Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development Cornell University

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1 Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development Cornell University Ithaca, NY Send Nominations or Cover Letter and Resume to: Jill Lasman Senior Vice President The Opportunity: Based in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is a leading privately endowed research university and as the federal land-grant institution of New York State, Cornell University has a responsibility unique within the Ivy League to make contributions in fields of knowledge to help improve the quality of life in its state, the nation, and the world. Its global campus footprint in Ithaca, New York City, Doha, Qatar and other regions across the world serves 21,500 students. To provide these students with the highest level of CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 1

2 education possible, Cornell University employs more than 9,500 faculty and staff. Its entire workforce faculty and staff contribute to the fabric of the community and the possibility for building on a long and recognized tradition of alumni relations and development excellence. Reporting to the Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development, the newly created Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development (SAVP) position is an opportunity for a highly skilled manager and proven fundraising expert to lead and inspire a high-performing and experienced team as it enters its next phase of fundraising growth after the successful December 2015 completion of the Cornell Now Campaign raising over $6.3 billion. Bringing experience working at a complex institution aspiring towards best practices in the industry, the successful SAVP candidate is an excellent communicator, has exceptional judgement, and an ability to work collaboratively with many constituencies, both on and off campus. S/He will bring a commitment to effective management and analysis, while demonstrating innovation, inspiration and flexibility in order to drive growth. Cornell University Overview: Cornell is a private, Ivy League university and the landgrant university for New York State. Cornell's mission is to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge; produce creative work; and promote a culture of broad inquiry throughout and beyond the Cornell community. Cornell also aims, through public service, to enhance the lives and livelihoods of its students, the people of New York, and others around the world. The University strives to be widely recognized as a top-ten research university in the world, and a model university for the interweaving of liberal education and fundamental knowledge with practical education and impact on societal and world problems. CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 2

3 Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, the university was intended to teach and make contributions in all fields of knowledge from the classics to the sciences, and from the theoretical to the applied. These ideals, unconventional for the time, are captured in Cornell's motto, a popular 1865 Ezra Cornell quotation: "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study. Cornell values the arts and humanities as well as advanced scientific and technological research. Cornell's faculty members have a history of being intellectually diverse and entrepreneurial and "thinking otherwise." This reflects a deep commitment to academic freedom and a belief that such freedom is essential to creativity and innovation. Cornell is also a university open and accessible to all who merit entrance. Its commitment to student access has been tested in recent years, given significant competition with peer institutions, and Cornell has addressed this challenge successfully with a most generous program to reduce the costs of a Cornell education for students from families in lower income quintiles. Among its core values, the University is committed to search for knowledge-based solutions to societal and world problems. Public engagement is an interpretation of the university's outreach mission that emphasizes being proactive (actively engaged) and having a public impact. It implies a broadening of the historic land grant mission of the university. Cornell is ranked 15th in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report National Universities ranking, and 13th globally in an academic ranking of world universities by Academic Ranking of World Universities in 2015, and hosts many top ranking academic programs. Students and Alumni: Click to view the Cornell video Since its founding, Cornell has been a co-educational, non-sectarian institution where admission has not been restricted by religion or race. Cornell counts more than 245,000 living alumni, and its former and CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 3

4 present faculty and alumni include 34 Marshall Scholars, 29 Rhodes Scholars, 7 Gates Scholars, and 50 Nobel laureates. The student body consists of nearly 14,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students from all 50 American states and 122 countries. Cornell has an extraordinarily dedicated and engaged alumni base, with 15,000 volunteers active in 650 alumni organizations around the world. This high level of commitment and gratitude to the institution is demonstrated through philanthropy and advocacy. Colleges and Schools: The University is broadly organized into seven undergraduate colleges, three professional schools and the graduate school at its main Ithaca campus. The University also has two medical campuses, one in New York City, and one in Education City, Qatar. Cornell is a private, research university with three of its seven undergraduate colleges and one professional school receiving financial support from New York State as a partner with the State University of New York (SUNY) system. As a land-grant college, it operates a cooperative extension outreach program in every county in New York and receives annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions. The Cornell University Ithaca Campus comprises 745 acres, but is much larger when the more than 4,300 acre Cornell Plantations are considered, as well as the numerous university-owned lands in New York City. The University also operates ecornell, which offers both certificate programs and professional development courses online. In addition to being New York's land-grant college, Cornell is also a partner in New York's sea-grant program, is the hub of the Northeast's sun-grant program, and is a part of New York's space-grant consortium. Cornell Tech: Cornell is creating a unique graduate education center on New York City s Roosevelt Island to be highly relevant in an age of rapid technological change. An alliance between the world s leading commercial center and two powerhouses in science, engineering, and technology research Cornell University and CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 4

