Associate/Assistant Athletic Director for Major Gifts

About the position

Join our Winning Team: Associate/Assistant Athletic Director for Major Gifts at VCU Athletics! Are you ready to take your fundraising career to the next level and help drive the success of VCU Athletics? The Associate/Assistant Athletic Director for Major Gifts plays a crucial role in advancing our mission to win championships, provide a world-class student-athlete experience, and cultivate leaders who excel in every aspect of life. This is your chance to make a direct impact by securing major gifts that will power the future of VCU Athletics! In this exciting and dynamic role, you'll be responsible for driving major gifts, creating meaningful relationships with donors, and directly contributing to our goal of national and conference championships. You'll maintain a portfolio of 125-150 major gift and leadership donors, identify and engage new prospects, and develop and execute innovative fundraising strategies. Your work will support a broad range of initiatives-from annual support to capital campaigns-ensuring VCU Athletics thrives at every level.

Responsibilities

• Lead major gift fundraising efforts through personal appointments, calls, and coordinated mailings.
• Build and nurture relationships with 125-150 major donors, helping them fulfill their philanthropic goals.
• Create and execute customized fundraising and engagement plans for each donor to ensure successful long-term support.
• Work closely with coaches, staff, and administrators to align fundraising strategies with departmental needs.
• Coordinate individual sports fundraising efforts and oversee regional fundraising areas.
• Recruit, train, and manage volunteers and committees to elevate fundraising efforts across the board.
• Track key performance metrics to measure success and drive continuous improvement in our fundraising goals.

Requirements

• Must have an advanced degree or training and work experience at a level that equates to an advanced degree.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in fundraising, public relations, marketing, or a related field, or 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience in athletics development or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating leadership annual fund gifts (<$5,000).
• Working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving.

Nice-to-haves

• Deep appreciation for the mission and aspirations of VCU Athletics.
• Desire to play a meaningful role in the life of VCU and to share in the extended community.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, execute, and close personal solicitations, having a demonstrated track record of successful gift solicitations.
• Professional credibility is required to engage and leverage senior leadership, volunteer leadership, and other key stakeholders in building a successful campaign and organization.
• Management skills that are consistent with bringing out the best in staff and instilling pride and ownership in a team effort.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Personal attributes: Honesty, integrity, enthusiasm, team player, follow through and commitment, attention to detail, organization, and self-confidence.
• Personal commitment to the fundraising industry as evidenced through a stellar work ethic and high standards of best practice.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits
• Paid annual and holiday leave granted up front
• Generous tuition benefit
• Retirement planning and savings options
• Tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs
• Employee discounts
• Well-being resources
• Abundant opportunities for career development and advancement