Jason Diffenderfer
Vice President for University Advancement
Mr. Jason Diffenderfer was appointed vice president for university advancement at Baylor University in March 2024. In that capacity, he is responsible for creating a strategic vision for the next phase of Baylor’s Division of Advancement that will provide a foundation for a future philanthropic campaign expanding on the success of Give Light, Baylor’s $1.1 billion effort that has exceeded $1.45 billion to date. He also fosters partnerships across campus and among alumni, parents and friends of the University to identify, engage and cultivate current and future donors. Working closely with Baylor’s vice president of business and finance and chief financial officer, he assists in leveraging revenue streams that allow University leadership to make informed decisions in fulfillment of Baylor’s Christian mission.
Mr. Diffenderfer previously served as vice president for university advancement at the University at Buffalo — a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) and ranked No. 36 among public institutions by U.S. News & World Report — where he guided the institution in surpassing its $1 billion Boldly Buffalo campaign goal while also setting a fiscal year fundraising record with more than $123 million in commitments. In addition, he provided leadership for alumni activities, aligning the office’s goals with CASE Alumni Engagement Metrics to advance Buffalo’s comprehensive alumni engagement initiatives and to support industry benchmarking efforts.
Mr. Diffenderfer holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Gardner-Webb University. He and his wife, Karrie, have three daughters, Katie and twin sisters Abby and Emmy.