Director of Development

As a liberal arts college, Pomona has a unique place in American higher education. The college draws strength from the singularly most diverse student body among elite liberal arts colleges, a brilliant and increasingly diverse faculty, and a staff committed to community and institutional success. While the size of the college’s endowment may lead some to believe that Pomona’s resources are sufficient to achieve its vision, its mission has broadened as its student body has changed. Pomona puts merit first, meeting students where they are, and has achieved what many dream for: a student body in which one’s ability to complete an exacting curriculum is not dependent on income or identity. This is a worthy mission to provide access and requires philanthropic resources to match.
 
President Starr and Pomona’s trustees have demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in a world-class advancement enterprise, supporting the growth of the advancement team over the past few years. Following the arrival in 2020 of Vice President for Advancement Maria Watson, a comprehensive strategic assessment of the division was conducted, resulting in a road map for long-term growth and programmatic elevation. The transformation of the division is underway, with clearly established and achievable goals, greater transparency and accountability, and an emphasis on and embrace of enhanced collaboration and team integration across the various advancement functions. Among the most impactful of changes to date has been the recruitment of several new team members with further team expansion planned; with continued institutional commitment to and investment in advancement, Pomona now seeks a talented, self-motivated, intellectually curious, and culturally fluent professional as the Director of Development to oversee its western US region. Please see the below position description for additional detail of the responsibilities and qualifications. 

The successful candidate will join Pomona at a pivotal moment in its history as the campus aspires to achieve the goals identified in the recently completed Strategic Vision for Pomona College. With an ambitious comprehensive fundraising campaign on the horizon, the director will play a critical role in discovery, qualification, and engagement efforts of prospective donors, as well as in the renewal of relationships with donors who are not currently engaged with the college. The successful candidate will be a proponent of the liberal arts, with deep appreciation for the history, achievements, and aspirations of Pomona and the ability to effectively articulate its vision to a diverse audience.

In accordance with its core values and mission, Pomona is especially interested in recruiting members from diverse and underrepresented communities and individuals with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Rachel Ellenport is leading this search with Christina Garrison and Megan Gorman.