Executive Director

About The Rams Club

The Educational Foundation (dba, The Rams Club) is a private foundation founded in 1938 with 501(c)(3) status. The Rams Club operates privately as an associated entity of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) in coordination with University Development efforts. The Rams Club is charged with raising funds in support of UNC-Chapel Hill Athletics, its 28 sports programs, and more than 730 Tar Heel student-athletes.

The Rams Club is made up of over 22,500 Tar Heels who believe in the mission of providing educational and athletic opportunities for UNC-Chapel Hill student-athletes. The Rams Club funds support providing a great student-athlete experience for each athlete at the University. Through endowed, annual, and capital giving, Rams Club members provide support for student-athlete scholarships, facilities, and team support.

The Rams Club has two major funds to support its goal of providing critical resources to all 28 sports: the Carolina Athletics Excellence Endowment and the Carolina Athletics Excellence Fund. The Excellence Endowment provides a long-term funding solution with built-in flexibility to address future needs. The annual yield from this endowment is used to cover any scholarship deficit beyond what the Scholarship Endowment Trust provides to allow for a flexible resource to answer the challenges and opportunities that will be presented to UNC-Chapel Hill Athletics in the years ahead. The Excellence Fund is designed to provide immediate, unrestricted funding to address today’s athletic needs and respond swiftly to current challenges and seize emerging opportunities.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Executive Board of Directors, a board with fiduciary responsibility to The Rams Club, the Executive Director will lead an accomplished and ambitious organization made up of 35 full-time professionals who raised, on average, approximately $88 million annually in gifts and pledges over the past five years and have doubled annual amounts in major capital campaigns. Gifts and pledges are raised through an annual membership structure, pledged major and principal gifts, deferred giving, and other fundraising efforts. Goals for aggressive growth in membership and giving are expected to continue in the future. The Rams Club strives to continue success in scholarship, endowment, and capital project fundraising while building additional success in flexible, unrestricted fundraising.

At a dynamic time for college athletics, the Executive Director will provide leadership that encourages the organization to meet today’s funding needs while securing the future of UNC-Chapel Hill Athletics and its broad-based program.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Executive Director will supervise the planning and activities of The Rams Club Staff with responsibility for membership, membership services, annual giving, major and endowment gifts, as well as major capital fundraising efforts.

• Rams Club Leadership

  • In partnership with the staff and Board(s), develop and execute a plan that provides the highest level of support possible for student-athletes.

  • Meet with donors to continually promote the mission in support of opportunities for student-athletes.

  • Consistently promote the importance of adhering to organizational values to the staff: Team, Excellence, Dedication.

  • Work with the Chancellor, Chancellor’s Staff, Director of Athletics and Athletics Sr. Staff to promote priorities and alignment.

• Major & Transformational Gifts

  • Solicit major and transformational gifts from donors in an individual portfolio.

  • Work with Major Gift Officers to assist with strategy and direct solicitations.

• Rams Club Transition Planning

  • Develop a staffing plan that addresses the retirement of the current CEO, as well as needs for an upcoming comprehensive capital campaign for the University.

  • Partner with team leadership and consultants to craft a plan that effectively distributes duties, provides continuity, retains key staff members, and evaluates evolving organizational structures.

• Alignment with University Development, the University Community, and Related Associated Entities

  • As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, partner with the University’s Vice Chancellor on major and transformational gift opportunities.

  • Promote all campaign priorities to donors.

• Explore a Next Generation Structure for Athletics Revenue Generation

  • Work with University Leadership to investigate the development of a new and creative Affiliated Entity Structure parallel to the Rams Club, and possibly sharing functions, to achieve synergy and alignment with fund raising and revenue generation.

• Planning for Special Initiatives & Donor Stewardship

  • Work with staff to plan and execute special initiatives: Women’s Initiative, Planned Giving Campaign, and Membership Growth Initiative.

  • Assist staff with building build out a comprehensive stewardship and event plan.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree is preferred.

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in development, fundraising, or advancement within intercollegiate athletics or higher education with demonstrated success in securing major gifts and leading large fundraising campaigns, is preferred.

• A proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage a team, drive strategic initiatives, and achieve financial goals.

• Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal skills and ability to interact with a wide variety of stakeholders and business partners, including donors, guests, and persons associated with the University community and Athletic Department.

• Demonstrated knowledge of and familiarity with issues and terminology relating to the ever-changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics.

• Strong strategic and analytical thinking abilities, with the capacity to innovate and implement creative fundraising solutions.

• A track record of compliance with all regulations and policies for philanthropic organizations and good working knowledge of guidelines and regulations affecting and governing college athletics.

• Adherence to high moral principles including honesty, loyalty, sincerity, fairness, and integrity.

• Administration of and oversight of financial planning, budgeting, cost analysis, and recordkeeping to ensure financial success and vitality of philanthropic organization.

Application Process

The Rams Club invites nominations and applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting The Rams Club. Applications should include a cover letter, current resume or curriculum vitae, and a list of professional references. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to Parker Executive Search’s website by July 20, 2025. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.

For additional information, please contact:

Daniel Parker, Vice President and Managing Director

Grant Higgison, Principal

Gray McGee, Executive Recruiting Coordinator

danielparker@parkersearch.com | ghiggison@parkersearch.com | gmcgee@parkersearch.com

 Parker Executive Search

770-804-1996 ext. 116 | 770-804-1996 ext. 118 | 770-804-1996 ext. 132

The Educational Foundation (dba, The Rams Club) does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants based on race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, national origin, disability, or veteran status.