Vice Chancellor, Parent and Family Development

The Vice Chancellor for Parent and Family Development is responsible for building prospect and donor relationships, raising financial support, and increasing the donor base within Pepperdine’s parent and family network. This position focuses primarily on major and principal gift donors with capacity to make gifts of $25K to $5M. The Vice Chancellor will identify and cultivate Pepperdine University’s current parents, develop relationships that lead to generosity, and manage the involvement of other administrators, faculty, alumni, and volunteers in the process. The success of our mission to strengthen lives for purpose, service, and leadership depends largely on strong financial support from donors who enable us to provide the facilities, programs, faculty, and opportunities necessary to provide stellar, mission-driven programs for our students.

Duties

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major and principal gift donors/prospects of 120-150. The focus is primarily on those with a capacity to give $25K to $5M annually. This position requires regular travel to cultivate and solicit major gift prospects, ensuring both activity goals and pipeline goals are met.
• Maintain a list of top parent prospects and establish a development plan for each primary prospect. Focusing on top-rated prospects is a priority, while also identifying and qualifying others.
• Serve as the lead for the implementation of Pepperdine’s new parent philanthropy program that seeks to engage Pepperdine’s parent and family donors/prospects in a more strategic way.
• Assist in the development and growth of the Parent and Family Council, volunteer opportunities, and communications to maximize engagement and philanthropy of Pepperdine’s parent community, both on-campus and regionally.
• Partner with Advancement’s Planned Giving Office and the Research, Grants, and Foundation Relations team to identify, solicit, and steward planned gifts and grants.
• Partner with senior leadership and other appropriate central staff to create a core of university-wide parent prospects for major gifts supporting university-wide priorities.
• Utilize the Pepperdine advancement database, The Raiser’s Edge, to research historical records and communications with donors and prospects, and document new actions and proposals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required: Bachelor’s Degree; 7+ years professional experience in fundraising, sales, or related profession; must be highly organized, able to take direction and handle multiple tasks in a rapid-paced environment; ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines and fundraising goals; proven ability to work well with character diversity; excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; must have careful attention to detail; ability to work efficiently with minimal supervision, to deal with the public in a professional manner, and to communicate clearly and accurately; ability to articulate the Pepperdine mission and incorporate it into daily work; working knowledge of personal computer and programs.

Preferred: 10+ years of success in fundraising at a major and/or principal gift level, higher education, or another nonprofit environment. Experience working with parents and boards is preferred

Qualified individuals should be able to articulate a strong commitment to diversity, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $161,500 – $190,000 per year

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Pepperdine retained the executive search firm Bryant Group to assist with this search. To be considered for this position, or to nominate a colleague, please submit your letter of interest and qualifications for this position in confidence to Katie Riecke. 

Katie Riecke, Talent Associate, kriecke@bryantgrp.com

Although applications will be accepted until the time that a new Vice Chancellor is appointed, candidates should submit application materials consisting of qualifications and a letter of interest by July 8, 2024, for most favorable consideration.

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