Skip to Content Request Info

New OUAZ Vice President for Advancement

07/01/2020

Ottawa University Arizona is pleased to announce the hiring of Todd Simpson as OUAZ's vice president for advancement. Simpson has worked in non-profit management and fundraising for more than 30 years.

After a short assignment with Missouri Western State University as Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of the MWSU Foundation, where he was instrumental in securing millions in foundation funding to shore-up the institution, in 2020 Simpson joined Ottawa University (OUAZ) as Vice President for Advancement at the Surprise, Arizona, campus.  In additional to serving as part of the leadership team at OUAZ, Todd oversees alumni relations, community development, corporate relations and all fund development activities.

Prior, Simpson served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Peru State College Foundation (2010 to 2019) where he ushered in a new era of foundation support and alumni engagement.  Annual giving doubled under Simpson’s leadership and identified estate gifts topped $20 million.  In addition, Simpson guided the Foundation through three capital campaigns to help fund the Oak Bowl Football Stadium renovation, the new campus entrance project and the renovation of the college’s performing arts center.

Earlier in his career, Simpson worked as a consultant and as the Director of Development for the Omaha Home for Boys (1995 to 2010).  At OHB he was responsible for the entire development effort for the organization, including major gifts, planned gifts, capital campaign fund raising, mailing 5 million direct response solicitations each year and the management of a database of more than 1 million records.  In the early 1990s, Simpson worked for the Boston-based direct response firm Amergent, overseeing the direct marketing efforts of more than 30 clients ranging from educational foundations to religious organizations.

Simpson holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential (CFRE), a certificate of completion from the National Planned Giving Institute, a certificate in fundraising management from the University of Nebraska - Omaha, a certificate in grant writing from The Grantsmanship Center, and a certificate in non-profit leadership and management from the University of Wisconsin.  He is a member and past president of both the Association of Fundraising Professionals - Nebraska Chapter and the Charitable Gift Planners of Nebraska.

Simpson is a regular speaker on fundraising and organizational leadership topics and has presented for organizations such as the University of Nebraska - Omaha, the Planned Giving Council of Northeast Florida, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the National Fellowship of Child Care Executives, the Omaha Postal Customer Council, the Lincoln Postal Customer Council, the Scottish Rite Leadership Institute and the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, among others.  For nine years Simpson taught a course on direct marketing and database management as part of the University of Nebraska - Omaha's Certificate in Fund Raising Management program.

Simpson has engaged in extensive volunteer work on leadership development with college students and has served as a volunteer with both the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA. 

Simpson holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Central Missouri, a Graduate Certificate of Achievement in Organizational Development from Peru State College and a Master of Science in Organizational Management (MSOM) from Peru State College.

###

About Ottawa University

Founded in 1865, Ottawa University prepares professional and liberal arts graduates for lifetimes of personal significance, vocational fulfillment and service to God and humanity as a Christ-inspired community of grace and open inquiry. Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution, serving more than 4,500 students through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kan., and Surprise, Ariz., and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kan.; Surprise, Ariz.; Brookfield, Wis.; and online. Visit Ottawa.edu for more information.

Back to top
/About/Public-and-Media-Relations/University-News/2020/Todd-Simpson-Hire