As Yale’s chief advancement officer, the Vice President will steward one of the most passionate and influential alumni communities in the world, guided by the belief that alumni engagement and philanthropy are mutually reinforcing expressions of lifelong connection to the University. The Vice President will strengthen relationships across generations and expand opportunities for engagement, service, advocacy, volunteer leadership, and philanthropic investment.
The Vice President will provide strategic direction and executive oversight for Yale’s comprehensive advancement enterprise. Leading an organization of nearly 400 professionals, the Vice President will oversee all aspects of development and alumni affairs, driving alignment across a complex, decentralized environment and advancing University-wide priorities.
In close partnership with the President, Provost, Deans, faculty leaders, trustees, and alumni volunteers, the Vice President will translate Yale’s academic ambitions into compelling opportunities for alumni, donors, and partners to support transformative impact. The role encompasses leadership of an integrated organization responsible for development, alumni engagement, principal and major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, advancement services, prospect development, donor relations, and campaign strategy.
A visible and trusted ambassador for Yale, the Vice President will represent the University with credibility, authenticity, intellectual curiosity, and distinction—building enduring relationships and securing philanthropic investments that advance Yale’s mission and global influence.
Yale University has retained Lindauer, an executive search firm, to assist in this search. Consideration of candidates will continue until the position is filled. Candidates should submit, in confidence, a resume and cover letter. Communications, nominations, applications, and inquiries concerning this search should be directed to Deb Taft, Chief Executive Officer, dtaft@lindauerglobal.com, Faith Montgomery, Executive Vice President, fmontgomery@lindauerglobal.com, and Andrew Machado, Senior Consultant, amachado@lindauerglobal.com. The full Leadership Profile can be viewed here: https://www.lindauerglobal.com/searches/open-searches/vice-president-alumni-affairs-development-yale/
Required Skills and Abilities
1. Significant senior leadership experience in advancement, philanthropy, alumni relations, or a closely related field, with a distinguished record of fundraising success, including experience securing and stewarding transformational gifts.
2. Demonstrated success strengthening alumni engagement and cultivating lifelong relationships with alumni, volunteers, and donors; exceptional communication, relationship-building, and consensus-building skills.
3. Executive leadership experience and the ability to lead large, complex organizations and develop high-performing teams; a systems-oriented mindset and the ability to operate effectively in a decentralized environment.
4. Experience serving as an executive leader within complex institutions and contributing meaningfully to enterprise-wide strategy and decision-making; experience partnering effectively with presidents, boards, academic leaders, faculty, and volunteers; high emotional intelligence and sound judgment.
5. Deep intellectual curiosity and genuine enthusiasm for scholarship, research, and higher education; the capacity to engage thoughtfully with complex academic priorities and translate them into compelling philanthropic opportunities; experience leveraging data, analytics, technology, and emerging tools to strengthen organizational effectiveness and constituent engagement.
Background Check Requirements
All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.
COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement
The University maintains policies pertaining to COVID-19. All faculty, staff, students, and trainees are required to comply with these policies, which may be found here: https://campushealth.yale.edu/covid-19-information
Posting Disclaimer
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.
University policy is committed to affirmative action under law in employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans. Additionally, in accordance with Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment, and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.
Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).
Note
Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.
