Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Yeshiva University (YU or Yeshiva) seeks a seasoned, aspirational, and highly strategic fundraising leader to join the flagship Jewish university as the next vice president for institutional advancement. Partnering closely with visionary president Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman and guiding a 55-person division, the vice president will drive the public phase of an ambitious $613 million campaign and raise philanthropic sights internally and externally among alumni, families, friends, and institutional donors. Under Dr. Berman’s leadership, fundraising for the university grew dramatically from $30 million annually in 2018 to $92 million in 2021. Simultaneously, YU has dramatically elevated its national profile, rising 29 places—from 97 to 68—over two years in the 2022U.S. News & World Report rankings. YU was also ranked #33 in the report’s 2022 best value category.

Founded in 1886, Yeshiva is the world’s premier Jewish university. Faith-based undergraduate schools bring together Jewish study with academic excellence and achievement in the liberal arts, sciences, and business. Its graduate programs in law, social work, business, Jewish studies, Jewish education, psychology, science, and technology prepare students to make a positive contribution to society and the world at large. Over the past four years, YU has launched more than 20 new programs, including an associate degree in liberal arts; bachelor’s programs in business analytics, finance, marketing, strategy, and entrepreneurship; and master’s degrees in Holocaust studies, cybersecurity, and physician assistant studies. A doctoral program in occupational therapy was also launched in 2020, and YU’s expanded partnership with Montefiore Medical Center and its affiliated medical school, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, included the launch of a new B.A./M.D. program, offering a direct pathway to the medical profession for elite high school graduates attending YU’s undergraduate honors programs. These programs have resulted in significant enrollment growth—including a more than 60 percent increase in YU graduate school net tuition—and have continued to elevate YU’s reputation and philanthropic potential.

The next vice president will strengthen a culture of philanthropy among the university’s various constituencies, while simultaneously refining the overall strategy and structure of institutional advancement and readying YU for future fundraising endeavors. This is an exceptional opportunity for a high-performing and accomplished individual to partner with Dr.  Berman—a luminary and dynamic leader for whom advancing philanthropy is a key priority—and to play a critical role in the success of a world-renowned research university making a positive impact on the world. Working closely with the president and board leadership, as well as a dedicated cohort of academic leaders, this individual will thoroughly assess gains made within the silent phase of YU’s comprehensive campaign and determine appropriate strategies for continuing to harness its momentum through existing and future efforts.

Building upon the university’s successful track record of securing major and principal gifts, the vice president will create a more holistic culture of philanthropy with a focus on broadening the donor base to reflect YU’s successful and loyal alumni base, and vast and global footprint. The next vice president will bring an entrepreneurial approach to leveraging Yeshiva’s existing donor relationships and work collaboratively to uncover new connections with alumni, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and corporate business leaders not currently engaged with the university. The vice president will also be an active partner with the president and his leadership team in generating and evaluating the fundability of new ideas, effectively operationalizing the most promising. Additionally, this individual will personally and successfully engage a select portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and donors; serve as an active and valued member of the president’s leadership team; and ensure that the institutional advancement operation effectively maximizes the personal and financial engagement of YU constituents.

YU seeks a vice president who is inventive, sophisticated, and capable of realizing an overarching strategy. With at least ten years of leadership experience in advancement, the ideal candidate must possess strong managerial, strategic planning, and motivational skills; a keen understanding of fundraising best practices and a comprehensive knowledge of all major development and alumni engagement functions, including a depth of campaign experience; and a track record of significant personal success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship at the major and principal gift levels. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned team leader adept at motivating, empowering, and advocating for a talented staff, and facilitating team success through ongoing professional development opportunities. The vice president must be poised to enhance the organizational structure to maximize efficiencies and collaboration among the division and inspire and motivate staff members to meet ambitious goals that include enhancing donor discovery efforts, expanding the major gift pipeline, and broadening alumni engagement activities on an international scale.

The next vice president must be an integral member of the YU community. This individual will reflect and embody the core values of Yeshiva by serving the university with authenticity, warmth, compassion, and humility. The successful candidate must demonstrate a high level of integrity, trust, diplomacy, emotional intelligence, and maturity to effectively engage and partner with key internal and external stakeholders. The vice president must possess superb written and oral communication skills, along with the ability to foster strong collaborative relationships across the university. The ideal candidate will be a data-driven, results-oriented professional with a collegial and accessible leadership style. It is imperative that this individual bring a deep appreciation and passion for the mission, goals, history, and uniqueness of Yeshiva and its constituents. A bachelor’s degree is required.

Jack Gorman is leading this search with Grace Zakim, Emily Godamanna, and Sandeep Kaur.