Assistant Athletic Director, Development

Washington State University • Pullman, WA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Washington State University Athletics, Cougar Athletic Fund, is hiring two positions for an Assistant Athletic Director of Development, each at either the Director of Development 4 or Director of Development 5 level. The positions may be based in either Pullman, WA, or Seattle, WA. In the role as either a Director of Development 4 or 5, you will be responsible for supporting unit fundraising goals by planning and conducting outreach designed to promote constituent understanding of a unit’s activities and research with the aim of cultivating donors and raising money. These efforts may include, but are not limited to annual giving, major gift development, and planned gift identification and advancement. Extensive travel in Washington State, the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere is required. A Director of Development 4 secures 12 - 16 major gifts or pledges, opens a minimum of 20 solicitations, and has a minimum annual fundraising goal of $1,000,000. A Director of Development 5 manages a portfolio of 75 - 100 donors, secures 12 - 16 major gifts or pledges, opens a minimum of 20 solicitations, and has a minimum annual fundraising goal of $2,000,000. They also close a third of their major gifts at $250,000 or higher.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of progressively responsible relevant experience, which includes three (3) years of full-time fundraising experience, demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission, evidence of ability to plan and execute a fund drive (i.e. responsibility for a project from conception to realization), demonstrated success in face-to-face solicitations of gifts of $50,000 or more OR comparable experience.
• Comparable experience includes progressively responsible full-time consultative sales in real estate, industrial equipment, vehicles, custom services, or bulk commodities, which include long term relationships between salespeople and clients, which includes negotiating the terms and conditions of individual sales with customers, program oversight and management, clearly defined goals and objectives, and a demonstrated track record of sales success.
• Experience demonstrating strong interpersonal skills in establishing and maintaining internal and external relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate, develop and steward client/donor relationships.
• Understanding of proposal development and writing, fundraising and/or client development principles and techniques; project management skills; and relevant event planning/management.
• Demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission.
• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards.
• Evening and weekend work required.
• Bachelor’s degree and six (6) years of progressively responsible relevant experience, which includes four (4) years of full-time fundraising experience, demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission, evidence of ability to plan and execute a fund drive (i.e. responsibility for a project from conception to realization), demonstrated success in face-to-face solicitations of gifts of $50,000 or more OR comparable experience.
• Understanding of major gift proposal writing, fundraising and/or client development principles and techniques; project management skills; and relevant event planning/management.
• Demonstrated success in major gift proposal writing and submission.

Nice To Haves

• Fundraising experience closing major gifts of $100,000 and above.
• Evidence of ability to plan and execute a fundraising project from conception to realization.
• Experience engaging faculty and translating their research into layman terms for prospective donors.
• Experience with alumni/donor database applications.
• Fundraising experience closing major gifts of $250,000 and above.
• Experience articulating athletic department and/or higher education philanthropic priorities in a compelling manner for prospective donors.
• Experience with alumni/donor/ticket database applications.
• Advanced Degree.

Responsibilities

• Supporting unit fundraising goals by planning and conducting outreach designed to promote constituent understanding of a unit’s activities and research with the aim of cultivating donors and raising money.
• Annual giving, major gift development, and planned gift identification and advancement.
• Securing 12 - 16 major gifts or pledges.
• Opening a minimum of 20 solicitations.
• Achieving a minimum annual fundraising goal of $1,000,000 (Director of Development 4) or $2,000,000 (Director of Development 5).
• Managing a portfolio of 75 - 100 donors (Director of Development 5).
• Closing a third of major gifts at $250,000 or higher (Director of Development 5).

Benefits

• Paid sick and vacation leave
• Paid holidays
• Medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents
• Retirement
• Deferred compensation
• Optional supplemental retirement accounts
• Training and development
• Employee tuition waiver

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director