Chief Institutional Advancement Officer
Posted
Description
ABOUT BENNETT COLLEGE:
Bennett College is a private, historically Black liberal arts college for women in Greensboro, North Carolina. Founded in 1873, the College is dedicated to educating and empowering women through academic excellence, leadership development, service, and community engagement. As Bennett advances its institutional transformation and long-term sustainability, it seeks mission-driven leaders who can translate strategic priorities into measurable impact.
Bennett College is a private, historically Black liberal arts college for women in Greensboro, North Carolina. Founded in 1873, the College is dedicated to educating and empowering women through academic excellence, leadership development, service, and community engagement. As Bennett advances its institutional transformation and long-term sustainability, it seeks mission-driven leaders who can translate strategic priorities into measurable impact.
GENERAL SUMMARY:
The Chief Institutional Advancement Officer (CIAO) serves as a senior executive, member of the enterprise leadership team, and strategic partner to the President. The CIAO is accountable for designing and executing a comprehensive, data-informed advancement strategy that grows philanthropic investment, strengthens institutional financial resilience, and elevates Bennett College’s visibility and relationships with key constituencies.
Reporting directly to the President, this leader provides enterprise-level direction for major and principal gifts, annual giving, campaign strategy, alumnae engagement, foundation and corporate relations, grant development, donor stewardship, and strategic partnerships. The CIAO will build a high-performing advancement operation, maintain an active portfolio of high-impact relationships, and partner with executive leaders and governing stakeholders to align fundraising priorities with the College’s academic, capital, and institutional growth objectives.
Success requires both strategic vision and hands-on execution: a proven ability to secure transformational philanthropic support, establish measurable goals, steward donor confidence, and develop sustainable fundraising infrastructure in a dynamic, resource-conscious environment.
This is a full-time, exempt, highly visible, campus-facing executive position based in Greensboro, North Carolina. The role requires regular engagement with the President, campus leaders, donors, alumnae, trustees, and external partners; periodic evening, weekend, and travel commitments should be expected based on advancement activities.
The Chief Institutional Advancement Officer (CIAO) serves as a senior executive, member of the enterprise leadership team, and strategic partner to the President. The CIAO is accountable for designing and executing a comprehensive, data-informed advancement strategy that grows philanthropic investment, strengthens institutional financial resilience, and elevates Bennett College’s visibility and relationships with key constituencies.
Reporting directly to the President, this leader provides enterprise-level direction for major and principal gifts, annual giving, campaign strategy, alumnae engagement, foundation and corporate relations, grant development, donor stewardship, and strategic partnerships. The CIAO will build a high-performing advancement operation, maintain an active portfolio of high-impact relationships, and partner with executive leaders and governing stakeholders to align fundraising priorities with the College’s academic, capital, and institutional growth objectives.
Success requires both strategic vision and hands-on execution: a proven ability to secure transformational philanthropic support, establish measurable goals, steward donor confidence, and develop sustainable fundraising infrastructure in a dynamic, resource-conscious environment.
This is a full-time, exempt, highly visible, campus-facing executive position based in Greensboro, North Carolina. The role requires regular engagement with the President, campus leaders, donors, alumnae, trustees, and external partners; periodic evening, weekend, and travel commitments should be expected based on advancement activities.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Enterprise Advancement Strategy & Executive Partnership
Enterprise Advancement Strategy & Executive Partnership
- Lead and execute a multi-year institutional advancement strategy aligned with the President’s priorities, strategic plan, and long-term financial sustainability objectives.
- Serve as the President’s principal advisor on philanthropy, campaign readiness, external funding opportunities, donor strategy, and advancement performance; support high-level donor and trustee engagement.
- Partner across the enterprise leadership team to translate institutional priorities—including student success, academic innovation, facilities and capital needs, and strategic growth—into compelling investment opportunities.
- Establish annual and multi-year fundraising goals, performance indicators, forecasts, and accountability measures; regularly present progress, risks, and recommendations to the President and governing stakeholders.
Major Gifts, Campaigns & Revenue Growth
- Develop and personally manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, including solicitation strategy, cultivation, closing, and long-term stewardship.
- Lead the planning and execution of comprehensive fundraising initiatives, including annual giving, planned giving, targeted campaigns, and, as appropriate, capital or comprehensive campaigns.
- Diversify philanthropic revenue through individual, alumnae, family, corporate, foundation, and other mission-aligned giving channels; establish disciplined prospect development and pipeline management practices.
- Collaborate with the President and appropriate institutional partners on high-value gift proposals, campaign priorities, and donor engagement strategies.
External Partnerships, Alumnae & Institutional Reputation
- Build and sustain relationships with alumnae, trustees, philanthropists, corporations, foundations, and community leaders to advance institutional visibility, resources, and impact.
- Provide strategic oversight for alumnae relations, constituent engagement, and donor stewardship efforts that increase participation, retention, and long-term affinity.
- Guide the development of competitive funding strategies and grant opportunities in partnership with program leaders, ensuring coordination with institutional priorities.
- Represent Bennett College at donor, civic, corporate, and institutional engagements, with the executive presence and judgment required to strengthen high-trust relationships.
Advancement Operations, Team Leadership & Accountability
- Lead, coach, and hold accountable the Institutional Advancement division; assess team structure, talent needs, workflows, and investment priorities to build organizational capacity.
- Strengthen advancement infrastructure, including donor data integrity, CRM utilization, prospect research, gift stewardship, reporting, and consistent moves-management practices.
- Develop and manage advancement operating budgets; deploy resources thoughtfully and monitor fundraising effectiveness and return on investment.
- Promote ethical fundraising practices, donor confidentiality, gift acceptance stewardship, and appropriate coordination with finance and institutional leadership.
- Use dashboards and performance measures—such as dollars raised, pipeline value, major-gift activity, donor retention, participation, and campaign progress—to guide decisions and communicate outcomes.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Demonstrated success leading comprehensive fundraising programs and personally securing significant major gifts in higher education or a similarly complex mission-driven organization.
- Ability to connect institutional strategy, philanthropic priorities, and measurable revenue growth; skill in building and executing multi-year fundraising plans.
- Strong relationship management, executive communication, negotiation, and donor solicitation capabilities, including engagement with high-net-worth individuals and governing boards.
- Ability to establish a high-performing advancement culture, lead through change, coach teams, and collaborate across academic and administrative functions.
- Data fluency in fundraising forecasts, portfolio analysis, donor segmentation, campaign performance, and advancement CRM systems.
- Sound financial stewardship, professionalism, discretion, integrity, and commitment to Bennett College’s mission and legacy.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit management, higher education administration, business, or a related discipline preferred.
- Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, philanthropy, development, or a closely related field, including senior leadership of fundraising strategy and teams.
- Documented success cultivating, soliciting, securing, and stewarding major gifts; experience building fundraising pipelines and achieving measurable revenue goals.
- Experience working closely with a president/CEO, trustees, senior executives, donors, and external partners.
- Experience in higher education and knowledge of HBCU advancement environments strongly preferred; demonstrated effectiveness in resource-constrained or institution-building settings highly valued.
- Experience leading significant fundraising campaigns, expanding foundation/corporate support, or strengthening advancement systems strongly preferred.