Assistant Vice President for Development

Pomona College (Pomona) seeks an action-oriented, strategic, and collaborative fundraising leader to serve as the assistant vice president for development (AVP). Reporting to the vice president for advancement (VP) and serving as an integral member and key executive leader of the advancement senior leadership team, the AVP will contribute to and implement a shared vision and strategy for a significant division of Pomona’s advancement enterprise – including major gifts, parent and family giving, leadership annual and reunion giving, and foundation and corporate relations – leading to increased philanthropic support from key constituents and advancing the mission and impact of Pomona, one of the most highly regarded and selective liberal arts colleges in the world.

This is an exceptional opportunity at a pivotal moment in Pomona’s history, as the college has generated strong momentum in the quiet phase of an ambitious comprehensive campaign to advance the bold institutional priorities outlined in the Strategic Vision for Pomona College. Since the arrival in 2020 of Pomona’s Vice President for Advancement, Maria Watson, the advancement operation has experienced exceptional growth and transformation as it seeks to build a best-in-class advancement enterprise through strategic reorganization and significant investment in staff and programs. In partnership with the VP and advancement senior leadership team, the AVP will contribute to strengthening systems, processes, and policies to support enhanced performance and productivity across the division. This individual will mobilize and expertly lead a team of 23, empowering managers through strategic problem-solving, information sharing, and the use of data to track progress and outcomes. An exceptional communicator and relationship builder, the AVP will inspire trust to establish and deepen critical relationships with the vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, as well as other senior academic and administrative leaders across campus. In addition to personally managing a portfolio of high-level major and principal gift prospects and donors, the AVP will implement the necessary strategy to expand the college’s donor base and strengthen the case for support to attract major and principal gifts from both existing and new benefactors. The AVP, in consultation with the VP, will advise and support the board of trustees’ advancement committee and the college’s senior leadership in launching development initiatives and achieving fundraising goals associated with the upcoming comprehensive campaign and beyond, ensuring the ongoing success and sustained elevation of Pomona’s advancement enterprise.

Critical to success will be the AVP’s ability to articulate a genuine and compelling commitment to the goals of a liberal arts education and the mission and vision of Pomona College. The ideal candidate must possess at least ten years of progressive fundraising leadership experience, including a minimum of five years of direct supervisory experience, preferably in an academic setting and campaign environment. With a keen understanding of fundraising best practices, the AVP will have a proven track record of program building and fundraising success in securing major and principal gift commitments from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The successful candidate will possess the ability to act with initiative, integrity, and self-assuredness; an openness to learning and improving through feedback and guidance; and a growth mindset, coupled with the drive to personally strive and inspire others to achieve ambitious results. The AVP will be adept at motivating, empowering, and advocating for staff, as well as facilitating cohesion and team success. The AVP must be a responsive and collaborative team player, a strong relationship-builder, as well as demonstrate the credibility, maturity, and sophistication necessary to effectively engage with senior leaders and diverse groups of internal and external constituents.

Rachel Ellenport is leading this search with Bryce Ervin and Rebecca Lyons.