Inside Higher Ed
Associate Athletics Director for Development and Major Gifts
Inside Higher Ed, Fairfax, Virginia, United States, 22032
Overview
The Associate Athletics Director for Development and Major Gifts serves as the senior development officer for Intercollegiate Athletics and is responsible for strategic oversight, planning, and execution of all fundraising initiatives aimed at supporting athletics priorities. Reporting to the Sr. Deputy Athletics Director for Revenue Generation and Fundraising and working closely with the Associate Vice President for Advancement, this position directs major and principal gifts efforts, annual giving, capital campaigns, and donor engagement strategies. The role also provides direct supervision to development staff and collaborates with university advancement partners to maximize philanthropic outcomes. This role requires evening and weekend work, and travels regionally or nationally as needed to cultivate donor relationships. Responsibilities
Major and Principal Gift Fundraising
Manages a personal portfolio of 75100 prospects, focusing on individuals with the capacity to make gifts of $25,000 or more and solicit major and principal contributions in alignment with the athletics case for support, targeting priorities including capital projects, programmatic support, current-use funds, endowments, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiatives. Develops and executes tailored cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for major donors and prospective donors. Partners with university advancement colleagues and athletics leadership to identify, align, and elevate philanthropic opportunities that match donor interests with departmental priorities. Collaborates with central advancement on principal gift strategies to ensure alignment with broader institutional and campaign priorities. Develops and implements new donor recognition societies and strengthens existing ones, including the Green Coat Society and Legacy Giving Society, to deepen engagement and encourage long-term philanthropic support. Oversight of Athletics Annual Giving Program
Provides strategic direction and oversight for the athletics annual giving program, including the Patriot Club, team-specific fundraising, and donor benefits. Leads planning and execution of campaigns to achieve annual fund revenue goals of $1.5$3 million. Supports creative donor engagement efforts and ensures effective stewardship and recognition programs. Collaborates with athletics department leadership to integrate annual fundraising initiatives into broader revenue-generating strategies, including marketing, ticketing, and NIL programs. Strategic Leadership and Campaign Planning
Serves as a member of the athletics departments senior leadership team, offering strategic input on fundraising integration into departmental strategic priorities and goals. Coordinates with university advancement to lead or support comprehensive campaign planning and implementation of a case for support for the athletics department. Utilizes data and analytics to inform strategy, measure success, and manage pipeline development. Staff Supervision and Development
Supervises and mentors development staff, including gift officers, annual fund personnel, and administrative staff. Sets clear performance expectations, conducts evaluations, provides coaching, and fosters professional growth. Aligns team structure and priorities with overall advancement strategy and department needs. External Engagement and Donor Relations
Represents the athletics department at on- and off-campus events, actively cultivating relationships with alumni, donors, and other key stakeholders. Collaborates with coaches, athletics staff, and university leadership to design and execute strategic engagement opportunities that strengthen donor affinity and support. Ensures timely and thorough follow-up with prospects and donors, including the preparation of contact reports, solicitation proposals, and stewardship communications. Leads and oversees the activities of the Patriot Club Advisory Board (PCAB) to enhance constituent engagement and generate philanthropic support for athletics initiatives. Other Duties
Performs other related duties as assigned by the appropriate vice presidents and director, contributing to overall strategic leadership and participation in university-wide initiatives. Required Qualifications
Masters degree in a related field such as fundraising, sales, business, communications, or sport management. Substantial progressive experience in major gift fundraising and/or business development/sales, preferably within higher education, intercollegiate athletics, or a complex nonprofit organization (typically five or more years). Demonstrated success managing a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, including securing gifts of $25,000 or more. Experience leading annual fund programs, with responsibility for meeting revenue goals and managing donor benefits and engagement initiatives. Demonstrated knowledge of basic business terminology, financial matters, and the ethical, legal, and tax-related issues regarding the solicitation, transfer, and management of charitable gifts. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proposal development and donor correspondence. Strong leadership and personnel management skills, including experience supervising and mentoring staff, setting expectations, and conducting performance evaluations. Proven ability to develop and execute donor strategies, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Ability to collaborate effectively with senior leadership, coaches, faculty, and advancement colleagues in a team-oriented, cross-functional environment. Ability to work independently and take initiative, manage competing priorities, coordinate diverse and multiple projects, and meet tight deadlines. High level of professionalism, discretion, and integrity in managing sensitive donor information and relationships. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using donor management/CRM systems for contact reporting and prospect tracking. Preferred Qualifications
Experience with comprehensive campaign planning and execution, including the creation of cases for support and gift society management. Prior experience working with athletics fundraising advisory boards or donor councils. Demonstrated success in building or expanding giving societies, alumni engagement programs, or donor stewardship initiatives. Knowledge of intercollegiate athletics operations and culture, including NCAA compliance and programmatic priorities. Familiarity with NIL landscape and its integration into donor and revenue strategies. Familiarity with university advancement structures and systems, particularly in a large public research institution. Instructions To Applicants
For full consideration, applicants must apply for Associate Athletics Director for Development and Major Gifts at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Resume for review. Job Details
Posting Open Date: August 26, 2025 Open Until Filled: Yes Location: Fairfax, VA Department: Intercollegiate Athletics Classification: Administrative Faculty Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty Job Type: Full-Time Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk) Workplace Type: On Site Required Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience Restricted: Yes Criminal Background Check: Yes
