Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Morehouse School of Medicine
Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Atlanta, Georgia

Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is highly regarded as the premier institution among U.S. medical schools for its social mission and health equity thought leadership. Founded in 1975 as the Medical Education Program of Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine became an independently chartered institution in 1981. MSM is located in Atlanta, Georgia and is among the nation’s leading educators of primary care physicians and healthcare professionals, with faculty and alumni known for their excellence in teaching, research, clinical care delivery, community engagement and public policy. Housed within the cluster of Historically Black Colleges and Universities known as the Atlanta University Center, MSM attracts a diverse student body drawn by its unique social mission and academic excellence.

As a Historically Black Graduate Institution, MSM has a deep commitment to serving BIPOC and the underserved in urban and rural populations in Georgia, the nation, and the world.

Over the past five years, Morehouse School of Medicine has continued to see sustained momentum as their enrollment, research, and resources have grown substantially. The current class size has exceeded 225 students, with the addition of a physician's assistant program and a separate Master of Public Health. The budget has grown from $160 million to $360 million, with annual research expenditures increasing from $35 million to $110 million. The capital campaign raised $225 million in three years, setting a new goal of $500 million. Across the street from their current campus, spanning four acres, is the development of a state-of-the-art surgical center and Level 3 emergency services unit.

Morehouse School of Medicine is trailblazing into the future. Intending to become the first Historically Black College and University to receive Carnegie R1 classification, MSM has increased its research efforts and awarded 20 research doctoral degrees. Additionally, MSM is building a Medical Science Training Program (MSTP), funded by the National Institute of Health. When completed, this will be the first MSTP affiliated with a Community Based Medical School. In addition, MSM has applied for a National Institute of Health funded Cancer Center. These efforts will double MSM’s faculty over the next five years.

Morehouse School of Medicine stands at the vanguard of efforts to achieve health equity for people of color and the underserved in urban and rural populations, to advance a diverse healthcare workforce, and to ensure biomedical discoveries permeate such that all communities can realize the promise of science. And as our society broadly reassesses matters of race and equity, reorders priorities, embraces community, and looks to science, medicine, and public policy to extend and improve quality of life, MSM’s critical leadership role has been further highlighted. A wide range of individuals and organizations are carefully evaluating how to best align their philanthropy with the needs of minority populations and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, and MSM is well-positioned to leverage their partnership and investment. An abundant solution for an abundant need, MSM champions the innovative and forward-thinking models that allow every person the access and resources they need to be healthy.

Under the leadership of President & CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice, MSM has established a well-functioning Office of Institutional Advancement to build partnerships and financial support to carry the institution’s bold vision forward. Dr. Montgomery Rice has also launched MSM’s first-ever comprehensive campaign, called IMPACT: The World Needs What We Do Best, which has secured more than $240 million to date towards Phase 1 of the $225 million goal. In September 2022, MSM entered Phase 2 of its capital campaign with an overall goal of $500 million. In addition, MSM is seeking to raise $105 million in support of its recently announced partnership with CommonSpirit Health, the first nationwide initiative between two of the country’s leading health organizations to address the underlying causes of health equity.

Amid this favorable backdrop of social consciousness, programmatic expansion, and growing investment, MSM seeks candidates for the role of Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement (SVP). Reporting to the President & CEO, the SVP is responsible for visioning and leading a comprehensive development program, ensuring alignment with mission and strategy, promoting a culture of philanthropy, integrating high-quality and innovative alumni relations, and executing against short and long-term objectives in an evolving, growing organization. The SVP will leverage the committed partnership of the President & CEO, other executive leadership, and Board of Trustees in continuing sustainable growth of major, multi-year, and principal gifts from individual, foundation, and corporate sources. The SVP will prioritize a donor-centric, relationship-based approach, deepening existing partnerships and cultivating new support from both alumni sources and continuing MSM’s strong track record of securing non-traditional support. The SVP oversees the Office of Institutional Advancement comprising approximately 18 staff, serving as a hands-on, player-coach and effectively balancing strategic and operational management. The SVP will be a highly visible leader in articulating the case for support and play a key role in expanding high-level donor relationships through frontline engagement with current and potential partners, donors, and sponsors. 

While Morehouse School of Medicine will consider a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications/experience:

• Passion for the mission of Morehouse School of Medicine.
• A seasoned development leader who has achieved progressive levels of responsibility, including extensive experience managing all dimensions of a comprehensive fundraising program (individual giving, institutional giving, annual giving, major and planned giving, stewardship, board relations) and leadership in a major fundraising campaign, preferably within an academic medical center, higher education institution, healthcare organization, or other environment of similar complexity.
• Strong grasp of and commitment to best practices in all areas of development; experience integrating giving programs at various levels to cultivate greater donor commitments.
• At least five to seven years of experience in a supervisory capacity in a nonprofit development role, with a strong record of providing strategic and operational leadership, including creating and managing a budget.
• Experience in developing the case for support and strategic fundraising plans, particularly a major fundraising campaign, and executing plans to achieve goals and objectives. Demonstrated experience cultivating, training, and working collaboratively with senior-level colleagues, board members, and other high-level volunteer leaders on successful development-related activities.
• Successful track record of personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from individual and institutional donors at the level of six to seven-figures or greater.
• Demonstrated ability in planning and executing integrated, strategic, and innovative communications in support of achieving fundraising goals, including leveraging digital and social media.
• Demonstrated analytical and organizational skills in evaluating existing programs, conceiving and implementing new programs or strategies, and resolving complex and/or sensitive operational and interpersonal issues. The ability to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about donor strategy and process, as well as working knowledge of modern data management practices and innovations that can streamline the development process and contribute to the integration of related functions.
• A forward thinker with a track record of utilizing new methods of donor engagement and connectivity.
• Ability for regional and national travel, consistent with public health guidelines.

Download the full position description via the following link: https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Morehouse-Sch-Med-SVP-Inst-Adv-PD-2022.pdf

Morehouse School of Medicine is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran's status. Morehouse School of Medicine does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment on the basis of any factor stated above or prohibited under applicable law. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in University programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination. Morehouse School of Medicine complies with Executive Order 11246, as amended, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action. Morehouse School of Medicine is committed to achieving a diverse workforce through application of its affirmative action, equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policy in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.

Morehouse School of Medicine has retained the DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice of the Diversified Search Group to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) may be submitted via the following link – https://talent-profile.diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/v2/19132, or directed to:

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.
Managing Director and DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice Leader
Diversified Search Group
The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, New York 10174
gerard.cattie@divsearch.com | 212.542.2587