Job Overview

vice president for principal gifts, international & foundation advancement, advancement

job description
vice president for principal gifts, international & foundation advancement, advancement

category
charles river campus > professional
job location
boston, ma, united states
tracking code

posted date
7/22/2025
salary grade
grade 00
position type
full-time/regular

boston university advancement

with a team of over 270 employees, boston university's advancement division plays a vital role in fostering connections between the university and its community of supporters, including alumni, donors, parents, and friends, to elevate the university's academic and research initiatives. we harness the power of philanthropy and engagement to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance bu's global leadership in research, scholarship, the arts, and professional practice. to support our work, we have built-and are continuing to build-an outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs.

boston university advancement has prioritized staff development and growth, recognizing that a skilled and motivated team is essential to its success. through ongoing professional development opportunities, tailored training, mentorship programs, and a collaborative work environment, we foster continuous learning and career progression for our staff. this commitment to nurturing talent not only enhances our effectiveness but also ensures sustainable, long-term relationships that benefit the entire boston university community.

michele schiele, senior vice president for advancement

to lead our community, university president melissa gilliam has appointed michele schiele as advancement's new senior vice president. michele is a proud terrier, having graduated from the college of communication with a degree in journalism. most recently, she was deputy vice president and campaign director at stanford university, where she secured more than $1.4b in annual philanthropic revenue, working with advancement professionals at all seven of the university's schools, its multiple centers and institutes, and other administrative units. before arriving at stanford, michele served in various roles at the university of chicago, including interim vice president for university alumni relations and development and vice president and associate dean for development at the medical center.

vice president for principal gifts, international & foundation advancement

position description:

the inaugural vice president for principal gifts, international and foundation advancement (vppif) at boston university will have the opportunity to establish first in class principal gifts, international and foundation relations programs. building on the momentum of a new, dynamic university president who is focused on securing impactful gifts to advance boston university's growing reputation on the global stage as a r1, internationally diverse university.

reporting to the recently announced senior vice president for advancement, the vppif will serve as a key member of the advancement leadership team. a central priority of the new svp's vision is for 60% of philanthropic contributions to boston university come from individuals and foundations with principal gift ($5m+) capacity. in close collaboration with senior colleagues, the vppif will design and implement integrated, strategic programs for principal gifts, international and foundation relations that will have the following features:

principal advancement

• portal to the president's and provost's offices - dedicated team member(s) will partner closely with the president's and provost's office on calendaring, communications, correspondence and ensuring that both offices always have the information and materials needed for principal gift related work. all advancement team members needing to communicate with the president and provost offices will be through this portal.
• data protocols - dedicated team member(s) will identify data needed for a comprehensive/matrixed program, establish data hygiene for principal gift prospects, establish the approval process for identifying, cultivating and soliciting principally rated prospects, and implement a process to ensure that all advancement professionals working with principal gift prospects are aware and use these protocols.
• prospect management protocols - dedicated team member(s) will establish a central process for assigning principally rated prospects, guidelines for number of principally rated prospects in a portfolio and hosting weekly meetings to establish strategies foreach prospect that will likely include colleagues from multiple schools and units across campus.
• research expertise - establish and oversee the research component for the principal gift program, ensuring all schools and units have access to the same quality of information.
• stewardship and donor relations expertise - establish and oversee stewardship and recognition opportunities for principal gift donors, principally rated prospects and identify opportunities for bringing the entire principal gift community together on an appropriate cadence.
• communications - establish a communication process so that all bu leaders and advancement professionals working with principally rated prospects are informed.

the new vppif will have the opportunity to organize a team of bu advancement professionals and as needed, grow the team to achieve success. the vppif will maintain a personal portfolio of principal gift and presidential prospects, manage a team of principal gift, international and foundation relations officers, and at times staff the president's prospect visits. they will also ensure that the svp, advancement is staffed by the team for her portfolio.

working closely with deans, faculty, and development and alumni relations officers, the vppif will ensure that principal gift prospects are impactfully cultivated, solicited and stewarded in each of bu's schools and colleges.

international advancement

boston university is proud of its globally diverse community, with over 43,000 international alumni representing nearly 10% of its alumni population. building on this strong foundation, the vice president for principal gifts, international and foundation advancement (vppif) will lead and expand the university's international advancement efforts. this includes overseeing a successful existing team and developing a comprehensive, integrated strategy that aligns alumni engagement, major and principal gifts, annual giving, and global family philanthropy.

the vppif will be a visionary leader who can inspire and grow the international advancement team, while also building a cohesive international alumni engagement strategy that supports the university's long-term philanthropic goals. this role requires a deep understanding of global relationship-building, creative engagement approaches, and the ability to align international advancement with institutional priorities.

key responsibilities:

• lead and expand the international advancement team: provide strategic direction and mentorship to the current team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance. identify opportunities to grow the team and enhance its impact across regions.
• develop a comprehensive international advancement strategy: integrate alumni engagement, major gifts, annual giving, and family philanthropy into a unified global strategy. emphasize the development of a robust principal gift pipeline while nurturing long-term relationships with international alumni and donors.
• innovate in digital and global engagement: leverage technology and creative online platforms to engage international alumni and donors, especially in regions where in-person engagement is limited. explore new tools and strategies to enhance virtual outreach and storytelling.
• coordinate strategic international travel and engagement: collaborate with bu's 17 schools and colleges, as well as university-wide centers and initiatives, to plan meaningful international travel and events that involve deans, faculty, and university leadership in donor cultivation and stewardship.
• grow the global parents network: expand this initiative to ensure a continuous pipeline of parent donors, engaging them throughout their family's journey with bu.
• support presidential and provost-level engagement: partner with the svp of advancement and the office of the president to plan and execute high-level international travel and engagement strategies.
• strengthen advisory and global networks: support the recruitment and engagement of the international advisory board (iab) and identify strategic opportunities for iab members to enhance bu's global presence. expand networks for international foundation and corporate relations.
• enhance infrastructure and processes: recommend and implement tools, platforms, and procedures to improve international advancement operations, including prospect research, engagement tracking, and performance analytics.

foundation advancement

consisting of ten team members, the office of foundation relations secures invaluable support from private philanthropic foundations (and organizations, associations, and societies) to advance scholarly and scientific research, educational initiatives, and community outreach. the office partners with faculty . click apply for full job details