5 the Technion Israel Institute of Technology Cornell Tech is designed to build New York s tech capacity, spur innovation and entrepreneurship, and help position the city as a global tech center. Cornell Tech faculty and staff have designed a curriculum unique in its focus on tech research, product development, and commercial application. Degree programs to-date include a Masters of Engineering in Computer Science; two Masters of Information Systems programs in Connective Media and Health Tech (offered as dual degrees in conjunction with the Technion); and the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA. In addition, admissions opened this year for two programs to launch in fall 2016, a Masters of Engineering in Operations Research and Information Engineering and a Master of Laws focused on technology and entrepreneurship law. The goal is to produce graduates who are poised for success in the digital age, by virtue of their technical and business skills and their experience putting those skills to work in real-world settings. Division of Alumni Affairs and Development Overview The Division of Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD) encompasses a staff of 350 and oversees a budget of $55 million. Led by Fred Van Sickle, Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development (VP), AAD is responsible for the comprehensive engagement and fundraising programs for the Ithaca and Cornell Tech campuses. It is comprised of Alumni Affairs (which includes the Cornell Annual Fund); Principal Gifts; the fundraising teams for Cornell Tech and Northeast Corridor; and for University Development, which is led by the Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development. University Development includes the central Major Gifts program; College-and-Unit based programs; Trusts, Estates, and Gift Planning; Leadership Gifts; Prospect Management and Research; Communications; and Operations. Weill Cornell Medicine does not report to this office. With an extraordinarily loyal alumni base and deeply committed volunteers, Cornell University is considered one of the nation s top performing fundraising operations, historically ranked in the top 5-10 annually. In a banner year for fundraising, Cornell raised $672.9 million in fiscal 2015 that ended June 30, vaulting the Cornell Now The Campaign for Cornell above $6 billion and setting new records for dollars raised and participation. Cash giving to the University totaled $590.6 million, surpassing its previous annual fundraising record of $545.4 million. The campaign, which began in 2006, concluded in December The Campaign for Cornell was driven by several large transformational gifts. Overall, 179,000 donors made gifts to the campaign; of those, 685 were gifts over $1M, including 28 gifts over $50M. CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 5

6 Leadership: Fred Van Sickle Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development In December 2015, Fred Van Sickle, was named Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development. Most recently serving as chief development officer at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, from , Fred previously served as executive vice president for university development and alumni relations at Columbia University, where he oversaw the completion of a seven-year, $6.1 billion capital campaign in At the Institute for Advanced Study, he was responsible for fundraising, constituency outreach and communications. Under his leadership the institute completed a $212 million campaign. He joined Columbia in 2002 as deputy vice president for university development and served as vice president from before being named executive vice president in Fred was a key architect of the $6.1 billion capital campaign, one of the most successful fundraising efforts undertaken by any university. He also oversaw creation of a five-year, integrated alumni and development post-campaign plan and launched Columbia s first Giving Day, which used social media to raise $6.8 million from 5,000 donors in one day; and developed a professional training program for internal talent. At Cornell, Fred is responsible for a comprehensive and integrated development and alumni relations program, working collaboratively with academic, administrative and volunteer partners to increase philanthropic support and strengthen alumni engagement. A career fundraiser, Fred has held positions at the University of Michigan, Lake Forest College, Princeton University and Wesleyan University. He earned a B.A., cum laude with distinction, in history from Lake Forest College in 1983, a Master of Education degree from Harvard University in 1989, and a Doctor of Education degree, with distinction, from the University of Pennsylvania in CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 6

