Director of Development

Overview 
The Director of Development will have primary responsibilities of cultivating and securing gifts for the top priorities in Gopher Athletics. The Director of Development will work closely with the Golden Gopher Fund team, the University of Minnesota Foundation and development partners across the University. Reporting to the Senior Associate AD/Development, this position will play a key role in increasing private support for athletics and be critical in growing revenue for the department to provide the necessary resources to ensure success in the Big Ten Conference.  

Portfolio Management and Engagement (85%) 
● Develop and manage a portfolio with a focus on top individual prospects ($50,000 and above). Utilize various giving methods such as cash, pledges, deferred giving, and non-cash gifts.
● Builds and maintains a portfolio of approximately 100 major gift prospects to ensure that  timely steps are taken toward solicitation, closure, and stewardship. Performance expectations  for this level of gift officer include approximately 15 solicitations per year at $50,000 or more. Total annual gift production expectations for this level of position are $1M or more. The  candidate selected will work closely with prospect management and development leaders to set  appropriate goals. 
● Engage the Athletics Director, coaches and staff in donor cultivation strategies and visits as  appropriate, supporting their activities with briefings, talking points, and itineraries. 
● Effectively utilize UMF’s Donor Management System (DMS) to review relevant information on  assigned and prospective donors and prospects and complete and file timely and thorough  reports of all contacts. 

Fundraising Strategies & Sport Specific Duties (15%)
● Assist with overall Golden Gopher Fund fundraising strategies, including support through major gifts, annual giving, endowments, planned giving and premium seating. 
● Work with assigned programs on fundraising priorities and ensure quality control on donor engagement.

 Required Qualifications 
● Bachelor’s degree. 
● Four (4) years of professional development experience, with demonstrated ability to  promote and successfully solicit major gifts; or four (4) or more years of experience in marketing, consultative sales, public relations, financial advising or related fields with emphasis on relationship cultivation and solicitation of individuals/businesses. 
● Ability to exercise a high degree of discretion and collaboration in working with a diverse range  of constituents. 
● Outstanding oral and written communication skills. 
● Strategic, hardworking, and able to work with a high degree of flexibility in a collaborative, fast paced, and goal-oriented environment. 
● Proficient in the use of software and applications such as Microsoft Office Suite and Google  Workspace and familiar with databases and/or Customer Relationship Management programs.
● Ability to staff evening and weekend events and ability to travel throughout the year, including travel with teams.  

Preferred Qualifications 
● Development experience with capital campaigns.
● Demonstrated ability to work in a team setting as a leader, participant and facilitator. 
● Experience working in college athletics.
● Awareness and knowledge of Name, Image and Likeness. 
 

Salary range for this position is $80,000 - $82,000