SBU VP Advancement Opportunity Profile

SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT
OPPORTUNITY PROFILE

OVERVIEW
Southwest Baptist University (SBU) is a Christ-centered, caring, academic community preparing students to be servant
leaders in a global society. SBU believes that university education is the quest to more fully delight in the One in whom
“all things hold together” (Col. 1:17). And because Jesus Christ is at the center of our mission, SBU aims to glorify Him
by providing a robust liberal arts education that develops character and competency—preparing students to serve with
excellence and deep Christian formation in the vocation to which they are called.
Since Jesus Christ is at the center of all reality, SBU also believes He should be at the center of all lives at SBU. That’s why
the university is deeply committed to mentoring and modeling the Christian life in a caring academic community. SBU’s
efforts are focused on preparing men and women to raise godly families, produce cutting-edge research, educate the next
generation, serve the poor, strengthen the church, and be industry leaders across the country and the world.
Southwest Baptist University is in its 145th year as a Christ-centered learning community with campuses in Bolivar, Springfield,
Salem, and Mountain View, Missouri. The university was founded by and is strongly connected to the Missouri Baptist State
Convention. From its inception, the University has been a distinctively Christian and Baptist institution in terms of worldview
and ideological commitments. SBU’s mission is to equip students academically, spiritually and socially for a lifetime of
servant leadership. SBU fosters an engaging education in a dynamic learning community, as evidenced by several Colleges
of Distinction recognitions.
SBU is a thriving higher education institution with more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled annually.
The 152-acre main campus is located in the southern portion of Bolivar, a community of about 10,300 residents that serves
as the county seat of Polk County. Bolivar is located about 25 miles north of Springfield, the third-largest city in the state of
Missouri after St. Louis and Kansas City.
Students come from 79 of Missouri’s 114 counties, 24 states, 20 countries, and 5 continents. SBU offers more than 100 areas
of academic study (majors and minors) including Arts & Sciences, Health Professions, Business, and Professional Programs.
SBU received an “A” rating from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) for the general education curriculum.
SBU is one of just 24 institutions in the entire nation and
the only school in Missouri to receive this rating. The
University’s honors program challenges and supports
high-ability students by fostering fierce curiosity,
intellectual humility, thriving community, and holistic
development. The on-campus student success center
offers seminar courses and provides one-on-one advising
tailored specifically to students’ needs.
The Center for Global Connections (CGC) is one of the
largest short-term volunteer programs of any university in
the United States and offers students the opportunity to
serve and witness through mission projects both at home
and abroad. An average of 25 global service projects are
organized through the CGC each year.
The university fields 17 athletic teams involving 400
student athletes at the NCAA Division II level. SBU
received the prestigious GLVC James R. Spalding Overall
Sportsmanship Award for both 2020–21 and 2021–22.

OVERVIEW (CONTINUED)
Several significant enhancements to the Bolivar campus are currently in process, including renovation of the campus dining
areas. New options for the campus community provide dining flexibility and greater food selection from the newly contracted
food service provider—rated #1 in the country. The campus bookstore has also been fully remodeled and the student union
boasts refreshed gathering space and a new e-locker-style post office. One-third of the university’s dormitories are also
receiving complete renovations of their community spaces.
SBU is actively building on its distinctive and highly-successful programs in health sciences, business, and computer sciences
by developing new market-driven offerings. It is also expanding its global reach, having recently hired a highly accomplished
leader in online education as its first VP for Online. SBU is also deepening its focus on student discipleship. A new Director of
Discipleship and Campus Pastor has been appointed, and there is growing enthusiasm around SBU’s chapel gatherings with
its strong speaker line-up and student-led worship.
Southwest Baptist University’s president, Dr. Rick Melson, began his Presidency on September 7th, 2021 and is building a
team of visionary leaders to carry SBU into the next chapter of its mission. The Provost will play a critical role in this team for
the future of Southwest Baptist University.

