work issue - need advice

[formerlyak]

I am the head of development for a small liberal arts college. I have been in this position about a year. I was handed a dysfunctional department, there is no culture of giving at this school, they have never done outreach to alumni. It's bad. I know I have the skills and team (very small, budget-friendly team) to turn this around. The week I started, the president resigned and we have been without a president until recently. This puts a damper on fundraising at any school, but especially one that has no history of strong giving. We were also handed a very inflated goal that would be impossible to reach even if all the ducks were in a row, because it was based on falsified numbers from previous years. I was very honest about this 9 months ago to my interim boss and to the board.

All that said, this past year, my team and I have increased participation by all constituencies. Started a successful annual giving program that combines traditional direct mail appeals with more cost-effective electronic appeals that I create myself in-house to save money. We reduced the cost to raise a dollar by 50%. We repaired several key relationships with key past donors who the old president pissed off. We've turned around the on-campus perception of our office through much stewardship with the campus community and increased giving from faculty and staff by 100%. We've done a ton for a two person team in a leadership transition year.

This morning I walk into my weekly meeting with the president and learn that there are members of our board who blame me and my team falling short of the insane goal for the financial problems we now face. Mind you we have been here 11 months. These financial problems were already here. Enrollment is down, like it is every where and we are tuition-dependent institution. Two of the board members claim I have never reached out to them to have a get to know you meeting like a good development person should. I have in fact reached out to both and one of those people I have met with twice in his office this year. Luckily I have all my emails saved and document all my calls, so I was able to provide the new president a report of this activity.

But it was clear from my conversation with the president this morning that they are trying to push me out so they can blame me, despite the fact that the issues are there because they as a board approved some pretty poor financial decisions and contracts.

I am trying to figure out if I cut my losses now and start looking for a new job and beat them to the punch? Or stick it out and wait to see what happens knowing the president seems to understand my position and does not blame me (but the board is his "boss" so if they tell him to cut me, I'm cut). Other factors - I currently have a very short commute in an area where commutes can be a bitch. I have some flexibility in my schedule. My son's dad does not provide any child support. We can live for a brief time off DH's salary if I am laid off, but it would involve some big cuts.

[ds1013]

I'm also in higher ed and I would say this new president is your reason to stay. Get him on your side and show him your % increases and your plans for the next 3-5 years. Proving to him that you're the reason the school will continue to be successful in this very turbulent higher ed landscape that we're all living in. He will fight the board to keep people on who are doing good work and are assets to the school. BUT - keep your face out there in your associations and make sure to keep up any relationships you have already built with your peers. That way, if needed you aren't starting from 0.

[sparkythelawyer]

Start looking, but go ask if you can go buy your president lunch. Get in his ear. Point out where things were and where things are and where things are going.

[formerlyak]

Jun 3, 2016 15:33:03 GMT -5 sparkythelawyer said:

Start looking, but go ask if you can go buy your president lunch. Get in his ear. Point out where things were and where things are and where things are going.

I actually meet with him weekly at this point. He has heard all of this. At this point, the thing that I have going for me is that I am one of the few senior team members that he will listen to. I am also one of the few that never reported to his predecessor - we only had a month of overlap and by then old pres had transitioned leadership to an interim pres. He was also handed a bunch of issues by the old pres. I am just not sure how easily swayed by the board he will be. That's the unknown at this point.

To the poster who asked if I could move, the answer is no. I co-parent my older son with my ex, but I have primary custody. Per our court order, I have to get his permission to move more than 30 miles because it would uproot our son. Luckily there are a lot of schools and non-profits in my metro area and I have a lot of contacts who know I do good work. I'd be able to find something good, even if it isn't at this high a level.

[LoveTrains]

I am in your business and I would look around. It's pretty standard for a new president to bring on board a new vp for advancement. Unfortunately you are an easy target. It sucks that there are some board members not on your side - but as long as they are pushing for your removal that will have sway at the presidential level.

