Director of Development - Sun Devil Athletics

The Director of Development is a senior fundraising professional who designs and implements innovative programs to identify prospective major and/or principal gift donors and executes plans to qualify, cultivate, steward and solicit donors to secure and increase significant philanthropic support for Sun Devil Athletics. The Director’s effectiveness will be evaluated on the ability to fulfill fundraising efforts to propel Sun Devil Athletics forward.

What you'll do:

• Creates and leads a coordinated program of fundraising and engagement activities designed to increase the number and level of annual, major and/or principal gift donors; sets direction and approach in partnership with ASU leader’s vision in assigned area(s) of responsibility 

• ​Manages a personal major gift donor/prospect portfolio with a primary focus on securing gifts at or above $100,000 level and a personal fundraising goal of at least $1M in accordance with performance metrics 

• ​Leads a comprehensive unit or central development department/program; develops and executes strategies to involve campus leaders, alumni, friends, and volunteers to identify and cultivate new individual, corporate, institutional and/or foundation prospects on behalf of assigned area(s) of responsibility 

• ​Guided by the direction and scope of a prospect’s interest, collaborates with various faculty, institute/center directors, and unit-based and foundation-based fundraisers to leverage the maximum philanthropic potential of a prospect  

• ​Guides the direction of written proposals, white papers, strategic plans, budgets, and other collateral materials as needed for securing significant ($100k+) philanthropic investments 

• ​High level of collaboration with both internal departments and broader University partners to identify common goals and develop, execute, and advance prospect and donor strategies and increase participation among high profile volunteers and donors (i.e., alumni engagement, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, development, donor relations, estate and gift planning, financial services, research, and prospect management, etc.) 

• ​Ensures the proper stewardship and recognition of donors in portfolio 

• ​Manages projects with moderate oversight; depending on area(s) of responsibility, may serve as a project manager for some complex, multilayered, university-wide proposals aimed at raising the higher gifts for a university campaign  

• ​Ensures compliance with prospect management guidelines for tracking and maintenance of contact and progress reporting 

• ​Within area(s) of responsibility, maintains up to date knowledge on key alumni and high-level donors, and/or oversees continuous research, development and up-to-date knowledge on prospects and works with other areas to coordinate contacts 

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

• ​Sustains and elevates working relationships with directors, coaches and operation staff

What you'll need:

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

• Complex problem-solving skills coupled with the ability to conduct research, gather data, analyze information, and prepare effective, accurate, and timely reports and other documents to support development objectives 

• Strong knowledge and understanding of database management 

• Ability to successfully lead, coach and guide a team to achieve desired result 

• Ability to inquire about and understand organizational interests and needs, and determine how to persuade or market to that organization with compelling benefits  

• 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 

• Ability to maintain compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations is required  

Relevant qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree  

• Five (5) to seven (7) years of years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience in higher education or college athletics

• Documented success in personally implementing sophisticated, multi-year cultivation strategies that use a relationship-building and moves management approach leading to successful gift closure 

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