FOUNDATIONAL STATEMENTS
BAPTIST FAITH AND MESSAGE, 2000
PRINCIPLES AND EXPECTATIONS
Vision: Southwest Baptist University will be the exemplar Christian university, providing a transformative and holistic
educational experience.
Mission: Southwest Baptist University is a Christ-centered, caring, academic community preparing students to be
servant leaders in a global society.
Core Values: In fulfilling the University’s mission and vision through its strategic planning process, Southwest Baptist
University is committed to upholding the following core values grounded in Scripture, guided particularly by I Corinthians 13,
to prepare servant-leaders for a global society.
Christian Distinctiveness (1 Peter 2:9)
Southwest Baptist University is Christ-centered. From its inception, and continuing today, the University is a
distinctively Christian and Baptist institution supporting a Christian worldview. Led by the Spirit, following the
example of Jesus Christ, the University family seeks to demonstrate commitment to love, mercy, and grace.
Baptist Heritage (1 Kings 8:57; 2 Timothy 1:14)
Southwest Baptist University’s academic foundations are built on historical Baptist traditions beginning with the
Southwest Missouri Baptist Association and continuing today with the Missouri Baptist Convention. This heritage
acknowledges God as the ultimate source of all knowledge and truth. It is committed to scholarly endeavor,
under God, seeking a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility.
Compassion and Care for SBU Family (Romans 12:9-10)
Southwest Baptist University is a caring community. Scripture teaches that all individuals are worthy in the eyes
of God. Therefore, we will honor and serve one another in love.
Academic Excellence (Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:23)
Southwest Baptist University is an academic community. The University pursues excellence in teaching,
scholarship and service. Students are prepared to meet the challenges of a global society through the
integration of faith, Christian liberal arts, research, and professional studies. The University recognizes that
academic excellence is achieved through continuously striving for improvement.
Social and Spiritual Development (Colossians 2:6-7)
Southwest Baptist University encourages the social and spiritual development of the University family. Students,
faculty, and staff are provided intentional opportunities to grow spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally through
exposure and response to the needs of the larger community.
Personal Wellness (Genesis 1:27; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Southwest Baptist University recognizes the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the University will
offer opportunities for education and activities which promote personal wellness.

AT-A-GLANCE
STUDENT PROFILE
20
COUNTRIES
REPRESENTED
2%
INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS
127
FULL-TIME
FACULTY
70%
WITH
DOCTORATE
DEGREE
22 ACT
AVERAGE INCOMING
FRESHMAN SAT OR ACT
Current Student Body:
Undergraduate Students - 2,294
Graduate Students - 672
2,966 Headcount
2,324 FTE (2021-2022)
36%
64%
FACULTY & STAFF
57,605
TOTAL NUMBER
OF ALUMNI
ACCREDITATION
174
FULL-TIME
STAFF
MALE
FEMALE
11:1
STUDENT TO
FACULTY RATIO
67%
STUDENT
RETENTION RATE
48%
5-YEAR FRESHMAN
GRADUATION RATE
Southwest Baptist University is accredited
(currently on probation) by the Higher
Learning Commission.
$
TUITION & AID
(2021-22)
Tuition: $25,100
Room and Board: $8,150
Discount rate: 64%
% of Traditional Undergraduate Students who
Receive Aid 99 % more than $23.8 million in
financial aid is available to qualified students.
FINANCES
$92 million Total Assets
$54 million Annual Budget
$11 million Current Debt
$4 million Gifts & Grants
$45 million Endowment
ATHLETICS
SBU Athletics are NCAA Division II, GLVC conference
17 sports are offered:
Men — Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Tennis,
Track and Field (indoor and outdoor)
Women — Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track
and Field (indoor and outdoor), Volleyball
Co-ed: Cheer
GLVC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Football 2016
Women’s Cross Country 2020
Men’s Tennis 2021
MIAA CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Men’s Basketball 1991, 2006, 2008, 2009
Men’s Cross Country 2008
Men’s Tennis 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000,
2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2018, 2019
Women’s Cross Country 2013, 2015, 2016
Women’s Soccer 2013
Women’s Tennis 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Men’s Tennis 1984
To learn more about Southwest Baptist University, visit these resources:

