The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) seeks a proven and collaborative fundraising professional to serve in the role of associate vice president for development (AVP). The AVP will join one of the most productive fundraising programs in the nation at an exciting time as the Institute is poised to accelerate its momentum after the Break Through campaign that secured more than $3.4 billion, making Caltech the smallest institution ever to achieve at this level.

Reporting to Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations Dexter Bailey and serving as his trusted advisor and strategist on all fundraising matters, the AVP will design, recommend, implement, and oversee strategies and models that support fundraising priorities. The AVP will manage and build a team of highly productive fundraisers, enhancing Caltech’s already strong principal gifts culture to close transformational gifts, with a focus on broadening the donor base to advance the Institute’s mission and global impact. The AVP will personally manage a select portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and donors; and work with campus partners to ensure that the advancement operation effectively and efficiently maximizes the talent and financial engagement of Caltech’s 26,000 living alumni, parents, industry partners, and friends.

Specifically, the AVP will be expected to immediately address the following priorities:

• Caltech has established an unprecedented sustainable annual philanthropic support level of more than $300 million. In alignment with the vice president, the AVP will heighten accountability, maximize efficiencies, and enhance fundraising outcomes. Employing innovative approaches and a robust cadence in a personal portfolio that aims to unlock complex donor assets, the AVP will inspire and mobilize frontline fundraisers to meet aggressive goals that include enhancing donor discovery efforts; expanding the major gift pipeline, deepening institutional philanthropic support for research; better leveraging interdisciplinary giving opportunities; employing strategic and meaningful stewardship; and working with collaborative intentionality across the advancement division.
• Publicly launched in January 2023, the $250 million Initiative for Caltech Students mini-campaign has secured approximately $40 million from more than 1,400 donors as of October 2021. Working closely with the vice president, president, and volunteers, without impacting current fundraising goals, the AVP will skillfully manage this mini-campaign and determine appropriate strategies to harness the campaign’s momentum.

Caltech seeks an AVP with at least ten years of demonstrated leadership expertise in fundraising and management. In addition to a track record of closing principal gifts, the ideal candidate must possess strong managerial, strategic planning, and motivational skills, a keen understanding of best practices in higher education fundraising, adherence to performance metrics and accountability, as well as comprehensive knowledge of all major development and alumni functions. The AVP will be an integral member of the Caltech community; reflecting and embodying the values of Caltech and serving the Institute with authenticity, warmth, humility, and professional competence. The ideal candidate will be a self-assured, results-oriented individual who leads by example with a collegial and accessible style. The AVP will be flexible, deadline sensitive, and responsive as conditions and objectives evolve. Superb judgment, excellent written and oral communication skills, intellectual rigor and curiosity, and the ability to formulate creative cultivation plans are critical AVP attributes.  A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.

Application Instructions

Caltech has partnered with Talent Citizen to assist in this recruitment. Please reach out to President Tracy D. Welsh, Senior Associate Rachel K. Partin, and Senior Associate Britni Russell-Bianchi to share your resume and cover letter via email at: c-avpd@talentcitizen.com.

Caltech is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law

Caltech has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy effective October 15, 2021, requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees (with Institute-approved exemptions for religious or medical contraindications only). At present, an individual is deemed “fully vaccinated” when that person has received, at least 14 days prior, either the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series (e.g., Pfizer or Moderna) or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson). Upon eligibility, employees are required to receive the COVID-19 booster as part of the vaccine mandate. As a condition of employment, employees must submit official COVID-19 vaccine documentation. More information may be found here.