Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Reporting directly to the President and serving as a member of the President’s Cabinet, the Vice President provides strategic leadership for the university’s comprehensive advancement program while serving as the chief executive officer of the DSU Foundation.

Dakota State University is experiencing unprecedented momentum in enrollment growth, academic innovation, research investment, and philanthropic engagement. As DSU continues to expand its national reputation as a leader in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies, the university seeks an accomplished fundraising executive who can build on this momentum and secure transformational philanthropic investments that advance its mission and strategic priorities.

The Vice President serves as the university’s chief fundraising officer and principal philanthropic ambassador, leading efforts to cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts while strengthening relationships with alumni, donors, corporations, foundations, and community partners. Working closely with the President, Foundation Board of Directors, university leadership, and key stakeholders, this individual will play a critical role in advancing institutional priorities and creating opportunities that transform the lives of students and strengthen the future of DSU.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for all advancement and Foundation activities, including fundraising, donor relations, alumni engagement, stewardship, communications, and Foundation operations.
• Serve as the university’s chief fundraiser, personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major, principal, planned, corporate, and foundation gifts.
• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies and campaigns that achieve ambitious philanthropic goals and increase long-term institutional support.
• Partner with the President, Foundation Board, and university leadership to identify and advance funding priorities that support student success, academic excellence, research, and innovation.
• Expand and strengthen relationships with alumni, donors, corporations, foundations, and community leaders.
• Provide leadership and oversight of the Dakota State University Foundation, ensuring sound governance, financial stewardship, and growth of Foundation assets and endowment resources.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing advancement team committed to excellence, collaboration, and results.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• The successful candidate will possess a demonstrated record of success in fundraising, advancement leadership, donor engagement, and organizational management.
• Experience securing major and principal gifts, building strategic partnerships, and working effectively with governing boards and senior leaders is essential.
• The ideal candidate will be a collaborative leader, exceptional communicator, strategic thinker, and relationship builder who is energized by philanthropy and inspired by the opportunity to advance a bold institutional vision.

Benefits:

• Flexible benefits package – health, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, hospital indemnity insurance, flexible spending account, health savings account, health reimbursement account.
• South Dakota Retirement System. Employees receive 6% fully matched contributions from SDRS and are vested after three years of service.
• Paid time off – full time 12-month employees earn 15 days per year of annual leave and 14 days of sick leave per year. In addition, employees receive 11 federal paid holidays.
• Reduced tuition for education.
• Professional liability
• Paid family leave

How to Apply:

DSU accepts applications through an on-line employment site. To apply, visit https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu. Please submit a cover letter, resume, transcript, and a list of at least three professional references.