Scott Sheldon appointed interim vice president of institutional advancement

As San Francisco Theological Seminary prepares to welcome its 11^th president next month, Interim Vice President of Institutional Advancement R. Scott Sheldon has hit the ground running since coming on board in May. Sheldon brings a wealth of management, fund-raising and nonprofit experience to SFTS, positioning the Seminary for a smooth transition into new leadership.

Sheldon, who earned a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, returned to his alma mater from 1997-2005, serving as program director for the Center of Continuing Education and then working as director of development for four years. Among his many accomplishments in this role, he authored A Tradition of Generosity: Two Hundred Years of Major Gift and Capital Campaign Support at Princeton Theological Seminary.

“San Francisco Theological Seminary is a special place – a place in which I already feel at home,” said Sheldon, an ordained Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister. “This is a critical and creative time in the life of this historic institution. There is a sense of excitement with the recent selection of President-elect Jim McDonald, who will lead SFTS in embarking on the next chapter of its history.”

Before accepting his new post at SFTS, Sheldon served as director of gifts and grants at D&R Greenway Land Trust in Princeton, N.J., an accomplished nonprofit that has protected over 15,000 acres valued at more than $330 million. He developed a comprehensive fund-raising program involving annual, capital and planned gifts, managed an extensive grants program, and led the initial phase of a $20 million campaign to support the organization’s land preservation and stewardship mission.

Sheldon’s ties to the PC(USA) and theological education run deep. His ancestors settled in southern New Jersey in the 1680s and were instrumental in founding several churches. Sheldon grew up in a new church development of the PC(USA) in which his father was the first installed pastor. Following an earlier career in architecture, Sheldon was associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Northport, N.Y., in the 1980s. After nearly a decade at Princeton, Sheldon was chief development officer at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut.

He served the Association of Theological Schools from 2002-07, providing leadership as chair of its Development and Institutional Advancement Program. He was also a key member of the PC(USA) General Assembly Mission Development Resources Committee from 1995-98 and served as its chair. Sheldon currently serves on the board of Partners for Sacred Places, with offices in Philadelphia, Chicago and Fort Worth, in helping congregations and their communities sustain and actively use older and historic sacred places.

In addition to his duties as chief advancement officer at SFTS, Sheldon has the insights and experiences to forge deeper relationships with PC(USA) presbyteries. He was executive presbyter and stated clerk of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse (1993-97) and associate executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Long Island (1989-93) in New York.

Sheldon is seeking to raise at least $50,000 more in gifts to the SFTS 2010-2011 Annual Fund by June 30.

“It is important for all alumni, friends, faculty and staff, trustees and partner congregations to support SFTS at this time to ensure a smooth transition for the new president and to provide the Seminary with the financial tools to help effect emerging priorities,” Sheldon said. “SFTS has made some difficult decisions in recent years to ensure financial stability and is moving forward in faith to fulfill its treasured tradition in service to the church and the world.”

The Seminary community invites your support of the 2010-2011 Annual Fund in helping to educate and equip students for various forms of service and leadership.

Contact R. Scott Sheldon at 415-451-2822 or ssheldon@sfts.edu to learn more about SFTS and ways to support its mission.