Summary
Description
Western Colorado University invites dynamic, collegial, and strategic professionals to apply for the position of Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the WCU Foundation. This unique opportunity allows a seasoned advancement executive to build on the momentum created from the highly successful Elevate Western Campaign.
Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the WCU Foundation at Western Colorado University (Western) is responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive institutional advancement programs and activities to significantly increase constituent involvement and fundraising outcomes. The position is responsible for annual fundraising, corporate and foundation relations, major and planned gifts, gift/fund management, capital and comprehensive campaigns, alumni and constituent relations, scholarship management, donor stewardship, and advancement services as well as providing leadership to the Foundation Board of Director and oversight of the Foundation’s operations.
The successful applicant will have a proven track record in securing significant funding from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government sources. They will also demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and considerable management experience, either within an advancement shop or a similarly sized and complex organization. Candidates must uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethics while demonstrating exceptional interpersonal skills, communication, and collaboration.
Professional qualifications, personal characteristics and more information regarding Western can be found in the leadership profile.
The annual salary range for this position is competitive at $190,000-210,000, and commensurate with prior experience. In addition, WCU offers excellent shared contribution medical and dental insurance and retirement plans, generous paid time off, and access to other University benefits, including (after one year of employment) free Western tuition for dependents and opportunities to apply to a national tuition exchange program for dependents.
Nominations and Applications
The Search Committee will begin a review of applications in early July and continue its work until an appointment is made. To assure full consideration, application materials should be submitted by July 7, 2025, to the AGB Search portal at: WCU VP for Advancement/ED, WCU Foundation. To apply for the Vice President of Advancement & Executive Director of the WCU Foundation position, candidates are requested to submit the following:
- resume.
- a letter of interest that addresses how the candidate’s experiences and qualifications connect with the required/preferred characteristics and priorities as expressed in this position profile; and
- contact information for at least three references (to be contacted with candidate’s permission at a later date).
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Nominations and expressions of interest in the Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director, WCU Foundation position are encouraged. Please direct them to: WCUAdvancement@agbsearch.com or the AGB Search consultants listed below. The search will remain open until an appointment is made.
