Associate Director of Development – Sun Devil Athletics

The ASU Foundation (ASUF) fosters partnerships between ASU and like-minded individuals, corporations and foundations who believe in ASU’s mission and provide resources for ASU to manifest its charter into meaningful impact.   

The principal activity of the Associate Director of Development is to be externally focused, with responsibility for engaging a portfolio of individuals, corporations, and foundations that have a potential affinity with ASU and more specifically Sun Devil Athletics. The Associate Director’s effectiveness will be evaluated on the ability to fulfill fundraising efforts to propel Sun Devil Athletics forward.

What you’ll do: 

• Develops and executes strategic fundraising and engagement efforts on behalf of the Sun Devil Club by designing, implementing, evaluating, and refining development activities to drive donor retention, reactivation, acquisition, and pipeline growth

• Actively engages donors, alumni, faculty, staff, and students to proactively build and manage a personal major gift/prospect portfolio with a focus on securing gifts at or above the $50,000 level with a target fundraising goal of 1-3 million.

• Collaborates with development team, coaching staff and academic leaders to assist and direct the implementation and coordination of special fundraising and engagement opportunities by identifying, cultivating, and soliciting annual, major, and planned gifts in cooperation with the objectives and strategies of ASUF and the University Development Office

• Develops and submits written proposals, budgets, and other collateral materials as needed for securing significant ($50,000+) philanthropic investments

• Depending on area(s) of assignment, collaborates with and coordinates the efforts of various ASU offices and functions to advance prospect and donor strategies (i.e., alumni engagement, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, development, donor relations, estate and gift planning, financial services, research and prospect management)

• Proactively manages a personal major gift/prospect portfolio ($50,000+), prospects, develops and executes strategic prospect strategies leading to solicitation and investment based on the opportunities of each special assignment

• Uses the ASUF prospect management and tracking system (i.e., Salesforce) to record and coordinate contacts and proposals

• Assumes responsibility for core fundraising metrics including more than 120 face-to-face visits with prospects, identification of new prospects, growth in cumulative giving from the prospect portfolio, more than 20 major gift proposals submitted, dollars raised

• Ensures proper stewardship and recognition of donors in portfolio

• Participates, as a member of the ASUF development team and serve as a resource to development colleagues regarding fundraising opportunities

• Sustains strong working relationships with coaches, athletic administrative staff, and colleagues across units

• Sets direction for a project or sub-team of colleagues; provides feedback and development of staff

• Serve as mentor, teacher and role-model to junior team members, even in the absence of a direct-reporting relationship

What you'll need:  

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with athletic leadership, coaches, prospects, donors, and/or volunteers in a wide range of roles

• Ability to conduct research, gather data, analyze information, and prepare effective, accurate, and timely reports and other documents to support development objectives

• Database management skills

• Ability to exercise good judgment, to demonstrate an understanding of ethics related to development activities, and to use discretion in interactions with donors, prospects, volunteers, and others

• Ability to foster effective working relationships within a team environment

• Community relations skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community

• Knowledge of fundraising techniques including proposal development, prospect identification, program planning, fund solicitation, database management, donor tracking, and social networking and marketing tools 

• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present effectively to small and large groups

• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to Foundation and University business and confidential prospect information

• Ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures and backgrounds

• Ability to represent the institution well and possess an advocate’s belief in the vision of ASU as the New American University

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and comfortable working in donor/prospect computer database systems

• Compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations is required

Relevant qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or currently enrolled in bachelor's degree program

• Four (4) to six (6) years of years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience

• Demonstrated ability in securing major grants and gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other private funding sources

• Demonstrated organizational skills and experience in managing events and other complex activities in support of development objectives

Preferred education and experience:

• Advanced degree

• Four (4) to six (6) years of years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience preferably in higher education or college athletics for applicable roles

• Experience working in collegiate athletics

• Experience working in Salesforce and Workday

At ASU Enterprise Partners: