Job description

Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Chapman University in the search for a Vice President of Development, Alumni Affairs, and Parent Relations.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer, the Vice President of Development, Alumni Affairs, and Parent Relations will act as the University’s Campaign Director and leads all fundraising, alumni affairs and parent relations activities throughout Chapman University in support of Chapman’s $500 million comprehensive campaign and pursuant to its Strategic Plan. This role oversees the areas of Legacy Planning, Corporate Giving, Foundation Relations, Prospect Research and Management, College and School Development, Major Giving, Annual Giving, Alumni Affairs and Parent Relations. A forward-thinking, entrepreneurial leader, the VP will be responsible for building and leading a team of approximately 25 talented development professionals and will implement best practices to ensure progressive fundraising and engagement success. The VP will have experience developing and implementing a goal-oriented, data-driven, and donor-centric approach to enhance and elevate UA’s existing development programs.

Chapman University is a nationally ranked, mid-sized private institution, known for its commitment to excellence through research and innovative teaching, as well as its distinctive approach to personalized education. Located just 15 miles from the beach in Orange, California, Chapman’s main campus is close to industry leaders in fields from science to screenwriting that propel and jumpstart student careers. The Rinker Health Sciences campus serves graduate students in nearby Irvine, California, which is home to numerous hospitals, labs, and medical and pharmaceutical businesses. Channeling the entrepreneurial spirit of the West Coast, Chapman’s proximity to Los Angeles helps students land internships, job prospects, and other opportunities with industry leading organizations. University facilities offer an array of the latest educational and technological resources, housed in a blend of new, state-of-the-art, and historic buildings.

Chapman University attracts high-achieving undergraduate and graduate students from across the United States and internationally. Its campuses are home to nearly 10,000 students representing 49 states, two territories, and 82 countries. The 11 schools and colleges of Chapman offer more than 100 majors and minors, some 40 graduate degree and certificate programs, and ten doctoral programs, along with nearly 60 minors and 17 accelerated and bridge programs. In addition to its schools and colleges, Chapman is home to several innovative independent centers and institutes focused on advancing research in a variety of disciplines, from economics and entrepreneurship to human rights and quantum studies.

Chapman University is ranked in the top 15% of American colleges and universities. According to The Princeton Review, Chapman is an “extraordinary blend of liberal arts, science, and professional programs,” and one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education. Chapman also has been identified as a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and has been named one of the “Most Innovative” universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Chapman’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts was named fourth among top American film schools by The Hollywood Reporter for the past three years. U.S. News & World Report ranked many other schools and programs at Chapman within the top 100 in the nation, including Argyros College of Business and Economics, the School of Pharmacy, and the M.M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.

In 2019, Chapman achieved an important milestone with its elevation to R2 status, which recognizes High Research Activity, under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This designation acknowledges Chapman’s rigorous research, doctoral, and professional practice degree programs and places Chapman in a small cohort of research institutions that receive this recognition of their excellence as research-focused institutions. Indeed, only 10 percent of all U.S. universities achieve R2 designation.

A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least ten years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including leadership in a university advancement organization, is required for this position. Knowledge of Orange County and the greater Southern California philanthropic and business communities is a plus. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to Chapman, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and resume. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Chapman University and the responsibilities and qualifications specified in the position prospectus.

The salary range for this position is $325,000 to $350,000 annually.

Chapman University is committed to the inclusion of all qualified candidates. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or participating in the selection process, please contact Jeanette Rivera-Watts at jeanetterw@aspenleadershipgroup. com.

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