Vice President of Stewardship

Phillips Theological Seminary is seeking a vice president of stewardship to begin as soon after July 1, 2010 as is possible. The vice president works closely with the president in giving leadership to the seminary’s program of developing relationships with individuals, congregations, foundations, and corporations that fund the mission of PTS.

PTS has a well-established reputation in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and in the Midwest/Southwest as a seminary that cares about the church and prepares leaders for the varied ministries of the church. The emphasis on preparing pastoral leaders is expanding to include leaders in church and society more broadly. A new president, several changes in the faculty, the recruitment of a new cadre of board members, and the development of a significant online educational program will re-position the seminary to meet the challenges of education for ministry, lay and ordained.

The seminary boasts a century-long history, about 1,700 living alumni/ae, an up-to-date campus, an average of 200 students per year, nearly 1,000 donors giving annually, and remarkable endowment growth (by means of new gifts) over the last several years.

In terms of building relationships and fundraising, the vice president will have the opportunity to help PTS meet the following challenges:

• Expand and diversify the donor base, including younger generations of friends and donors;
• Re-think the strategies of how we ask prospects and donors to give, moving toward a donor-centric or donor-choice menu of giving options;
• Play a strong, strategic role in developing a rich and fitting mix of electronic and of print materials for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and thanking donors;
• Build the case for the seminary’s next capital campaign.

Working with the president and the stewardship staff, the vice president’s routine work includes the following:

• Annually develop, implement, and evaluate the mission-funding program and action plans;
• Manage stewardship personnel and budget;
• Involve board members in the work of stewardship;
• Serve on the president’s cabinet.

The essential dispositions and qualifications to accomplish this work include:

• Love for the mission of the church;
• Affirmation of and appreciation for Protestant, mainline, justice-oriented, ecumenical theological education;
• At least 5 years of fundraising experience;
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution;
• Ability to work collaboratively with professional and support staff, as well as with volunteers (e.g., trustees);
• Strong communication skills, especially in persuasive writing and speaking;
• Ability to relate to persons representing a wide range of educational and social accomplishments;
• Working knowledge of the range of communication vehicles and technologies the seminary must use to reach a variety of audiences;
• Ability to keep learning and adapting.

Preferred qualifications include:

• A graduate degree from an accredited institution;
• Membership in one of the denominations represented in the PTS student body;
• CFRE.

PTS is an EOE employer.

Compensation is commensurate with PTS’s peer groups among accredited seminaries.

Applications should include a letter of interest, vita, and contact information for 3 references. Send all materials electronically to Melanie.Tipton@ptstulsa.edu with the subject line: Stewardship Search.