Southern Wesleyan University, an evangelical Christian institution located in the town of Central, South Carolina, welcomes applications and nominations in the search for its next Vice President of Advancement.
The Institution: Founded in 1906, Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) pursues its mission as a Christ-centered liberal arts university through its Four Outcomes:
- Biblical Faithfulness – Regardless of the blowing winds of society’s cultural trends and secular philosophies, faithfulness to God’s Word must be the foundation, the center, and the goal of all Christian higher education. At SWU this means both allegiance to God and submission to Scripture.
- Academic Rigor – We pursue wisdom that begins with the fear of the LORD (e.g., Prov. 9:1). We teach our students to think critically and Christianly. Rigor means, regardless of ability, we come alongside students and challenge them to love God with all their mind.
- Vocational Effectiveness – We graduate students who succeed in the workplace and graduate school. We equip them in the classroom, through on- and off-campus experiences, mentoring, and internships. More than 90% of SWU graduates express satisfaction in their vocational and educational preparation over five, ten, and fifteen years.
- Financial Sustainability – Too many students face insurmountable college debt. A SWU education must be affordable for students and sustainable for our university in the long-term.
In summary, SWU is committed to graduating students who love Jesus, who think critically, who are employable, and who are not in crippling debt.
Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, SWU serves nearly 1,100 students in approximately 40 areas of study, which include both undergraduate and graduate programs. The main campus consists of 350 beautiful acres in the town of Central, South Carolina, and offers students access to high-quality learning and living facilities, many of which are newly constructed or recently renovated. The University employs 46 full-time faculty members and boasts a robust offering of online degrees in addition to its on-campus offerings. It also offers 14 men’s and women’s sports programs, enjoys dual membership in the NCAA Division II and the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association), and, since 2007, it has won 17 NCCAA national championships. For more information about the University, please visit https://www.swu.edu and/or view the institutional prospectus.
The Position: Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President of Advancement serves as the chief advancement officer of the university and is a member of the President’s Cabinet. The Vice President of Advancement will generate excitement and increase resourcing around SWU’s value proposition as both a biblically faithful university and as a decidedly liberal arts university. The Vice President has primary responsibility for planning future campaigns and strategies for raising funds, acquiring and developing new donors, and assisting the President in funding the mission and vision.
The Vice President is responsible for directing all aspects of fundraising and restricted and unrestricted fund management including capital project fundraising campaigns, planned giving programs, restricted and unrestricted giving for the fiscal year, major gifts strategy, and coordinating, strengthening and/or assisting with multiple funds and donor constituencies. Experience with fundraising through multiple advisory councils is preferred though not required.
Additionally, the Vice President will identify, recruit, train, and lead a high-level Advancement team capable of fulfilling university Advancement strategy and of originating the highest quality of Advancement communications and special events. He or she will represent the University with appropriate external agencies and organizations, engaging our regional and national community, and facilitating civic and government relations, while serving as a liaison to the Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees. The Vice President will work collaboratively with the President, the two Executive Vice Presidents, and the Vice President of Finance and Business Administration in fundraising, investment management, and donor reporting; as well as collaborating with all Cabinet colleagues and their teams to contribute to implementation of the University’s strategic plan.
Qualifications: The Vice President of Advancement will have a personal and seasoned relationship with Christ and provide evidence of ongoing spiritual growth and conviction. He or she will also demonstrate deeply held commitments consistent with the University’s mission and values. The successful candidate will also possess a deep understanding of and passion for Southern Wesleyan University’s value proposition as both a biblically faithful university and as a decidedly liberal arts university. The Vice President must have experience leading successful, multi-million dollar capital campaigns as well as skill in the areas of donor cultivation and fundraising, along with knowledge of grant funding, donor giving trends, and effective Advancement CRM usage. The Vice President will relate and work effectively with people and have a high level of integrity, ethics, and the ability to lead and coordinate the effective management of complex programs and enterprises. The successful candidate will have experience with strategic leadership in an environment of shared governance involving multiple stakeholders. The Vice President will also have demonstrated ability in clear, effective communication with diverse constituencies.
The University is a decidedly Christian liberal arts institution. In light of SWU’s unapologetically Christ-centered mission, all employees are expected to embrace the University’s Statement of Faith, respect its Wesleyan heritage, and adhere to its lifestyle expectations.
Location: Central, South Carolina, is a town of 5,000 situated in the northwest part of the state, in the nearly one million resident Greenville Metropolitan Area. The region sits along the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and offers a wealth of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, including hiking and biking trails, waterfalls, and lakes. Residents also enjoy an exceptional quality of life and a vibrant arts and culture scene, complete with diverse dining options, visual and performing arts venues, and lively annual festivals. Greenville, a vibrant and growing city, is only 30 miles away, and other great cities of the Southeast, including Atlanta, Asheville, and Charlotte, are close enough for day trips. Also worth visiting is South Carolina’s beautiful coastline, which includes the historic city of Charleston, beautiful Hilton Head Island, and lively Myrtle Beach.
Application: Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to RPA Inc. at SWUAdvancement@rpainc.org. For a confidential discussion about this opportunity or to make a nomination, please contact Jim Barnes, Senior Consultant, or Isaac Karaffa, Vice President and Senior Consultant, at the email address above or by phone at 765-618-2582. While applications will be accepted until the position is filled, please apply by March 5, 2025. The selected candidate will be required to sign the University’s Doctrinal Statement and Community Expectations forms upon hire.
It is the policy of Southern Wesleyan University to provide and maintain equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including but not limited to lactation), disability, genetic information, veteran status, age, or any other classification protected by state, federal, or local law, unless a bona fide occupational qualification applies. The University reserves its right to operate as a church-related institution and to develop policies consistent with the religious tenets of its sponsoring denomination, The Wesleyan Church, and is permitted and reserves the right to prefer employees on the basis of religion (Title VII, Section 702-703, United States Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended).
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (amending the Higher Education Act of 1965) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities that receive federal funding.
Sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence and other forms of nonconsensual sexual misconduct, is a form of sex discrimination and is prohibited under this law. Southern Wesleyan University is fully committed to the Biblical Standard of sexual integrity as defined and practiced by The Wesleyan Church. At no time should any discussion of sexual behaviors be construed as endorsement of inappropriate sexual activity. For more information, visit SWU’s Title IX page.
