Cotter Schools | Winona, MN
Salary Range: $100,000 +/-
For over 110 years, Cotter Schools has provided students from Winona and across the globe, with a challenging, faith-based, liberal arts education grounded in Catholic faith and values. Cotter Schools is named after the first bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Winona, Minnesota, Bishop Joseph Bernard Cotter. In 1913, eleven young men comprised the first graduating class of students at Cotter.
Today, Cotter Schools serves over 1000 students ages 16 months through grade 12 across four campuses located in Winona, MN. The main campus is located on the scenic former campus of the College of St. Teresa in the city of Winona, which is in the Mississippi River valley in southeastern Minnesota. This beautiful, 23-acre campus includes a unique combination of renovated, historic university buildings blended with recently constructed or renovated state-of-the-art academic, athletic, and residential facilities.
With the 2021-2022 school year, Cotter begins its 111th year. The high school opened its doors on September 5, 1911 as a Diocesan boys' school directed by the Lasallian Christian Brothers. In 1952, the Brothers handed the operation of the school over to the diocese, and Cotter became co-educational. In 1989, Cotter High School’s governance structure was separated from the Diocese of Winona and reorganized as a private, independent, Catholic, co-educational high school. In 1998, Cotter Junior High School was established and grades 7 and 8 became part of Cotter Schools. Main Square Montessori opened its doors in fall 2019. In Summer 2020, grades 5 and 6 were welcomed to the Cotter family and campus. Beginning July 1, 2021, Cotter Schools encompasses all levels of Catholic education in Winona from pre-school through grade 12 and is home to students from the city of Winona, the surrounding region, and boarding students from several countries around the world.
The Vice President of Advancement will be responsible for building and leading the advancement team and for the development and strategic implementation of all aspects of fundraising including, but not limited to, capital campaigns, annual fund, alumni and community affairs, and communications. Reporting to the President, the Vice President of Advancement is a key member of the President’s leadership team and ensures best practices are in place that effectively and efficiently advance the mission, values, and strategic goals of the school through the collaborative efforts of the department.
The Vice President of Advancement will play a critical role in stewarding the extraordinary philanthropic support the school has been blessed to receive in recent years. Over the past few decades, Cotter Schools has benefitted from the generous support of a group of dedicated alumni families, resulting in over $150 million to expand and enhance the school’s mission. This position offers a very unique opportunity to serve in a beautiful Catholic community that has experienced unparalleled financial support.
With the support of the President, the Vice President of Advancement will implement a multi-level Advancement plan that will include alumni, corporate and business, foundation, endowment, special event, and direct engagement efforts. The Vice President of Advancement is responsible for strengthening and diversifying Cotter Schools’ funding and will be further supported by the dedicated and gifted Board of Directors. Working with the President, the Vice President of Advancement will lead the team responsible for raising awareness, accessibility, and viability of Cotter Schools and the vital role the school plays in serving the ambitious students and families throughout the greater Winona region and beyond.
The school community is on a fast track to identify and secure its Vice President of Advancement. Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to connect with our search team today.
Application Procedure
To apply, please submit the following materials, confidentially and as separate PDF attachments in one email to Michael Furey at
mikefurey@partnersinmission.com. Please include Cotter Schools in the subject field.
- Letter of Interest that aligns your experiences and skill sets with the current needs of the school as you understand them.
- Current resume with all appropriate dates included.
- List of five references including names, phone numbers, and email addresses. No references will be contacted without your knowledge and approval.