Associate Athletic Director for Major Gifts

Marshall University • Huntington, WV

9d

About The Position

The Associate Athletics Director for Major Gifts provides strategic leadership in securing philanthropic support for Marshall Athletics. This position identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards donors and prospects capable of making major gifts to advance department priorities such as scholarships, facilities, program enhancements, and student-athlete well-being. Serving as a senior member of the Big Green staff, the Associate AD manages a portfolio of high-capacity donors, collaborates closely with University Advancement, and drives measurable growth in annual and major gift revenue.

Responsibilities

• Fundraising & Portfolio Management: Manage a personal portfolio of 75-100 qualified major gift prospects with giving capacity of $25,000+ .
• Conduct at least 150 meaningful donor contacts annually , including in-person visits, calls, and virtual meetings.
• Develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies to advance prospects through the giving cycle.
• Solicit and close major gifts that meet or exceed annual fundraising goals set by Big Green leadership.
• Maintain an active proposal pipeline of 12-15 solicitations at all times.
• Partner with coaches and administrators to identify fundraising priorities and align donor interests with departmental needs.
• Donor Relations & Stewardship: Serve as a primary relationship manager for major donors and key stakeholders.
• Provide personalized stewardship and recognition to strengthen donor loyalty and retention.
• Collaborate with Big Green staff to coordinate donor engagement events, game-day hospitality, and special initiatives.
• Represent Marshall Athletics at donor functions, university events, and community engagements.
• Strategic Leadership & Collaboration: Work in partnership with the Executive Director of the Big Green , the Athletic Director , and University Advancement to achieve departmental fundraising objectives.
• Support the design and execution of capital campaigns and other special fundraising initiatives.
• Utilize CRM systems to document activity, proposals, and outcomes; ensure data integrity and accountability.
• Mentor and support development staff and student interns as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees