Director of Athletic Development

Job Description

Job Description

FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

The Director of Athletic Development reports to the Vice President for Advancement and serves as the fundraising and alumni engagement officer for Athletics, with a primary emphasis on the Men's DI Hockey program and secondary support across all athletic teams. The position secures philanthropic support at all giving levels and builds a comprehensive hockey alumni engagement program that connects former student-athletes to the program's history, current initiatives, and future direction. The role divides its focus between direct fundraising (70%) and strategic alumni engagement (30%), aligning efforts with overall fundraising strategy, donor management, and data management standards. The position works in collaboration with Athletic Administration to ensure that donor strategy, messaging, and alumni engagement activity align with Athletic priorities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Manage an active portfolio of 100–150 prospects, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing major and principal gifts to meet annual and campaign fundraising goals in support of athletics, with a focus on the Men's DI Hockey program. Focuses on all gift levels with particular emphasis on major gifts of $5,000 and above, 

2. Guide each prospective donor through a deliberate progression of relationship-building, education, and solicitation, tailoring the approach and timing to the individual and moving each toward a gift in a disciplined, well-documented manner.

3. Secure gifts in support of specific athletic and hockey priorities, including facilities projects, scholarships, program operations, and campaign initiatives, in coordination with Athletic Administration.

4. Meet or exceed an established annual fundraising goal, and provide regular reports on prospect status and progress to the Vice President for Advancement.

5. Identify, qualify, and cultivate new major gift prospects within the hockey alumni and broader athletics donor base, working to expand the overall pool of prospective donors.

6. Develop strategic, personalized cultivation and stewardship plans for individual donors, and record all donor interactions, proposal stages, and portfolio activity in the Ellucian Banner database.

7. Partner with Athletic Administration and the Advancement team to create compelling donor-facing proposals, case statements, and budget summaries for specific fundraising priorities.

8. Coordinate with Advancement colleagues on planned giving and grant opportunities where they intersect with athletics prospects, referring and partnering as appropriate.

9. Plan and execute donor engagement events, cultivation and solicitation visits, and support volunteer leadership groups or sport-specific boards, in coordination with Athletic Administration.

10. Balance the solicitation of annual, often unrestricted gifts with the cultivation of larger gifts tied to specific strategic priorities, maintaining an appropriate pace of new donor acquisition alongside progress toward the overall fundraising goal.

11. Develop and execute a comprehensive hockey alumni engagement strategy designed to strengthen lifelong connections between former student-athletes and the Laker Hockey program.

12. Serve as the primary liaison to Laker Hockey alumni, maintaining regular communication through newsletters, digital content, personal outreach, milestone recognition, and alumni-focused initiatives including the Ring of Honor.

13. Coordinate and host hockey alumni engagement activities, including home game hospitality, alumni weekends, reunions, networking events, championship anniversary celebrations, and special recognition programs.

14. Work with Athletic Communications to collect, preserve, and share Laker Hockey history through feature stories, alumni spotlights, historical content, oral histories, and program archives.

15. Build and maintain a comprehensive hockey alumni database, ensuring accurate records of career achievements, contact information, family milestones, and engagement history to support personalized outreach.

16. Facilitate mentorship and networking opportunities between alumni and current student-athletes, and coordinate with Athletic Administration on alumni involvement in recruiting visits, program traditions, and student-athlete development programming.

17. Acquire, maintain, and apply essential knowledge, skills, and abilities related to subject matter mastery of the job.

18. Other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies to perform the essential functions of this position.

Customer Service: Listen and respond effectively to donor and alumni inquiries, resolve concerns to their satisfaction, and follow up consistently.

Problem Solving: Identify and resolve challenges in donor cultivation and alumni engagement in a timely manner, gathering and analyzing information skillfully.

Interpersonal Skills: Maintain confidentiality, remain open to new ideas, and build authentic relationships across the hockey alumni community and donor base.

Oral Communication: Speak clearly and persuasively in a range of settings, and present philanthropic asks and program updates with confidence.

Written Communication: Produce polished donor communications, proposals, and alumni content, and interpret and present data effectively.

Planning and Organizing: Prioritize and plan cultivation, solicitation, and alumni engagement activity, and develop realistic action plans against fundraising goals.

Quality Control: Maintain accuracy and thoroughness in donor records and portfolio management, and monitor own work to ensure data integrity.

Adaptability: Adjust to shifting donor priorities, event schedules, and program needs, including evenings, weekends, and travel.

Dependability: Maintain consistent attendance and availability for games and donor events, and respond to direction from Athletic Administration.

Innovation/Initiative: Identify new alumni engagement and fundraising opportunities, and act on emerging priorities while maintaining focus on established goals.