About Us
Portland State University (PSU) Foundation fuels the mission and priorities of Oregon’s most diverse, innovative, and affordable research university by raising and stewarding philanthropic gifts that transform lives and communities.
Recognized as one of Oregon’s best non-profits to work for five years in a row, we are a community of purpose-driven professionals who lead with heart, act with trust, and keep our mission forward in everything we do. Guided by creativity and collaboration, we foster a strong sense of belonging—empowering every team member to show up authentically and think boldly.
At PSU, more than half of incoming first-year students identify as BIPOC, nearly a quarter are parents, and half are the first in their families to attend college. When PSU graduates thrive, families transform, communities prosper, and innovation expands. The PSU Foundation plays a vital role in advancing this impact by inspiring donors, engaging alumni and community partners, and stewarding resources to Portland State University with integrity and purpose.
About The Role
This new role offers the opportunity to shape the future of data, technology, and business intelligence at our mission forward organization. You will partner with colleagues across the Foundation to advance fundraising outcomes, strengthen operations, and build a more connected, data informed and data driven organization. You will balance leadership, strategy, and direct contributions to the work itself.
You may enjoy this role if you:
- Balance strategic thinking with hands on analytics.
- Enjoy building strong relationships and partnering across teams to solve complex challenges.
- Are energized when improving processes, solving problems, and creating positive change.
- Enjoy mentoring and developing others while continuing to learn yourself.
- Are comfortable navigating ambiguity and helping teams move forward with confidence.
- Lead with a desire to help others succeed.
The Assistant Vice President of Advancement Data & Technology leads the strategy, systems, and analytics that power PSU Foundation’s fundraising and engagement efforts. This role is accountable for the direction, performance, governance, and outcomes of the Data & Technology function, advancing data-informed fundraising, strengthening donor pipeline development, and equipping leadership and development officers with actionable insights. The AVP translates organizational priorities into integrated data and technology solutions that improve fundraising effectiveness, decision-making, and operational efficiency.
The role provides enterprise-level leadership for the Foundation’s data, technology infrastructure, and business intelligence ecosystem, including CRM, reporting and analytics, system integrations, and IT operations. This leader ensures systems are secure, scalable, and user-centered while supporting the full fundraising lifecycle.
This is a hands-on leadership role that balances strategic direction, departmental accountability, and direct involvement in priority initiatives, complex problem solving, cross-functional execution, and team development.
Serving as a strategic partner to Executive Leadership, University stakeholders, and the Foundation Board, the AVP ensures alignment between data, technology, fundraising performance, and mission impact.
Position Overview
Strategy, Priorities & Organizational Outcomes
- Set the vision, priorities, and roadmap for the Foundation’s data, analytics, reporting, systems, and technology functions, ensuring alignment with fundraising and organizational priorities.
- Define how data, technology, and analytics should support campaign execution, pipeline development, donor engagement, operational performance, and executive decision-making.
- Own department-level priorities and resource allocation across data management, reporting, analytics, business intelligence, systems, IT operations, and user support.
- Provide strategic oversight for enterprise reporting strategy, dashboards, KPIs, and performance metrics.
- Establish expectations for reporting standards, business definitions, data governance, and adoption practices in partnership with the Senior Advancement Business Intelligence Analyst and other team members.
- Serve as a strategic advisor on emerging trends and technologies, including AI, and make recommendations on when and how the Foundation should invest in new tools or capabilities.
- Ensure external benchmarking initiatives and surveys are completed accurately and that insights are incorporated into organizational planning and performance strategy.
Data Governance & Quality
- Establish, maintain and lead a strong data governance framework and practices to ensure data accuracy, consistency, security, and compliance across systems.
- Define and enforce data standards, stewardship roles, documentation practices and integration protocols.
- Oversee data quality standards, integration processes, and system documentation to ensure reliability and trust in organizational data assets, reporting and analytics.
Systems, Technology & Vendor Management
- Ensure effective delivery of IT operations, including infrastructure, security, user support, and system performance.
- Lead evaluation, selection, implementation, and optimization of enterprise systems and tools that support fundraising and operational effectiveness.
- Ensure data systems and reporting environments are reliable, accurate, and fit for organizational needs.
- Oversee IT operations, including infrastructure, system administration, access management, cybersecurity practices, user support, and training.
- Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and service-level agreements to ensure high-quality service delivery and value optimization.
Financial & Operational Stewardship
- Own department planning, prioritization, and resource tradeoff decisions, ensuring the team’s work is focused on the highest-value organizational needs.
