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Director of Athletic Advancement
Sports Industry Company
Fairfield, CT, United States
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The Director of Athletic Advancement manages and executes fundraising projects for the Sacred Heart University Athletics. He/she is responsible for strategic analysis and recommendations for the Executive Director for Alumni Engagement based on data-driven results to improve donors and dollars year-over-year. The Director is tasked with developing, implementing, and leading fundraising and philanthropic education efforts focused on increasing the number of Athletics Alumni/Parents/Friends at leadership-level gifts. Leadership level gifts are defined as donations at the $5,000 - $50,000 level. The incumbent works closely with the University Advancement Senior Leadership; he/she carries a portfolio of 100+ leadership level Athletics Alumni/Parents/Friends prospects.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
• The Director is an important member of the SHU team, serving as the program expert for solicitation, stewardship, and cultivation strategies for Athletics Parents/Alumni/Friends annual fundraising program.
• Director will work with the Athletic Department leaders and advancement teams to design, develop, and implement strategic stewardship events for leadership level Athletics donors.
• He/she oversees and manages high-level stewardship programming for all Athletics leadership donors within SHU. The incumbent will be tasked with continuing to build and grow the Pioneer Club to further cultivate renewed support, loyalty and donor retention for SHU Athletics.
• Must continue to show growth on the personal goal of $350,000 yearly.
• Manage a portfolio of 100+ major gift ($5,000+) prospective donors, with independent responsibility to develop and execute strategies leading to successful solicitation.
• Implement and coordinate a comprehensive fundraising program established for identifying, cultivating and soliciting annual and major donors in cooperation with the objectives and strategies of SHU and the University Advancement Office.
• Responsible for metric driven activity goals to include face-to-face visits.
• Supervise and mentor the Pioneer Fund Coordinator while growing the annual fund for athletics.
• Work closely with the Executive Director of Athletics (Bobby Valentine) in building the annual fund program and the annual golf outing in support of athletics.
• Work closely with the Athletic External Affairs and University Advancement to identify and prioritize funding opportunities within SHU Athletics in naming opportunities.
• Foster an environment for successful fundraising at SHU by providing on-going information for athletic leadership and administration regarding fundraising initiatives and by preparing coaches and administrators to participate effectively in cultivation and solicitation activities.
• Prepare principal and major gift proposals, solicitation letters, and other cultivation and presentation materials for significant donors.
• Provide guidance to coaches in support of sport fundraising initiatives.
• Work in tandem with annual fund office to promote and expand the Pioneer Fund fundraising initiatives.
• Responsible for adhering to policies and procedures governing the Department of Athletics and SHU and any applicable rules and regulations associated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Northeast Conference (NEC), Atlantic Hockey (AH) or any other conference or organization with which the University is or becomes associated with which affects SHU athletics.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.
• Minimum of Bachelors degree, Master’s degree preferred.
• Five years of successful fundraising experience, with direct experience in identifying, cultivating and soliciting donors at higher gift levels is required.
• Experience in collegiate athletics, non-profit fundraising and/or higher education environment is preferred.
• Team leadership
• Analytical thinking, complex problem solving and planning
• Ability to work in fast-paced environment
• Comfortable with change and associated ambiguity.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both oral and written.
About Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University is the second largest independent Catholic university in New England, offering more than 50 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its main campus in Fairfield, Connecticut and at its satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland. More than 6,400 students arrend the University's five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Health Professions, University College, the AACSB-accredited John F. (Jack) Welch College of Business and the NCATE-accredited Isabelle Farrington College of Education.