The Organization: San Francisco Bay University (SFBU)
San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) is a premier WASC/WSCUC accredited, non-profit university specializing in Computer Science, Business Administration, and Electrical Engineering. The University caters to domestic and international students who want to further their career and obtain a degree from a recognized university in California. SFBU is located in the San Francisco Bay Area/Silicon Valley.
SFBU exists to propel their students. To help them not only succeed, but to develop the leadership qualities we all need to make a difference in this world. SFBU is actively working to tear down the roadblocks that we know exist in higher education. The barriers of access and affordability that can stop students from seeing that college is even an option for them. The barriers that deter institutions from truly changing lives for the better.
At SFBU, the yardstick for success is that students graduate and leave SFBU ready for a career, with life and financial literacy, having received the mental, physical, and spiritual support they needed along the way.
SFBU's Location
San Francisco Bay University exists at the apex of innovation — Silicon Valley — which has been a hotbed of digital disruption since the release of the IBM personal computer (PC) in the early 1980s.
Over the last 40+ years, the technology sector has accounted for massive economic expansion — but according to a 2020 report from the Brookings Institution, most of these jobs still reside in one of five major coastal cities: Seattle, Boston, San Diego, and — you guessed it — San Francisco and San Jose.
SFBU's Mission & Vision
The SFBU Mission:San Francisco Bay University provides diverse learners with inclusive, innovative and inspirational education for lifelong personal and professional success.
The SFBU Vision:San Francisco Bay University will set the standard as a national and international model of engaged and transformative higher education in service of the common good.
Leadership Spotlight
Nicholas Ladany - President
Nicholas Ladany
President
President Nicholas Ladany, PhD, is the 4th president of San Francisco Bay University. Dr. Ladany brings an extensive background in higher education, with over 30 years of experience working with and leading institutions nationwide. He became president in June 2023.
Before joining SFBU, Dr. Ladany served as President of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he achieved remarkable success in increasing enrollment to record levels, overseeing the development of the university’s strategic plan, and launching various diversity initiatives. Under his leadership, Oglethorpe University successfully strengthened its finances, as well as student support, retention, and graduation.
Before his tenure at Oglethorpe, Dr. Ladany held numerous prestigious positions, including Dean and Associate Provost at the University of San Diego, Dean at Santa Clara University, and professor at Lehigh University, Temple University, and the University of Maryland.
Under Dr. Ladany, SFBU is embarking on a new phase of expansion for its academic programs, curriculum and enrollment.
"San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) is redefining education to help empower every student who wants a degree to have access to a school that is transformative in its learning environment. In making this a reality, we must disrupt the broken higher education system characterized by skyrocketing tuition, disconnected curriculum, and a system that struggles to serve students. SFBU is the only institution in the country poised to take on this challenge and rethink the experience we provide students. Through inclusive education that inspires our students, we can innovate and transform not only higher education itself but also the industries we advance and the communities we serve."
San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) is redefining education to help empower every student who wants a degree to have access to a school that is transformative in its learning environment. In making this a reality, SFBU is striving to disrupt the broken higher education system characterized by skyrocketing tuition, disconnected curriculum, and a system that struggles to serve students. SFBU is the only institution in the country poised to take on this challenge and rethink the experience they provide students. Through inclusive education that inspires SFBU’s students, the University can innovate and transform not only higher education itself but also the industries they advance and the communities they serve.
Inclusive, innovative and inspirational are three words that embody the spirit and culture of San Francisco Bay University and define the qualities that the first Vice President of Advancement will bring to this inaugural role.
Reporting to President Nick Ladany and serving on the President’s Leadership Cabinet, the VP of Advancement will have the rare opportunity to build an Advancement Program from the ground up. Entrepreneurial and innovative, the VP will initially focus on creating and building the infrastructure and systems of the Advancement program. Resources have been allocated to begin hiring an Advancement Team in the first year. SFBU is implementing Salesforce as their integrated CRM and plans to utilize it for Advancement and Alumni and Community Relations efforts. The VP of Advancement will create a five-year plan for advancement with a goal of reaching a minimum of $5-7M raised and $2M received annually by year five.
SFBU is seeking a seasoned non-profit leader with expertise in building and elevating high performing and progressive fundraising teams and programs. The VP of Advancement will be a critical thought partner to President Ladany and the Leadership Cabinet.
The Role and Responsibilities
Essential Responsibilities:
Design, create, implement, and lead Advancement strategy.
Develop and implement a five-year fundraising plan for SFBU in collaboration with President Ladany and colleagues.
Collaborate with the CFO in creating a department budget with realistic assessments of projected revenue and expenses in alignment with the organization’s budget and programmatic needs.
Establish performance measures to monitor results and evaluate effectiveness of fundraising efforts, reporting regularly on progress toward fundraising goals.
Identify and implement strategies that support program and administrative staff members’ role in donor engagement and stewardship.
Support the Board of Directors’ related committees and provide leadership in pursuit of private fundraising.
Work in close partnership with the President, faculty, and members of the Board to identify and cultivate prospective donors to the University.
Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of individual major gift donors.
Develop relationships with Silicon Valley corporations and both national and regional foundations; oversee the development of compelling partnership opportunities, grant proposals, and impact reports.
Build community partnerships and represent SFBU externally at a variety of civic and business events.
Hire, train, and supervise team members.
Qualifications and Expectations
The Vice President of Advancement role requires candidates to have 10+ years as a frontline fundraiser (foundation relations, corporate relations, or major gifts) and 2+ years directly managing staff.
Qualifications:
10+ years of front-facing experience in nonprofit fundraising.
Proven record of building and maintaining fruitful relationships with donors, including individual, corporate, and foundation funders.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; including grant writing experience.
2+ years of successful management experience leading outcomes-driven teams.
Leadership capabilities: experience in planning, leading, and managing development projects, including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes, and tracking and reporting on progress to leadership/board of directors.
Coaching: enjoys coaching others and being coached.
A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Entrepreneurial spirit: takes initiative and actively seeks to deepen current donor relationships and to forge new ones.
Communications: skilled in creating powerful and compelling written and oral communications for fundraising. Able to convey complex ideas through brief, simple materials. Experience with and credibility in presenting materials to external audiences.
Influencing: creates win-win situations and responds appropriately to key stakeholders.
Collaboration: effective at working with others to reach common goals and objectives.
Relationship Building: skilled at establishing and cultivating strong relationships across different levels of the organization and externally. Enjoys networking and meeting new people.
Adept with technology.
Salary: At least $215,000 plus generous benefits.
Applications & Nominations
San Francisco Bay University has partnered with Boyden Executive Search. For more information about this opportunity or to submit a cover letter and resume, please email:
Wendy Wilsker has dedicated her entire career to the non-profit sector, serving in leadership roles within charitable organizations and working alongside them as an executive recruiter and consultant. She excels at identifying the unique challenges and opportunities non-profits face, and partners with senior leadership to build successful organizational structures, teams and advancement programs.
Making the world a better place is Shaké Sulikyan’s mission in life. She has decades of experience in the nonprofit sector including senior leadership roles in healthcare, academic medicine, higher education, and social services. Shaké loves connecting nonprofit organizations and exceptional professionals and is honored to support social impact organizations throughout the United States. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. Boyden Boston is dedicated to inclusivity and valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.
SFBU's Strategic Plan (PDF Download)
