Lead a team of major gift fundraising professionals to grow relationships and resources to enable the University of Nebraska to change lives and save lives.

LEADERSHIP SUMMARY

• Are you an outstanding fundraiser who is exceptional in all facets of principal and major gifts strategy development, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship? Are you a difference maker who partners with donors to make their dreams come true through transformational gifts?
• Are you a proven relationship builder who listens, builds trust and will be an effective collaborator:
• with donors, alumni, businesses and industry;
• across colleges/units at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, as well as the multiple campuses in the university system;
• and across all departments and teams at the foundation?
• Are you a leader, mentor and coach who invests in and nurtures the success of others, creating a highly productive and energetic team?
• Are you a champion for the university? Do you have a deep appreciation for the role of philanthropy and higher education and its ability to change lives and save lives?
• Are you passionate about Nebraska, its people and the opportunity to leverage the pivotal importance of the University of Nebraska as the only public institution of higher education in the state?

If so, we invite you to apply for this dynamic leadership role!

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY

UNL is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, the state’s capital, and is the largest campus in the University of Nebraska System. Chartered in 1869 as a land grant university, its aim was to create opportunity for the state, and in the words of its founding documents, be open to people of any “age, sex, color or nationality.” Now as then, it is a university that welcomes all.

The state’s only public university, NU is comprised of a comprehensive research campus in Lincoln (UNL), a health sciences center in Omaha (University of Nebraska Medical Center), a metropolitan campus in Omaha (UNO), a residential undergraduate-focused campus in Kearney (University of Nebraska at Kearney), a two-year college of technical agriculture in Curtis (Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture), and research and extension facilities statewide. University-wide institutes and initiatives, such as the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, and the National Strategic Research Institute, span the roles and missions of all four major campuses.

Nebraska is a state of 1.9 million people known for its strong K-12 public schools, affordable cost of living, dining and cultural amenities, and picturesque open spaces, notably including the Nebraska Sandhills. Nebraskans are hard-working, humble and devoted to their university. A unique culture of philanthropy exists in the state and surrounds the University of Nebraska. UNL is a proud member of the Big Ten Conference, which is the only Power Five athletic conference with an associated academic conference, the Big Ten Academic Alliance. UNL is the only institution in the state of Nebraska with a Carnegie R1 designation, indicating the highest level of research activity. UNL has about 5,800 faculty and staff members across its three locations (City Campus, East Campus and Innovation Campus).

Its nearly 24,000 students are the most diverse in campus history. UNL has the state's only engineering college and prepares most of the state's teachers and lawyers and many pre-health students who are preparing to enter professional health schools. The majority of graduates stay in Nebraska and contribute to its economic vitality. UNL has more than 232,000 alumni around the world, with the largest number, more than 112,000, living in Nebraska; significant populations in such places as Colorado, California, Texas, Kansas and Arizona; and more than 4,000 alumni living internationally.

UNL has a reputation for success including:

• the lowest tuition rates in the Big Ten and students who graduate with significantly less debt than the national average. (Tuition has been frozen for two years.);
• the Nebraska Promise program providing free tuition to anyone who meets family income thresholds;
• a strong emphasis on access to higher education for the state’s citizens, with 6,440 UNL students receiving scholarships from foundation funds;
• strong partnerships with government and the philanthropic sector, resulting in a $1 billion investment in campus facilities;
• a research enterprise growing in scale and impact, with a record $321 million in research expenditures reflecting the campus’ wide and deep areas of expertise in physics, engineering, education, humanities, robotics and in agriculture, especially in the areas of climate, drought and food and water security; and
• a ranking, for the fifth year in a row, in the global top 100 for number of patents issued.

ABOUT THE POSITION

At the University of Nebraska Foundation, we grow relationships and resources that enable the University of Nebraska to change lives and save lives. As the Senior Vice President of Development for UNL, you will lead the UNL development team in building a comprehensive strategy to engage a robust community of philanthropic supporters to advance the goals and aspirations of a dynamic institution. You will become a trusted partner to university leadership, including the chancellor, college deans, Husker Athletics and Nebraska Alumni Association. You will be responsible for the strategy and execution of principal and major gift fundraising efforts, including coaching and mentoring a team of development professionals. This is an opportunity to build relationships with private industry and corporations in and beyond Nebraska to benefit UNL. The successful candidate will serve on the foundation’s Advancement Leadership Team and on the UNL Chancellor’s Executive Leadership Team.