- Develop and manage departmental budgets, ensuring responsible stewardship of financial and technology resources.
Monitor investments in systems and tools to ensure alignment with strategic priorities and organizational return on investment.
People Leadership & Organizational Partnership
- Provide strategic leadership to the Data & Technology team, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and professional development.
- Define roles, priorities, and team structure across data management, reporting, analytics, BI and systems functions.
- Foster a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative team culture.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, University partners, and the Board.
- Oversee the organization’s technology strategy, lead change management efforts to drive adoption of data, reporting, technology solutions, and emerging technologies.
- Lead the strategy and oversight of technology and data training programs, ensuring staff are equipped to effectively use systems, reporting tools, and data, while supporting user adoption.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in information systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, Information Technology, Data Analytics, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Eight (8) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in fundraising, advancement services, data management, business intelligence, information technology, analytics, or a related function.
- Five (5) years of people leadership experience, including managing technical or cross function teams.
- Four (4) years of experience working in a fundraising, advancement, or nonprofit environment.
- Proficiency with commonly used workplace technologies, including Microsoft Office, SharePoint, CRM platforms, and other cloud-based collaboration and document management tools; demonstrated ability to leverage emerging technologies to enhance productivity, accuracy, and overall work quality.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in an inclusive, equitable, and respectful environment, collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
- Commitment to fostering a positive and collaborative workplace culture through active engagement with colleagues, open communication, and alignment with organizational values and culture initiatives.
- Demonstrate reliable, regular, and predictable work attendance.
Technical & Functional Expertise Requirements
- Strong knowledge of advancement data, fundraising systems, business intelligence, analytics, reporting, and technology operations sufficient to set strategy, evaluate solutions, and lead technical teams.
- Demonstrated ability to translate fundraising and organizational priorities into data, technology, reporting, and operational strategies that drive performance and decision-making.
- Demonstrated understanding of data architecture, business intelligence, system integrations, and technology infrastructure, including familiarity with SQL-based reporting environments, ETL processes, APIs/SDKs, cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure, and enterprise system deployment practices sufficient to provide effective technical oversight and strategic technology leadership.
- Experience overseeing enterprise CRM platforms, reporting environments, data governance, system integrations, and technology operations within a complex organization.
- Ability to evaluate technology investments, vendor solutions, data infrastructure, and reporting needs from strategic, operational, financial, and user-experience perspectives.
- Strong understanding of SQL, query design, data transformation, data warehousing, integration architecture, and business intelligence concepts.
- Advanced knowledge of analytics, predictive modeling, and data-informed strategy to support revenue generation, constituent engagement, and organizational performance.
- Deep experience developing and managing fundraising and constituent engagement metrics, KPIs, dashboards, and executive reporting that inform strategic decision-making.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working at a higher education fundraising organization.
- Experience with Blackbaud CRM.
- Experience in Microsoft Fabric and Power BI Ecosystem.
- Experience with data and technology strategic partnership specific to fundraising and fundraising campaigns.
Compensation & Benefits
Our compensation philosophy reflects our commitment to pay equity, transparency, and valuing the contributions of every team member.
Hiring Range: $175,000 – $215,000 / year
- Offers are determined based on a candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications, while ensuring internal pay equity.
4-Day Workweek: As part of our commitment to wellness and workplace culture, we’ve transitioned to a 4-day workweek—an innovative shift that reflects our values and promotes balance across our team. Business operations are closed on Fridays, supporting work-life balance and recognizing the value of your time.
Top-Tier Benefits: We offer one of Oregon’s leading nonprofit benefits packages, designed to support the well-being of employees and their families. Full-time employee benefits include:
- 4 Day Work Week, with business operations closed on Fridays.
- 100% employer-paid medical coverage on our base plan
- 95% employer-paid dental and vision coverage
- Up to 27 days of paid time off plus 10 paid holidays, including one floating holiday
- Up to 12% employer contribution to eligible 401(k) plans after applicable waiting periods
- Employer-paid Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance
- Portland State University affiliated employee benefits, including tuition discount
How to Apply
Interested in applying? We invite you to submit your application through our Careers page
Don’t meet every requirement? We’d still like to hear from you!
If you enjoy being part of a collaborative results-driven team and making a difference in our community, we encourage you to apply, even if you believe you don’t meet all of the requirements listed. Studies have shown that individuals with marginalized identities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification in the job description. Our priority is finding the best candidate for the role, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds. PSU Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
