effective relationship management strategies to increase donors’ commitments to San Miguel. Manage and develop appropriate technology and systems innovations to support expansion and relationship management goals.

• Pursue sustainable support for San Miguel’s scholarship program.

• Initiate and maintain relationships with a wide range of other community institutions and organizations, including public and private agencies to increase San Miguel’s visibility and impact in the community.

• Participate in budget development and administer the Institutional Advancement Department budget. Work with the SMS leadership team to ensure that fundraising goals are met and expenditures fall into set range.

• Recruit, train, and provide opportunities for members of the Advancement Team to enhance their professional skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Masters or equivalent and CFRE preferred.
• 7+ years of development experience with demonstrated increase in fundraising results and management responsibilities.
• Goal-driven, with a demonstrated ability to work with high-level donors, board members, and the general public.
• Knowledge of Chicago philanthropic community required; knowledge of donors supporting under-served neighborhoods, educational and/or Catholic causes extremely helpful.
• Superior interpersonal, organizational, written and verbal communication skills.
• Personal presence and the ability to communicate and interact effectively with multiple constituencies both within and outside the organization.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented team player, able and willing to multi-task and “roll up their sleeves” to get any job done. Initiative to work with minimal supervision.
• Unquestioned integrity and full commitment to the mission of San Miguel Schools.
• Ability to supervise and mentor staff.
• Ability and willingness to travel nationally to visit major gift prospects and to attend fundraising events.
• Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge fundraising software.

It is the policy of San Miguel Schools Chicago to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, religion or any other status protected by applicable law.

 

Salary

Competitive, based on experience and qualifications.

 

San Miguel Schools Chicago has engaged Ter Molen Watkins & Brandt LLC to conduct the search for this position. Nominations and applications will be accepted immediately and the search will continue until the position is filled.

Please send nominations or a letter of introduction and resume to the following e-mail address:

smstwb@gmail.com

For additional information, please contact:

Gene S. Brandt
President
Ter Molen Watkins & Brandt LLC
(312) 222-0560 Ext. 226

Or

Nora Kyger
Senior Vice President
Ter Molen Watkins & Brandt LLC
(312) 222-0560 Ext. 230

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