[formerlyak]

Jun 4, 2016 6:50:42 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

I am in your business and I would look around. It's pretty standard for a new president to bring on board a new vp for advancement. Unfortunately you are an easy target. It sucks that there are some board members not on your side - but as long as they are pushing for your removal that will have sway at the presidential level.

I agree with this 100%. The thing I have going for me in this case is that new Pres definitely plays favorites and it became apparent quickly that I was on that list. He tells me more than he should. His background is in enrollment, and we are a tuition dependent school, so since our enrollment numbers are down he took aim at that department already ousting the former head and bringing in his buddy as "interim".

Small update, the board member who threw me under the bus magically found his giving form Friday, emailed me to tell me he found it and was mailing it in, and asking me to please call him when I got it. I said "we still haven't found an opportunity to meet in person. Why don't I call you when we have the gift and set an appointment for me to hand deliver the receipt and chat." He accepted. So that's a step in the right direction.

[dr.girlfriend]

Sounds like you're handling it the best you can, but I would start working your connections and putting out feelers for new positions. I don't know much about development specifically but I'm thinking that most higher ed places would want a transition done by the time the new school year starts, so summer might be prime time for recruiting? Even if the current guy loves you, he may still replace you just to appease the board, illogical though they are being. Are they fully aware of the falsified data? Do you have real numbers for prior years you can use to demonstrate your increased efficacy?

[formerlyak]

Jun 4, 2016 18:19:40 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Sounds like you're handling it the best you can, but I would start working your connections and putting out feelers for new positions. I don't know much about development specifically but I'm thinking that most higher ed places would want a transition done by the time the new school year starts, so summer might be prime time for recruiting? Even if the current guy loves you, he may still replace you just to appease the board, illogical though they are being. Are they fully aware of the falsified data? Do you have real numbers for prior years you can use to demonstrate your increased efficacy?

They are now aware of the falsified numbers in my department. The old president never let them interact with the head of development, so they didn't know until about 9 months ago when I started pulling reports of real numbers and shared it.

There are two that are critical of me. The rest of the board is actually very supportive of me. The sucky part is one of the guys who is critical is the "alpha male" of the group. Big bark. I've been told his bark is bigger than his bite, but I definitely want to be prepared in case that turns out to not be the case.

I think the real issue is these two individuals work in finance and head the board finance committee and they let some pretty poorly planned budgets pass in previous years. They also approved some vendor contracts that were not in the best interest of the school. They are now embarrassed and are trying to deflect the blame.

The resume is cleaned up and has been sent out. I have several recruiters who contact me regularly so I will contact them Monday. I have a stellar track record and amazing references, so if I'm let go, I should be ok.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

[LoveTrains]

Do you read CASE currents? There was an article in the last issue about how to address it with the board when you discover falsified numbers or misreporting from your predecessor. I think sometimes it happens because ppl are stupid - and not because they are purposefully misreporting - but it can be tough when you come in and have to change board expectations.

I'm in my first year at a new school and sweating until we hit June 30 and my goal (hopefully).

I firmly believe in a data driven program. We have to adapt or become irrelevant. Good luck.

[formerlyak]

LoveTrains I didn't read the article because our old president felt CASE was a waste of money. I did get the new President to put it into the budget for the coming year. July 1 I'll look for it in the archives.

Good luck making your goal!

I actually have a large ask pending from a repeat institutional donor. I should know this coming week. If we get funded at even 50% of ask, we will hit the crazy goal based in the falsely inflated numbers. Fingers crossed for us both!

[LoveTrains]

formerlyak, feel free to PM me your email and I would be happy to send you a .pdf of the article. or just scope it out in July once you have access. they keep all the old issues archived under publications.

[formerlyak]

LoveTrains - I found out yesterday that large pending grant came in at higher than I expected (in between the ask amount and the amount I thought we might get). So we made goal!

I hope you reach your goal soon!

[LoveTrains]

Yay congrats!!! We got a nice fat check today and we are 6% ahead of last year so I feel ok. Still a ways to go to June 30 though.