Director of Development, Athletics

Cal Poly Pomona•Pomona, CA

1d•$100,000 - $115,008•Hybrid

About The Position

The Division of University Advancement is responsible for enhancing private support and knowledge of the university through programs, events, and activities that stimulate involvement from alumni, friends, parents, corporations, and foundations. This division manages the Cal Poly Pomona Philanthropic Foundations, the official entity for receiving and managing contributions. The Director of Development, Athletics will serve as the lead Advancement professional for Athletics fundraising, developing and implementing comprehensive strategies to support Athletics and University priorities. This role involves identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding individual, corporate, foundation, planned, and principal gift prospects, with a primary emphasis on gifts of $25,000 and above. The position requires managing an active portfolio of approximately 125 or more major gift prospects and meeting annual fundraising, visit, solicitation, proposal, and stewardship goals. The Director will also partner with Athletics leadership, coaches, University Advancement leadership, and other campus stakeholders to align donor interests with institutional priorities and provide advancement-related guidance. The role requires representing University Advancement and Athletics at various events and exercising independent judgment in managing confidential information and advancing philanthropic strategies. Additionally, the Director will participate as a member of the University Advancement team, contributing to divisional planning and initiatives, and ensuring fundraising activities comply with all relevant policies and ethical standards.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree - from an accredited college or university.
Five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in major gift fundraising, advancement, development, or business development, with a demonstrated track record of identifying, qualifying, soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gifts or comparable business opportunities.
Experience managing an active portfolio or pipeline of prospects and successfully building long-term relationships that result in philanthropic investments, strategic partnerships, or new business opportunities is required.
Demonstrated ability to manage an active portfolio or pipeline of prospects and to build long-term relationships that result in philanthropic investments, strategic partnerships, or comparable outcomes.
Working knowledge of fundraising principles, donor engagement strategies, prospect management practices, stewardship practices, and related financial concepts.
Ability to analyze and present fundraising information through reports, charts, graphs, presentations, proposals, briefings, impact reports, and other executive-level communications.
Experience using donor or constituent relationship management systems to document activity, manage prospect strategy, maintain donor records, and support fundraising pipelines.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to prepare proposals, gift agreements, donor briefings, impact reports, and other donor-facing communications.
Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, sound judgment, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive donor, personnel, student, financial, and institutional information.
Ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with diverse internal and external constituents, including donors, alumni, volunteers, faculty, staff, coaches, senior leadership, community partners, and external organizations.
Demonstrated commitment to supporting an inclusive and welcoming environment and the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic, and professional backgrounds.
Knowledge of, or ability to learn and apply, University, CSU, Philanthropic Foundation, IRS, CASE, NCAA, CCAA, and campus policies, regulations, ethical standards, and best practices related to fundraising, gift administration, athletics fundraising, and donor stewardship.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated major gift fundraising experience in higher education, athletics, nonprofit, or similarly complex organizations.
Experience collaborating with intercollegiate athletics leadership, coaches, donors, sponsors, volunteers, faculty, and staff to identify, develop, and secure philanthropic support for departmental and team priorities.
Knowledge of NCAA and CCAA rules, regulations, and compliance requirements related to athletics fundraising and donor engagement.
Experience planning, implementing, and evaluating fundraising or donor engagement events.
Experience using Blackbaud Raiser's Edge, CRM Advance, Salesforce, or a similar donor/constituent relationship management system.
Master's degree from an accredited institution.
Professional fundraising certification, such as Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), or other relevant professional credential.

Responsibilities

Serves as the lead Advancement professional for Athletics fundraising and develops, implements, and evaluates comprehensive fundraising strategies in support of Athletics and University priorities.
Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, closes, and stewards individual, corporate, foundation, planned, and principal gift prospects, with primary emphasis on gifts of $25,000 and above.
Manages an active portfolio of approximately 125 or more major gift prospects and is accountable for annual fundraising, visit, solicitation, proposal, and stewardship goals.
Develops written prospect strategies, prepares donor proposals and briefings, documents activity in the University's donor database, and coordinates next steps with appropriate campus partners.
Partners with the Director of Athletics, Athletics leadership, coaches, University Advancement leadership, the Philanthropic Foundation, and other campus stakeholders to identify funding priorities, develop compelling gift opportunities, and align donor interests with institutional priorities.
Provides advancement-related guidance to Athletics partners regarding donor engagement, fundraising timelines, stewardship expectations, and coordinated prospect strategy.
Represents University Advancement and Athletics at donor meetings, alumni activities, community events, Athletics events, and campus functions.
Exercises independent judgment in managing confidential donor and institutional information, prioritizing complex donor engagement activities, and advancing strategies that support philanthropic outcomes.
Recommends improvements to fundraising strategies, donor engagement practices, stewardship activities, and related advancement processes based on portfolio activity, donor feedback, campaign priorities, and fundraising outcomes.
Participates as a member of the University Advancement team by contributing to divisional planning, goal setting, professional development, and cross-functional initiatives that support the University's philanthropic priorities.
Uses the University's donor and prospect management systems to document contacts, update prospect strategies, track proposals, maintain accurate records, and support coordinated fundraising activity across University Advancement.
Ensures fundraising activities are conducted in accordance with applicable University, CSU, Philanthropic Foundation, IRS, CASE, NCAA, CCAA, and campus policies, procedures, ethical standards, and reporting expectations.
Maintains professional relationships with donors, alumni, volunteers, campus partners, Athletics personnel, and external constituents.
Represents Cal Poly Pomona, University Advancement, and Athletics with professionalism, discretion, confidentiality, and sound judgment.
Performs other related duties as assigned that are consistent with the purpose, scope, and classification of the position.