7 Role of the Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development The position of Senior Associate Vice President is an outstanding opportunity for a development leader who is an excellent and inspiring manager and a strategic, creative, and collaborative colleague. Reporting to the Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development, the SAVP will manage the day-to-day operation of a fundraising and operations team of approximately 200+; will collaborate internally to set priorities and devise strategies for meeting University-wide objectives; will ensure that the management team is effective and maximizing resources to mobilize a talented staff in engaging an extraordinarily loyal and diverse group of alumni, parents, and friends; and will balance ambitious goal setting and processes within an operation that supports group achievement and individual development. As the primary thought partner to the Vice President in implementing the annual organizational and longer term fundraising growth strategies and creating a sustainable model for the next campaign, the SAVP will lead office-wide goal setting, organizational assessment, continuous improvement processes, and talent management. The SAVP will also manage a reasonable sized portfolio of key prospects for the University. Opportunities and Expectations: With a reputation as one of the nation s top fundraising operations, Cornell University has many key strengths including an extraordinary alumni base, deep and broad volunteer involvement, and exceptionally committed Trustee leadership. In addition, many staff members have built their careers at Cornell and have established deep and life-long relationships with donors. As a result of these strengths, and as postcampaign analysis reflects, the institution has a longstanding and effective big gift fundraising model, with vision for growth. The incoming SAVP is charged with leading the assessment of post-campaign outcomes to devise and execute strategies to raise sights and expectations for staff and donors, while creating a sustainable model for the institution s next endeavor. Position Overview: The Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development is responsible for managing the Division of Alumni Affairs and Development s (AAD) fundraising program and operations. CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 7

8 The SAVP serves as the senior advisor to the Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development, participating as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team and playing an integral role in strategic planning, program development and volunteer management, including staffing the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees. Key functioning responsibilities include overseeing the Central Major Gifts Program, which includes both Ithaca-based gift officers and officers located in Chicago, Miami, and on the West Coast; the college- and unit-based AAD programs serving the Ithaca campus; Trusts, Estates and Gift Planning; Leadership Gifts; Communications; Prospect Management and Research; and Operations. The SAVP leads a team of approximately 200+ employees and oversees a budget of over $22.7 million. In collaboration with Alumni Affairs, this position leverages opportunities to maximize resource effectiveness and efficiency including volunteer management, regional and affinity alumni affairs, and the annual fund. Required Qualifications : Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible leadership and management experience in a complex, large-scale organization. Demonstrated success in developing and managing fundraising programs and an in-depth understanding of the advancement profession. The ability to think strategically and creatively, critical thinking and analysis skills, and the ability to transform new ideas into executable and successful programs. Possession of a supportive and accessible management style, the ability to lead and motivate a diverse staff, and experience managing change and growth. A strong commitment to personal and professional development. Experience working with volunteers, the ability to manage complex relationships, and proven collaboration and teamwork skills. Willingness to travel on behalf of Cornell University and participate regularly in events and activities. Bachelor s degree Preferred Qualifications: Advanced degree preferred. Experience in higher education or nonprofit management. Knowledge of and experience in business operations. Participation on nonprofit boards, committees and as a volunteer. CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 8

9 In addition, the Senior Associate Vice President will bring many of the following professional/personal qualities and experiences: A deep commitment to higher education, a keen understanding of Cornell s mission and goals, and the ability to articulate its uniqueness and relevance. The ability to create and lead innovative programs attuned to diverse demographics. Training in and/or experience with organizational development, coaching, team building, staff recruitment, assessment. The intellectual depth, maturity and confidence to work with and command the respect and confidence of senior University administrators, colleagues in the Division of Alumni Affairs and Development and academic leaders. A commitment to professional staff development and an ability to provide thoughtful and constructive feedback in a positive and direct manner. Sound judgment, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail; the ability to think strategically and act decisively; and strong work ethic. Ability to articulate Cornell's mission, traditions, excellence, priorities and goals with enthusiasm, energy, and creativity and to compel others to action. Ability to respond quickly to changing business needs and priorities; ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical implementation. Robust quantitative and analytical skills, including the ability to understand complex financial records and make decisions based on data. Location Ithaca, NY: Located on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake in Central New York, Ithaca is a major educational center. It has been named one of the top 100 places to live, a top 10 recreation city, a best green place to live, and one of the "foodiest" towns in America. The City of Syracuse is under an hour away, and frequent buses to NYC allow for day trips. In 2010, the city's population was 30,014, and the metropolitan area had a population of 101,564. It is also a stunningly beautiful place with great vistas, hiking and a variety of outdoor activities. The Ithaca City School District, which encompasses Ithaca and the surrounding area, enrolls about 5,500 K - 12 students in eight elementary schools, two middle schools, Ithaca High School, and the Lehman CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 9

