Director of Institutional Advancement

The Director of Institutional Advancement provides strategic, mission-centered leadership for all fundraising and external engagement activities at Hilbert College. This role is responsible for expanding philanthropic support, strengthening donor and community relationships, and building a sustainable advancement infrastructure that reflects Hilbert’s Catholic Franciscan values.

The Director oversees grants development, the annual fund, and the design and implementation of a comprehensive major capital campaign that advances the College’s long-term vision. The ideal candidate is an authentic relationship-builder with strong organizational skills, a high level of bias towards action, and a genuine commitment to the mission and core values of Hilbert College, founded by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement strategy aligned with Hilbert’s mission, strategic plan, and emerging institutional priorities.
• Serve as a key member of the leadership team and a partner in articulating the College’s vision to donors, alumni, and community stakeholders.
• Provide regular reports, analysis, and strategy updates to the rest of the leadership team and Board of Trustees.

Major Capital Campaign

• Lead the planning, development, and execution of a multi-year major capital campaign, including case development, campaign structure, timelines, donor pipelines, and volunteer engagement.
• Partner with the President to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects.
• Strengthen relationships with foundations, corporations, and individual donors to build momentum for the campaign.
• Ensure campaign messaging reflects Hilbert’s Franciscan identity, academic strengths, student experience, and bold future direction.

Annual Fund & Donor Engagement

• Direct all aspects of the Hilbert Annual Fund, including appeals, digital outreach, giving days, and donor segmentation strategies.
• Increase alumni participation, recurring giving, and overall annual support by building a compelling donor experience grounded in gratitude and impact.
• Develop communications that highlight student success, mission relevance, and donor stewardship.

Grants Development

• Oversee the identification, cultivation, and stewardship of public and private grant opportunities that support institutional priorities.
• Collaborate with academic and administrative leaders to develop high-quality, competitive grant proposals.
• Track grant reporting requirements, timelines, and outcomes to ensure compliance and maximize renewal potential.

Alumni & Community Engagement

• Strengthen alumni relations programs that build lifelong connection and pride in Hilbert College.
• Expand engagement opportunities that connect alumni to students through mentorship, internships, events, and philanthropy.
• Build relationships with community partners, corporate sponsors, and key stakeholders to elevate Hilbert’s visibility and support.
• Assist academic departments in creating Industry Advisory Boards designed to promote collaboration of all kinds related to the development, promotion, and growth of key programs at Hilbert.

Team Leadership & Advancement Operations

• Supervise advancement staff and consultants as needed, fostering a collaborative, mission-aligned, high-performing team.
• Oversee donor database systems, gift processing, and stewardship processes to ensure accuracy, transparency, and donor satisfaction.
• Establish policies and procedures that promote ethical fundraising and reflect best practices in the field.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree strongly preferred. CFRE certification a plus.
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, advancement, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, campaign development, or grants management.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with donors, alumni, and institutional partners.
• Willing to travel on a limited/as needed basis to meet with donors/government officials and as a representative of the College.
• Clear, persuasive written and oral communication abilities.
• Strong organizational skills and a disciplined approach to follow-through.
• Commitment to the mission and values of a Catholic Franciscan institution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education advancement or nonprofit campaign leadership.
• Familiarity with donor database systems and advancement analytics.
• Experience collaborating with senior leaders and boards of trustees.
• Knowledge of Western New York philanthropic networks.

Personal Attributes

• Authentic and inspiring communicator and thoughtful listener.
• Strategic and creative thinker with a strong bias toward action and measurable results.
• Comfortable navigating complexity and managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Must be a willing collaborator and a person who is constantly learning.

Compensation: $80,000 - $100,000

This is the lowest to highest salary we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s pay within the salary range will be based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, and organizational needs.