You will join the foundation at an exciting time, with the opportunity to make a transformational impact. The foundation soon will publicly announce a historic campaign to raise $3 billion from 150,000 donors to build a better future for Nebraska. The campaign is being led by more than 300 enthusiastic volunteers representing all areas of the University of Nebraska System. UNL anchors the campaign, with a goal of $1.5 billion and 95,000 unique donors. Substantial progress has been made toward the UNL target, with more than $760 million raised from 74,000 unique donors. High-level successes include:

• the $115 million College of Engineering building, Kiewit Hall, which is entirely privately funded;
• the $165 million Go B1G Athletics Facility, of which $115 million is privately funded; and
• more than $400 million committed to student access and success.

The vision of the campaign is to:

• ensure the University of Nebraska is accessible to all students and a place where all students can be successful;
• support faculty, the university’s lifeblood and a source of intellectual capital for our state, and their academic programs; and
• grow the University of Nebraska as a hub of research, discovery and innovation that changes lives and saves lives.

Who we want:

• A high-energy, positive and collaborative fundraising professional who is curious about people and has a hunger to tell the university’s story.
• A relationally talented individual who makes authentic connections, facilitates meaningful conversations, and provides comprehensive solutions to help generous donors connect their passions to the priorities of the university.
• A trusted, knowledgeable ambassador to assist the university in navigating a changing landscape for higher education, including advancing initiatives for workforce development, student access and success, community partnerships, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
• A culture builder who creates camaraderie across all teams and empowers and trusts team members.

What you need:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.
• A deep appreciation for the mission, culture, contributions, achievements and future aspirations of UNL; the ability to effectively articulate the priorities of the university to a variety of audiences.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible fundraising and managerial experience building a sophisticated advancement program, preferably within higher education; depth of knowledge of best practices and all key areas of advancement; and a demonstrated ability to plan, manage and close a comprehensive campaign. Candidates with other relevant executive experience are encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrated success personally cultivating, soliciting and stewarding gifts of eight-plus figures from individuals, foundations and corporations.
• A record of developmental mentorship and management; the ability to build, lead and motivate staff; a strong commitment to personal and professional development; and the ability to foster an autonomous, productive and collaborative team.
• Superb personal communications skills, both written and oral; the ability to understand and translate information for all audiences; clarity and elegance in writing and speaking.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relational skills with a demonstrated ability to engage and collaborate well with people at all levels of an organization.
• Strong personal integrity and work ethic; the ability to be persistent and persuasive; and a robust, resilient and optimistic mindset.

WORKING AT THE FOUNDATION

What we offer:

• Mission-driven work that changes lives and saves lives.
• A strengths-based, engagement-focused and performance-oriented culture.
• An award-winning wellness program.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities for your career growth.
• A generous retirement match and multiple incentive compensation programs.
• 12 paid holidays and generous vacation time.
• University of Nebraska tuition reimbursement for you and your dependents.
• 12 weeks of paid medical leave, including maternity and paternity leave.
• Recognition by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as one of America’s Favorite Charities.

Who we are:

• Founded in 1936, the University of Nebraska Foundation provides support for the campuses in the university system — the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center and its primary clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine.
• Among public universities, the University of Nebraska ranks in the top 25 nationally for both funds raised and endowed assets under management.
• With a staff of 260 budgeted positions, the foundation has a reputation for efficiency and effectiveness, raising $7.13 in gifts for every dollar spent.
• Winner of Gallup’s Don Clifton Strengths-Based Culture Award.
• Winner of the Governor’s Harvester Wellness Award, the highest honor for corporate wellness.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The University of Nebraska Foundation is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that celebrates, supports and promotes diversity and inclusion. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.