Vice President, Advancement at School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois

Job Description:

Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in the search for a Vice President, Advancement.

The Vice President, Advancement will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of SAIC through strategic vision and leadership. Reporting to the president of the School, the vice president will develop and manage a comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with the School's goals, working closely with the president and leadership team to drive advancement efforts. As the lead relationship manager for the School's most valued prospects, the vice president will secure transformative gifts while fostering vital connections with key donors as well as the creative community of Chicago. The vice president will staff and leverage the talent of the Board of Governors' Advancement Committee while cultivating strong relationships within faculty and administration to enhance donor engagement. With a focus on creating achievable yet ambitious annual plans for alumni relations, major gifts, and grant development, the vice president will refine assessment methodologies and mentor a dedicated Advancement team. By implementing comprehensive capital campaign strategies and establishing clear policies, the vice president will ensure fundraising initiatives not only meet but exceed expectations, propelling the mission of SAIC forward.

Founded in 1866 by artists for artists, SAIC has a rich history of innovation in art and design education. For more than a century and a half, SAIC has been at the forefront of art education, fostering critical thinking, rigorous investigation, and playful creativity. The School's objective is to assemble a diverse body of intelligent and creative students and faculty in an environment designed to facilitate and encourage the discovery and production of significant ideas and images and to provide for the development of individual excellence in undergraduate and graduate programs in the visual and related arts. SAIC provides excellence in the delivery of a global education in visual, design, media, and related arts, with attendant studies in the history and theory of those disciplines set within a broad-based, humanistic curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences. It provides instruction for this education in a range of formats: written, spoken, media, and exhibition based. SAIC was among the first schools to embrace self-directed study across disciplines. SAIC alumni have gone on to shape the world as artists, designers, and scholars.

SAIC cultivates a campus designed to encourage the discovery and development of significant ideas and images. The School is committed to assembling a diverse community of faculty, students, and staff and to nurturing and creating an environment in which those different perspectives and backgrounds can be heard, valued, and utilized. To better support its diverse community of artists, designers, and scholars, SAIC has made diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives a significant element of its planning efforts for more than a decade. These initiatives have established the current DEI staff positions in academic affairs and student affairs, diversified the reach of student admissions and faculty recruitment, incentivized diverse content in the curriculum, introduced DEI training for new community members, and increased programming and support structures to better nurture and create an environment that respects, values, and includes the backgrounds and perspectives of all of its community members.

As citizen artists, students and faculty at SAIC extend their practices beyond their studios, actively engaging with the world, linking studio practice to social and community issues, and catalyzing change. This synergy is one example of "making and meaning are inseparable." As fearless innovators and bold thinkers, SAIC faculty members push the boundaries of creative exploration. In their work as makers, scholars, and innovators, and through their teaching and mentorship, they have shaped the future of art and design alongside their students. Every SAIC faculty member is an active practitioner in their field. The classes they teach emerge from their unique research and practices, and their passion about what they are sharing.

SAIC's philanthropic priorities put students at the center and make way for the future of art and design. Current philanthropic priorities ensure emerging creatives are fully resourced from their first day of classes to graduation and beyond. Identified through conversations with faculty, staff, alumni, and friends, the institutional and philanthropic priorities of scholarships, wellness, and internships develop a pathway of access to a world-class art and design education.

A bachelor's degree or knowledge equivalent to that which would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program is preferred for this position as is at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education advancement including at least five years in a leadership role. Experience working within or deep knowledge of the Chicago philanthropic landscape is preferred. SAIC will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to the School, 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 rsum. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago as well as the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus.

The salary range for this position is $260,000 to $280,000 annually.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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 Michael Carver atmichaelcarver@aspenleadershipgroup.com.

To apply for this position, visit:https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/2303.

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