SPIRITUAL LIFE
Southwest Baptist University is committed to providing opportunities for students to deepen their faith and equip them as
servant leaders to make an impact in the world for Christ. You can tangibly see this in the weekly rhythms of discipleship
on campus which provide students the opportunity to actively participate in a variety of spiritual disciplines throughout the
week. As an institution, SBU comes together to experience the Word and worship together in scheduled chapel services.
Chapel meets Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m., beginning with student-led corporate worship. Then a guest speaker
enriches, challenges, and presents Gospel-centered messages. The Chapel Band is a class, equipping students to be worship
and ministry leaders. All offices close at 10 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays so that employees can join in this time of
worship.
A new feature in the 2021-2022 academic year is a student-led discipleship ministry called “The Table.” Current students
unite for a time of worship, devotional, small-group discussions and accountability every Tuesday evening.
On Thursday nights, students attend “Locamente,” a full hour of worship and prayer led by fellow students. Locamente is a
long-standing cultural tradition for many students who have attended SBU.
Monday through Thursday has a natural rhythm of worship and discipleship on our campus as SBU continues the great mission
of sending thousands of Bearcats out into the world so that the world might know Christ.
SBU’s Center for Global Connections (CGC) coordinates domestic and international ministry projects, giving students an
opportunity to experience diverse cultures, serve others, and share the Good News of the Gospel. The Center for Global
Connections is dedicated to representing Christ globally by equipping the SBU community to live on mission (locally,
domestically, and globally) and providing participants strategic educational experiences to be holistically transformed.
In the Community and Around
the World:
• SBU’s Center for Global Connections evangelizes
the nations, specifically targeting the unreached
people groups of the 10/40 window, exposes
students to short-term volunteer programs
in a cross-cultural context, develops graceoriented
leadership, and provides students
with a healthy, safe, and loving community
experience.
• Mission trip opportunity examples include:
Baja; Guatemala; Honduras; Houston, Texas;
New Orleans, LA.; Philippines; South Asia;
South Sudan; and many more.
• SBU students benefit from spiritual growth
opportunities such as chapel services,
community service, mission trips, and small
group Bible studies.

STRATEGIC PLAN
SBU’s current Strategic Plan, “Shaping our Story Together: 2019-2029,” is summarized by this list of ten University Goals,
which will likely be refined as President Melson and new leadership continue to listen and respond to changing needs.
The University goals inspire each of the unit goals. In combination, these goals provide a road map for fulfilling the vision.
University Goals
Through the knowledge, wisdom, understanding, compassion, and creativity inspired by the Word of God, we are committed
to achieving our vision through the following goals:
1. Ensure all students have the opportunity to hear, experience, and respond to the Gospel of Christ.
2. Cultivate the development of students to articulate and defend the Gospel of Christ.
3. Cultivate the holistic development of students intellectually, socially, physically, and spiritually.
4. Nurture lifelong, engaged Bearcats who influence families, churches, communities, professions, and politics worldwide
for the Kingdom.
5. Enhance the employee experience so that they enjoy their work and contribute to SBU’s mission.
6. Create a culture of shared knowledge, evaluation, improvement, and excellence in all areas.
7. Support faculty to demonstrate relevant, creative, engaging, and effective pedagogies that seamlessly reflect faith and
discipline.
8. Enhance market responsiveness by establishing strategic, global relationships, creating effective internal structures and
processes, and responding to market-informed needs to develop mission-aligned academic programs.
9. Demonstrate wisdom and integrity in stewardship of people, programs, time, opportunities, fiscal resources, and
facilities.
10. Utilize thoughtful planning and processes that support institutional sustainability, efficiency, and effectiveness, for today
and in the future.
The full Strategic Plan can be found at:
www.sbuniv.edu/about/strategic-plan.php
“Ensure all students
have the opportunity
to hear, experience,
and respond to the
Gospel of Christ.”

