Vice President for Strategic Engagement

The University of Vermont Foundation (UVMF) seeks a collaborative, energetic, innovative and dynamic leader as their next vice president for strategic engagement (VP). This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced professional to set the strategic direction, alignment and integration of a broad range of externally-facing programs.

With the establishment of the University of Vermont Foundation in 2011, UVM signaled its intent to become more engaged in the broader scope of American philanthropy. The UVM Foundation is empowered to perform a wide range of services and conduct a variety of activities that support the university in its mission of teaching, research and public service.

The Foundation offers influential and committed alumni and other donors the opportunity to serve UVM in ways that did not previously exist, focusing their collective influence, experience and energy on realizing the UVM Foundation mission. With a bottom line focus and singular attention to philanthropy, the Foundation board will inspire greater support from the institution’s top donors and extend the ability of the professional staff to engage donors in fundraising efforts. At the same time, the UVM Foundation will shift the burden of development expenses from the University’s general fund to the foundation, increasing the amount of discretionary general-fund dollars available to the institution.

The vice president will oversee alumni relations, donor relations and stewardship, and foundation communications. By extension, the VP has executive responsibility for enhancing and expanding the reach of activities that are most likely to affect philanthropic growth objectives. This leader must have the ability to create, evolve and innovate best practices for affinity-based alumni engagement, robust and strategic print and digital communications, and impactful donor stewardship that will be visible inside and outside of the organization. 

The VP will build the collaborative framework connecting and unifying engagement goals beyond traditional alumni relations and connect families, fans, students, faculty, staff and broader community. There will be an opportunity for this person to improve the foundation’s use of data and analytics to conceive, execute and evaluate programs that enhance alumni engagement and philanthropy. The vice president will report to the president & CEO of the UVM Foundation and will serve as a member of the foundation’s senior team. Additional information, including a Leadership Profile, can be found at www.wittkieffer.com.

Please direct all applications and nominations to Mercedes Chacón Vance, preferably via e-mail, to UVMFVPStratEng@wittkieffer.com.

The UVM Foundation is dedicated to improving our organization and the University, in part by better reflecting the alumni and students we serve. We are committed to diversity and to building an environment that values and supports equity, and inclusiveness for people of all backgrounds and ages, and we're taking active steps to meet this commitment.

We encourage applications from qualified individuals with a demonstrated commitment to these ideals and especially invite members of historically underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities, who will help the Foundation support UVM’s commitment to the global community.

The University of Vermont Foundation is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.