Vice President of Development and Constituent Engagement

Chapman University, a mid-sized, student-centered private research university with campuses in Orange and Irvine, California, seeks a dynamic, strategic, and forward-thinking advancement leader to serve as its next Vice President of Development and Constituent Engagement (VP). Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer (EVP/CAO) and serving as a member of the President’s Senior Staff, the VP will join Chapman at a defining and highly energizing moment in the institution’s trajectory. Fueled by extraordinary institutional momentum, significant philanthropic growth, and rising national prominence, Chapman is nearing the successful completion of an ambitious comprehensive campaign while simultaneously positioning the university for its next era of advancement success and impact. With oversight for a significant portfolio of Chapman’s advancement operation, the VP will expertly lead development and constituent engagement efforts, guiding a high-performing advancement enterprise to even greater levels of sustained success.

Chapman University has always been a place where potential translates to possibility, which ties to its mission to provide personalized education of distinction that leads to inquiring, ethical, and productive lives as global citizens. As an institution that began with inclusivity, a passion for teaching and learning, and forward-looking optimism at its core, Chapman continues to champion these goals today. The university offers its nearly 10,000 students a broad portfolio of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across the arts, business, education, health sciences, humanities, and more. With a focus on experiential learning, Chapman prioritizes hands-on experience for students who learn directly from distinguished, world-renowned faculty, including recipients of the Nobel Prize, National Medal of Science, and Academy Awards. As of 2019, Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution.

Over the past several decades, Chapman has experienced unprecedented growth and academic achievement, guided by a series of ambitious five-year strategic plans and the support of the Chapman community. The current five-year plan, Our Path to Greatness, is centered on five key priorities: Academic Excellence; Expanding Graduate Health Science Programs; Organizational Excellence; Campus Projects Enhancing Community-Building; and Inspire: The Campaign for Chapman University (Inspire), a $500 million comprehensive fundraising effort. With more than $485 million raised ahead of schedule, the campaign is already reshaping campus life and expanding opportunities for students across all disciplines.

Building upon this success, the VP will help shape and execute a bold vision for the future of development and constituent engagement at Chapman. In doing so, the VP will serve as a senior leader across the university, partnering closely with EVP/CAO Jessica Berger and President Matthew Parlow, as well as building trusting relationships with deans, faculty, administrators, trustees, and key volunteers. This individual will lead a comprehensive development and engagement program spanning major and principal gifts, annual giving, alumni affairs, parent engagement, corporate and foundation relations, legacy planning, prospect development, and college -and school-based fundraising efforts, ensuring a cohesive and highly collaborative advancement strategy aligned with the university’s strategic priorities and aspirations.

The VP will bring an entrepreneurial and data-informed approach to advancement leadership, leveraging sophisticated fundraising strategies, analytics, and relationship management practices to deepen donor engagement and expand Chapman’s philanthropic pipeline at all levels. This individual will play a critical role in ensuring the successful completion of Inspire while helping position Chapman for sustained philanthropic growth well beyond the current campaign. Looking ahead, the VP will have a meaningful opportunity to diversify and expand Chapman’s donor base, deepen alumni participation and engagement, and strengthen pathways that connect constituent engagement efforts to philanthropic outcomes. This leader will assess opportunities to strengthen infrastructure, enhance operational effectiveness, and further integrate constituent engagement strategies that foster lifelong relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of the university. In addition, the VP will have the opportunity to shape the future composition of the team by hiring for several intentional vacancies and onboarding key talent to further strengthen organizational capacity and advance Chapman’s ambitious goals. Leading by example, the VP will also personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and will serve as a visible ambassador for Chapman across Southern California and beyond.

An accomplished and inspiring leader, the VP will oversee and mentor a high-performing team of nearly 25 professionals – roughly half of the University Advancement (UA) division – and will cultivate a culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, innovation, and excellence. Importantly, Chapman seeks a leader who will embrace the university’s deeply relational culture and is eager to engage in the life of the institution as a visible member of the Chapman community. The successful candidate will possess the sophistication and emotional intelligence to navigate a complex and ambitious university environment, possessing demonstrated success partnering with academic and administrative leaders to advance institutional priorities through philanthropy. Chapman seeks a leader who is energized by growth, motivated by impact, and eager to help shape the future of a university distinguished by its entrepreneurial spirit, student-centered ethos, and commitment to academic excellence and innovation.

Rachel Ellenport is leading this search with Nicole Poe and Megan Gorman.

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.