10 Alternative Community School. Several private elementary and secondary schools are located in the Ithaca area, including the Roman Catholic Immaculate Conception School, the Cascadilla School, the New Roots Charter School, the Elizabeth Ann Clune Montessori School, and the Ithaca Waldorf School. Ithaca has two networks for supporting its home-schooling families: Loving Education At Home (LEAH) and the Northern Light Learning Center (NLLC). The economy of Ithaca is based on education, with technology and tourism in supporting roles. As of 2006, Ithaca has continued to have one of the few expanding economies in New York State outside New York City. It draws commuters for work from the neighboring rural counties. Ithaca has many of the business characteristics of small American university towns: bookstores, art house cinemas, craft stores, and vegetarian-friendly restaurants. The collective Moosewood Restaurant, founded in 1973, published a number of vegetarian cookbooks. Bon Appetit magazine ranked it among the thirteen most influential restaurants of the 20th century. Ithaca has many local restaurants and chains both in the city and town with a range of ethnic foods. It has become a destination and residence for retirees, and Cornell has programs to appeal to them. The Ithaca Farmers Market, a cooperative with 150 vendors who live within 30 miles of Ithaca, first opened for business on Saturdays in It is located at Steamboat Landing, where steamboats from Cayuga Lake used to dock. Culturally, Ithaca has much to offer. Founded in 1983, the Sciencenter, is a non-profit hands-on science museum, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and is a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and Association of Children s Museums (ACM). The Museum of the Earth is a natural history museum created in 2003 by the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI). The PRI was founded in Ithaca in 1932 and is the publisher of the oldest journal of paleontology in the western hemisphere. Exhibits cover the 4.5 billion-year history of the earth in an accessible manner, including interactive displays. As of 2004, the PRI is now formally affiliated with Cornell. The Cayuga Nature Center occupies the site of the 1914 Cayuga Preventorium, a facility for children with tuberculosis; treatment of what was then considered an incurable disease was based on rest and good nutrition. In 1981, the Cayuga Nature Center was incorporated as an independent, private, non-profit educational organization, offering environmental education to local school districts. In 2011, the PRI merged with the Cayuga Nature Center, making it a sister organization to the Museum of the Earth. CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 10

11 The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is located in the Imogene Powers Johnson Center for Birds and Biodiversity. The Lab's Visitors' Center and observation areas are open to the public. Displays include a surround sound theater, object-theater presentation, sound studio, and informational kiosks featuring bird sounds and information. The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art houses one of the finest collections of art in upstate New York. Special exhibitions are mounted each year, plus selections from a global permanent collection, which is displayed on six public floors. The collection includes art from throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, graphic arts, medallic art, and Tiffany glass, ranging from the ancient to the contemporary. The Center for the Arts at Ithaca, Inc., operates the "Hangar Theatre". Opened in 1975 in a renovated municipal airport hangar, the Hangar hosts a summer season and brings a range of theatre to regional audiences including students, producing a school tour and Artists-in-the-Schools programs. Ithaca is also the home to Kitchen Theatre Company, a non-profit professional company with a theatre on West State Street; and Civic Ensemble, a creative collaborative ensemble staging emerging playwrights' work and community-based original productions. Ithaca is noted for its annual community celebration, The Ithaca Festival. The Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts provides grants and summer fellowships at the Saltonstall Arts Colony for New York State artists and writers. Ithaca also hosts one of the largest used-book sales in the United States. The city and town also sponsor The Apple Festival in the fall, the Chili Fest in February, the Finger Lakes International Dragon Boat Festival in July; Porchfest in late September, and Ithaca Brew Fest in Stewart Park in September. Ithaca has also pioneered the Ithaca Health Fund, a popular cooperative health insurance. Ithaca is home to one of the United States' first local currency systems, Ithaca Hours, developed by Paul Glover. To learn more, please visit: CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 11

12 Background Checks: Prior to submitting your resume for this position, please read it over for accuracy. LLLS does verify academic credentials for its candidates, and our clients frequently conduct background checks prior to finalizing an offer. To learn more, call Jill Lasman, Senior Vice President at or send nominations or cover letter and resume to All inquiries will be held in confidence. Setting the Standard in Development Search 420 Boylston Street, Suite 604, Boston, MA CORNELL UNIVERSITY BACKGROUNDER 12

13 Office of the Vice President Alumni Affairs and Development Vice President Fred Van Sickle Program Officer Special Advisor to the Vice President Planner for the President's Office Principal Gifts Associate Vice President Alumni Affairs Associate Vice President Alumni Affairs and Development Sr. Associate Vice President Vacant Cornell Tech Vice President Development Northeast Corridor Interim Associate Vice President Trusts, Estates, & Gift Planning Director Communications & Donor Engagement Executive Director Digital Executive Director Operations Associate Vice President Vacant Major Gifts Associate Vice President Colleges and Units Associate Vice President Prospect Development Director