Associate Vice President of Philanthropy

POSITION TITLE: Associate Vice President of Philanthropy

DIVISION: Administration

DEPARTMENT: Advancement

REPORTS TO: EVP of Advancement & Strategic Communication

PAY TYPE: Exempt

WORKER TYPE: Full-Time

UPDATED: October 2026

PAY: $90,000

The Associate Vice President of Philanthropy is a frontline fundraising leader responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of approximately 70 major-gift prospects and donors in support of Kansas City Art Institute’s mission and strategic priorities. Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Advancement & Strategic Communication, this position develops individualized donor strategies, builds meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, friends, and other constituents, and secures significant philanthropic commitments for institutional priorities. The role partners closely with colleagues across Advancement and campus leadership to identify funding opportunities, communicate impact, and advance a culture of philanthropy.

Essential Functional Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 70 major-gift prospects and donors, prioritizing relationships based on capacity, inclination, readiness, and institutional priorities.

• Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, including clear next steps, timelines, and gift objectives for each prospect.

• Qualify and advance prospects through the major-gift pipeline; conduct discovery, make face-to-face and virtual visits, and maintain consistent, personalized contact.

• Solicit major gifts and multi-year commitments; prepare proposals, gift opportunities, briefing materials, and follow-up communications tailored to donor interests and KCAI priorities.

• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and other prospective supporters, connecting their philanthropic interests with meaningful institutional needs.

• Collaborate with the EVP of Advancement & Strategic Communication, development colleagues, academic and administrative leaders, and volunteers to coordinate prospect strategy and donor engagement.

• Maintain accurate and timely prospect records, contact reports, moves-management plans, and forecasts in the institution’s CRM; use data to monitor progress toward goals.

• Provide timely stewardship that demonstrates the impact of gifts, strengthens donor trust, and encourages continued and increased support.

• Participate in donor meetings, campus visits, events, and fundraising activities.

• Meet agreed-upon activity, solicitation, revenue, and portfolio-management goals; regularly communicate progress, challenges, and opportunities to the supervisor.

• Travel to major prospects and events will range from 10-20% annually.

• Other duties as assigned.

Supervises the following:

• N/A

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to build authentic, long-term relationships and secure major philanthropic commitments through effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Strong written, verbal, presentation, listening, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to varied audiences.

• Excellent organization, project management, follow-through, judgment, and attention to detail; able to manage a focused portfolio while balancing competing priorities.

• Ability to interpret prospect research and giving data, develop sound strategies, and maintain accurate records and forecasts in a donor database/Raiser’s Edge NXT.

• Collaborative, donor-centered approach and the ability to work effectively with senior leaders, faculty, staff, volunteers, and external constituents.

• Experience and passion for the arts, with the ability to communicate the value of arts education and the creative process.

• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 15% and work occasional evenings or weekends for donor engagement and institutional events.

Required Experience/Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.

• Five years of professional fundraising experience with a demonstrated focus on major gifts, including prospect management, donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Longstanding experience in and passion for the arts.

Preferred Experience/Education:

• Experience in higher education fundraising.

• Familiarity with prospect research, moves management, donor databases/Raiser’s Edge NXT, and fundraising performance metrics.

• Active CFRE

Statement

Driven by exploration, curiosity, and passion, it is Kansas City Art Institute’s mission to educate artists and designers while honoring the distinct journeys of students. We create a community that equips students to become leaders who leverage the creative process to transform the future. Our excellence is integrated in our community, rich with varied experiences and perspectives from faculty, staff, students, and alumni. We invest in continuous growth by cultivating a culture of creativity, care and belonging—a climate where respectful dialogue thrives and individuals are seen, valued, and encouraged to achieve their full potential and accomplish remarkable things.

KCAI is committed to attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting the most qualified candidates for employment without regard to any characteristic prohibited by federal, state, or local law. KCAI provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in the job application process. If you have difficulty using our online system and require accommodation due to a disability, contact the Human Resources Department about your interest in employment. Any questions or concerns can be directed to KCAI’s Human Resource Administrator at hr@kcai.edu.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.