Princeton University Names Vice President for Advancement

Kevin HeaneyPrinceton University has named its first vice president for advancement. Kevin Heaney, acting vice president for development, has been appointed to the new post, effective immediately.

Heaney joined Princeton in 2015 after more than 20 years in fundraising leadership at other universities. He will oversee the school’s office of development and the office of alumni affairs, managing a staff of more than 180 people.

“I am delighted that Kevin Heaney has agreed to serve as Princeton University’s first vice president for advancement,” President Christopher Eisgruber said. “During his time at Princeton, Kevin has shown an ability to combine a deep appreciation for this University’s distinctive alumni culture with insights drawn from his experiences on other campuses. His professionalism, strategic insight, managerial skills and energetic commitment to Princeton, to its alumni, and to achieving the University’s mission distinguished him from other strong candidates in an international search. I look forward to his leadership as we develop a distinctive advancement model at Princeton, and to working closely with him in the years ahead.”

Heaney will play a key role in designing the next university campaign to raise funds for priorities named in the strategic planning framework that the school’s trustees adopted earlier this year. Princeton’s last campaign — Aspire — was completed in 2012 and raised more than $1.75 billion.

Heaney will serve as a member of the president’s cabinet, and he will work with Eisgruber to maintain positive relationships with key University donors and stakeholders, as well as the alumni body, school officials said.

“I am very grateful to President Eisgruber for this opportunity and I look forward to working with my colleagues and Princeton’s remarkable alumni to help advance the mission of this great University,” Heaney said.

Since March of this year, Heaney has served as acting vice president for development. He came to Princeton in March 2015 as deputy vice president for development.

While at Princeton, Heaney has launched innovative approaches to stewardship and donor engagement, emphasizing staff collaboration, school officials said. This fiscal year, the development office, in partnership with campus colleagues and alumni volunteers, exceeded a fundraising target of $262 million.

Previously, Heaney worked at the Oregon State University Foundation for nearly a decade. He has also has held development positions at Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University.

Heaney earned a law degree from Boston College and has a master’s in higher education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Cincinnati.

6 Comments

  1. Oh good. Another wealthy white guy raising millions of dollars for the advancement of the sixth wealthiest university from the 10th wealthiest alumni. Who would have thought that non-profits could be so profitable?

    Will the next “Town and Gown” event be a symbolic sharing of wealth? Perhaps pinatas filled with cash?

    1. Really? Looks like they hired a person for all the right reasons – his superlative credentials and track record.

        1. I don’t see how you could possibly know this unless you are familiar with the man and the specs for the position. Your blanket condemnation – largely based on the fellow’s gender and race – make me think that you don’t know these things. Also, non-profits can be very profitable. Many are. They just can’t have shareholders to whom the profits are distributed.

          1. My comments have less to do with his gender and race than the perception of his gender and race by his ultimate clients, the students of Princeton University, who want all references to Woodrow Wilson removed.

            I find the scenario of the sixth wealthiest University in the world hiring a fundraiser rather hypocritical, as they are so broke they cannot fund fireworks for the town, only the alumni. I recognize they must, like President Trump, take every opportunity to reduce their tax bill, but their legal tactics around local taxpayer relief and public transportation indicate they have no good will towards the community.

            I am sure you would like to argue, I would not. I can accept we disagree, try it.

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