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The Associate Athletics Director for Development and Major Gifts serves as the senior development officer for Intercollegiate Athletics and is responsible for strategic oversight, planning, and execution of all fundraising initiatives aimed at supporting athletics priorities. Reporting to the Sr. Deputy Athletics Director for Revenue Generation and Fundraising and working closely with the Associate Vice President for Advancement, this position directs major and principal gifts efforts, annual giving, capital campaigns, and donor engagement strategies. The role also provides direct supervision to development staff and collaborates with university advancement partners to maximize philanthropic outcomes. This role requires evening and weekend work, and travels regionally or nationally as needed to cultivate donor relationships. Responsibilities
Major and Principal Gift Fundraising
Manages a personal portfolio of 75100 prospects, focusing on individuals with the capacity to make gifts of $25,000 or more and solicit major and principal contributions in alignment with the athletics case for support, targeting priorities including capital projects, programmatic support, current-use funds, endowments, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiatives. Develops and executes tailored cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for major donors and prospective donors. Partners with university advancement colleagues and athletics leadership to identify, align, and elevate philanthropic opportunities that match donor interests with departmental priorities. Collaborates with central advancement on principal gift strategies to ensure alignment with broader institutional and campaign priorities. Develops and implements new donor recognition societies and strengthens existing ones, including the Green Coat Society and Legacy Giving Society, to deepen engagement and encourage long-term philanthropic support. Oversight of Athletics Annual Giving Program
Provides strategic direction and oversight for the athletics annual giving program, including the Patriot Club, team-specific fundraising, and donor benefits. Leads planning and execution of campaigns to achieve annual fund revenue goals of $1.5$3 million. Supports creative donor engagement efforts and ensures effective stewardship and recognition programs. Collaborates with athletics department leadership to integrate annual fundraising initiatives into broader revenue-generating strategies, including marketing, ticketing, and NIL programs. Strategic Leadership and Campaign Planning
Serves as a member of the athletics departments senior leadership team, offering strategic input on fundraising integration into departmental strategic priorities and goals. Coordinates with university advancement to lead or support comprehensive campaign planning and implementation of a case for support for the athletics department. Utilizes data and analytics to inform strategy, measure success, and manage pipeline development. Staff Supervision and Development
Supervises and mentors development staff, including gift officers, annual fund personnel, and administrative staff. Sets clear performance expectations, conducts evaluations, provides coaching, and fosters professional growth. Aligns team structure and priorities with overall advancement strategy and department needs. External Engagement and Donor Relations
Represents the athletics department at on- and off-campus events, actively cultivating relationships with alumni, donors, and other key stakeholders. Collaborates with coaches, athletics staff, and university leadership to design and execute strategic engagement opportunities that strengthen donor affinity and support. Ensures timely and thorough follow-up with prospects and donors, including the preparation of contact reports, solicitation proposals, and stewardship communications. Leads and oversees the activities of the Patriot Club Advisory Board (PCAB) to enhance constituent engagement and generate philanthropic support for athletics initiatives. Other Duties
Performs other related duties as assigned by the appropriate vice presidents and director, contributing to overall strategic leadership and participation in university-wide initiatives. Required Qualifications
Masters degree in a related field such as fundraising, sales, business, communications, or sport management. Substantial progressive experience in major gift fundraising and/or business development/sales, preferably within higher education, intercollegiate athletics, or a complex nonprofit organization (typically five or more years). Demonstrated success managing a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, including securing gifts of $25,000 or more. Experience leading annual fund programs, with responsibility for meeting revenue goals and managing donor benefits and engagement initiatives. Demonstrated knowledge of basic business terminology, financial matters, and the ethical, legal, and tax-related issues regarding the solicitation, transfer, and management of charitable gifts. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proposal development and donor correspondence. Strong leadership and personnel management skills, including experience supervising and mentoring staff, setting expectations, and conducting performance evaluations. Proven ability to develop and execute donor strategies, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Ability to collaborate effectively with senior leadership, coaches, faculty, and advancement colleagues in a team-oriented, cross-functional environment. Ability to work independently and take initiative, manage competing priorities, coordinate diverse and multiple projects, and meet tight deadlines. High level of professionalism, discretion, and integrity in managing sensitive donor information and relationships. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using donor management/CRM systems for contact reporting and prospect tracking. Preferred Qualifications
Experience with comprehensive campaign planning and execution, including the creation of cases for support and gift society management. Prior experience working with athletics fundraising advisory boards or donor councils. Demonstrated success in building or expanding giving societies, alumni engagement programs, or donor stewardship initiatives. Knowledge of intercollegiate athletics operations and culture, including NCAA compliance and programmatic priorities. Familiarity with NIL landscape and its integration into donor and revenue strategies. Familiarity with university advancement structures and systems, particularly in a large public research institution. Instructions To Applicants
For full consideration, applicants must apply for Associate Athletics Director for Development and Major Gifts at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Resume for review. Job Details
Posting Open Date: August 26, 2025 Open Until Filled: Yes Location: Fairfax, VA Department: Intercollegiate Athletics Classification: Administrative Faculty Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty Job Type: Full-Time Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk) Workplace Type: On Site Required Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience Restricted: Yes Criminal Background Check: Yes
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