Assistant Athletic Director, Cowboy VIP

Oklahoma State University Foundation•Stillwater, OK

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Athletic Director, Cowboy VIP provides strategic leadership and oversight of the Cowboy VIP annual giving and donor engagement program by developing and executing comprehensive stewardship, cultivation, and fundraising strategies that grow annual giving participation, strengthen donor and alumni relationships, and increase revenue for OSU Athletics. This role is responsible for managing a major donor portfolio, leading annual giving initiatives and premium seating programs, supervising staff, and driving coordinated efforts across athletics and foundation partners to achieve ambitious fundraising and engagement goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing and communications, nonprofit management, humanities, or related fields required.
Minimum of 5-7 years in fundraising, development, major gifts, or relevant professional experience required.
Proven sense of humor and ability to have fun!

Nice To Haves

Experience in a higher education setting preferred.
Fundraising and donor management software experience desired.

Responsibilities

Oversee and manage the Cowboy VIP donor stewardship and engagement program, including development and execution of short- and long-term strategies for donor engagement, alumni engagement, cultivation, stewardship, communication, and fundraising events.
Coordinate the design and implementation of programs aimed at increasing membership in the annual giving fund, including Cowboy VIP membership levels and engagement initiatives.
Collaborate with senior leadership to establish and maintain POSSE membership guidelines and annual goals aligned with departmental priorities.
Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift prospects with a focus on solicitations of $50,000+ and mature donor relationships, emphasizing portfolio development and program growth in the first two years.
Conduct a minimum of 100 strategic in-person donor and prospect engagement activities annually and participate in at least 12 solicitation visits per year.
Achieve sustained annual fundraising performance of approximately $2 million within 18 months of start date through strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
Utilize the Cowboy VIP program to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects, alumni, and donors, including both season ticket holders and non-season ticket holders locally and nationally.
Design and implement engagement strategies that strengthen donor participation in Cowboy VIP and enhance long-term donor retention and affinity for OSU Athletics.
Partner with OSU Foundation fundraising professionals to build and maintain meaningful donor relationships that support philanthropic growth for OSU Athletics.
Oversee donor engagement touchpoints tied to annual giving, premium seating, ticket priority, and related donor experience initiatives.
Provide direct oversight of POSSE staff, including two Development Associates and 2–3 student employees.
Manage student employee schedules, time approvals, and engagement across office operations, game-day activities, and special events.
Provide leadership, direction, and performance oversight to ensure alignment with program goals and operational effectiveness.
Manage and coordinate the annual giving, ticket priority, and premium seating program for OSU Athletics to maximize revenue generation and donor engagement.
Serve as the primary liaison with the ticket office, ticket sales, and marketing teams regarding donor seating, pricing strategy, and ticket allocation discussions.
Collaborate across athletics and external relations teams to ensure integrated communication and execution of donor-facing seating and membership initiatives.
Other duties as assigned.