THE POSITION
The next Vice President of Advancement for SBU will have natural entrepreneurship, strong operational skills, the ability to
manage people and build relationships, and passionate enthusiasm for the mission of Southwest Baptist University. SBU is
looking for a VP of Advancement to lead the Office of Advancement, which focuses on development strategies, relationships,
and donor events. The VP of Advancement will be responsible for shaping the University’s development strategy and seeing
that it is carried out effectively and within given budgetary and organizational structures.
The VP is a crucial member of the Executive University Cabinet, reporting to and working alongside the President, Dr. Rick
Melson, and meeting regularly with the University’s major individual and institutional donors. The VP of Advancement is
primarily responsible for the cultivation of major donors, leading any special SBU fundraising efforts as needed. In this sense,
the VP of Advancement is, in addition to the President, SBU’s primary ambassador to supporters. This position is located in
Bolivar, MO, and requires up to 50% travel. The VP of Advancement will have the following responsibilities:
Create and Lead Development Strategy
Working with the President and leading the Advancement team, this leader crafts a comprehensive fundraising strategy to
enable sustainable growth, including individual, University, and corporate donors, while evaluating external environment and
trends and their impact on the University and said fundraising strategies.
A crucial element of the strategy should include the nurturing of lifelong, engaged Bearcats who influence families, churches,
communities, professions, and politics worldwide for the Kingdom and may include launching a proactive major gifts program
and building a larger major donor base. The goal, set by SBU’s Strategic Plan 2019-2028, is to “Establish Southwest Baptist
University as our alumni’s ‘Charity of Choice’”.
The VP of Advancement works closely with other members of SBU’s executive cabinet to craft organizational strategy and
goals that includes local and national influence. This leader works in tandem with President Melson to develop and support
national, regional, and local media and public relations strategies.
Lead External Relationship Cultivation with Donors and Alumni
The VP of Advancement will work in tandem with President Melson to nurture existing university relationships and will lead
relationship-building strategies and activities with major individual donors, personally developing relationships with key
donors and prospective donors and creating an individual donor cultivation strategy for the President, Board of Trustees,
and senior leadership. The VP will continue to grow SBU’s base of potential supporters, building on referrals from Board
members, current advocates, and those identified through research.
Provide Team Leadership
Through building and leading the Advancement Team, the VP will build upon the strong SBU familial culture and nurture a
positive, servant-driven, cohesive, highly functioning group. This leader will have an opportunity to shape the Advancement
team, drawing in new members that will work cohesively and bring fresh energy to SBU’s loyal team.
The successful candidate will be a proven leader in development with the experience, vision, and energy required to partner
with other leadership within SBU. This person will have the ability to work collaboratively, relationally, and successfully
with staff to implement changes and enhancements to SBU fundraising programs. The VP will communicate with colleagues
across the University to integrate development and program activities and to ensure that development commitments are
properly fulfilled by other departments.

THE POSITION (CONTINUED)
Demonstrate Prior Development Success
This person will have measurable success in direct one-on-one major gift fundraising, as well as a proven track record of
leading and growing a comprehensive development department. This person will have or develop quickly, credibility and
relationships in the community. Proven success with six-figure donations and multi-million dollar campaigns is necessary.
Exhibit Passion for SBU Mission
The right leader will have a passion for spreading the mission of SBU to the Bolivar and Springfield communities and across
the globe. Through the knowledge, wisdom, understanding, compassion, and creativity inspired by the Word of God, a
commitment to achieving the advancement of the university’s goals.

EXPECTATIONS
• Build a comprehensive fundraising program and team with best practices including annual giving, advancement services,
alumni and parent relations, community foundation and corporate giving, planned giving, and major giving.
• Increase annual giving, restricted and unrestricted gifts, to capital projects, student scholarships, endowment, and
university priorities (increase giving from $5M to $7-8M annually.)
• Expand Donor base through relational capital (e.g. current giver retention 10% of 30,000 alumni. Increase by 25% in
first 2 years.)
• Assist in developing a campus master plan aligned with institutional priorities and the university strategic plan.
• Develop a comprehensive campaign in year two to fund the campus master plan and strategic plan for the university to
be implemented over the next 5 years.

PROCESS OF CANDIDACY
After reading this Opportunity Profile, if you sense the gifts and experience God has given you are a good initial match for
Southwest Baptist University, we invite you to begin the inquiry process. JobfitMatters will keep all candidate information and
conversations confidential. You may contact us at any stage of the process to get more information and/or to ask questions.
Please provide the following documents and responses for review:
• A letter not to exceed four pages that makes the case for your candidacy. In your letter, describe how your strengths,
gifts and experiences are a fit with the qualifications and opportunity in this profile. Give examples of how you lead and
develop people; work collaboratively; and made difficult decisions. Provide details of your successful advancement
efforts. Include at least one challenge and how you overcame it.
• A current resume or CV. Please include the size of the organization; direct reports; and budget responsibility within your
current purview.
• A one to two-page statement of faith that includes your spiritual journey and its relevance to your personal and
professional life.
• Provide the names and contact information (telephone numbers and email) for four references who know you and your
career well enough to comment on your suitability for the role.
Submit this information in one Word or PDF document to:
Annie Patton
Jobfit Matters
apatton@jobfitmatters.com
615.438.3553
In the subject line of the email, please write “SBU-VP of Advancement”