Development Officer - Athletics

Wayne State University • Detroit, MI

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Development Officer - Athletics at its Detroit campus location.
Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.
JOB PURPOSE
Support and participate in fundraising efforts, strategies and initiatives for Wayne State University Athletics. Cultivate, solicit and steward leadership annual and major gift donors to meet established fundraising goals within the allocated expense budget. Serve as lead on the daily operations of the W Club Fund. This position reports to the Director, Major Gifts – Athletics/Associate Athletic Director.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in marketing, public relations, business administration, sports management or related field.
• Experienced (minimum 2 years of job-related experience)
• Minimum two to three years of experience working as a fundraising professional in direct individual solicitations.
• Professional understanding of, and interest in, Development and Alumni Affairs’ best practices and general operations.
• Understanding of trends and best practices within fundraising for Athletics.
• Positive and collaborative professional philosophy, recognizing that this position is integral to the achievement of the goals and objectives of Development and Alumni Affairs.
• ANALYTICAL AND PRESENTATION SKILLS: Ability to evaluate, interpret, and present complex information effectively in professionally prepared documents or presentations. Must possess a demonstrated attention to detail in order to achieve a high degree of accuracy.
• COLLABORATION: Exhibits a willingness to partner with units across the university with integrity and high character to reach unified goals. Possesses the ability to navigate difficult situations with grace and understanding.
• COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS: Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and professionally both orally and in writing. Strong interpersonal skills are a must. Demonstrates the ability to plan and deliver oral and written communications that are impactful and persuasive including presentations to university management and committees.
• LEARNING AGILITY: Independent and innovative self-starter who displays an ability to learn quickly and easily adapts to changing situations. Experience researching topics to gain knowledge and understanding when information gaps exist.
• PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION: Ability to manage several projects simultaneously, prioritize and plan work activities while meeting respective deadlines. Strong organizational and time-management skills required. Maturity, sound judgment and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a deadline-oriented environment.
• TEAMWORK: Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues within the division and other units to gain full understanding of the project and desired outcome; ability to produce high quality and consistent results with assistance of team members; provide support to teammates when tackling complex projects.
• TECHNICAL SKILLS: Proficient in the use of complex administrative systems software, preferably in the higher education environment. Proficient with Microsoft Office suite, especially Word, Excel and Teams. Ability to understand and translate complex concepts into lay terms.

Nice To Haves

• Experience preparing proposals and conducting gift solicitations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Athletic Director, Director, Major Gifts-Athletics, Athletics coaches and teams to identify fundraising needs and priorities. Develop fundraising plans, strategies and activities to engage alumni, donors, and W Club members to increase giving and build a donor pipeline.
• Manage a portfolio of gift prospects (50-75). Identify and qualify prospects. Conduct one-on-one solicitations to strengthen constituent relations and increase donor giving.
• Responsible for achieving annual fundraising goal; allocating and prioritizing time and resources to achieve the greatest return on investment. Performance and productivity will be measured on the following core metrics as determined annually: Dollars raised for cash and in-kind gifts Number of gift solicitations - $1,000 and above Number of gifts closed - $1,000 and above Number of face to face meetings (visits) with prospects and donors
• Manage the Athletics annual giving club (W Club). Actively identify, cultivate and solicit gifts for the W Club with a focus on donor acquisition and upgrades. Serve as liaison to Annual Campaigns on behalf of Athletics. Collaborate and strategize with Annual Campaigns on methodologies to increase the donor base and giving. Coordinate direct mailing and marketing efforts.
• Regularly attend home athletic events to serve as ambassador of the W Club, maintain sufficient knowledge of sports programs and increase visibility with donors, prospects, volunteers, coaches and student-athletes. Collaborate with Alumni Relations to plan alumni events in conjunction with scheduled athletic events.
• Collaborate with Donor Experience to develop and implement strategies to ensure appropriate stewardship of prospects and donors, including custom strategies for top donors. Oversee the thank you note process and other donor-related correspondence for Athletics. Evaluate and recommend improvements to the stewardship process.
• Oversee the routing of donor contributions to central development for timely processing.
• Network with outside professional groups and organizations to keep abreast of current industry trends and best practices related to Athletics fundraising. Represent Athletics at industry or community meetings at the request of leadership. Special projects and other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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