Auburn Advancement promotes Margaret Arnold to vice president for philanthropy

Margaret Arnold has been promoted to Auburn Advancement’s vice president for philanthropy, Rob Wellbaum, senior vice president for advancement, announced today.

Arnold, whose appointment was effective March 1, has served as associate vice president for philanthropy in Auburn Advancement since 2024. She provides strategic leadership to frontline fundraising teams across the university, cultivating meaningful partnerships and championing philanthropic causes.

“Margaret and her passion for donor-centered fundraising have been instrumental to our unprecedented success over the past few years,” Wellbaum said. “She leads with purpose, inspires teams and cultivates strong connections with the Auburn Family. She has helped to position Auburn Advancement very well for the future and as we plan for Auburn’s next comprehensive fundraising campaign, I believe the best is still yet to come.”

In her most recent role, Arnold provided executive leadership for Auburn’s principal and major gift fundraising strategies and initiatives. Through strategic and innovative tactics, training and metrics, she helped usher in two consecutive years of record-breaking fundraising in support of students, faculty, programs and facilities at Auburn.

“I am honored and truly grateful for the opportunity to serve fundraising teams and this university I love so deeply,” Arnold said. “The work we do matters and the impact of that work can be seen on campus every day. It’s a privilege to be part of making the Auburn experience possible for so many. I look forward to the years ahead when we will see even more lives changed by the generosity of the Auburn Family.”

Arnold joined Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering in 2012 as a development officer, later serving in various roles of increasing responsibility, including assistant director of development, director of development and ultimately, senior director of development. During her tenure, her team increased its fundraising to more than $30 million annually. Prior to working at Auburn, she served as director of annual giving at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, and later as director of parent giving and major gifts at Belmont University in Nashville. 

Arnold earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from Michigan State University, where she began her development career as an annual fund student caller.