Director of Development - Athletics

Southeast Missouri State University•Cape Girardeau, MO

About The Position

Southeast Missouri State University is seeking a motivated, relationship-driven Director of Development to grow philanthropic support for SEMO Athletics and the SEMO Athletics Fund. The position is a frontline fundraising role focused primarily on major gifts, capital project fundraising, leadership annual fund support, and sport-specific fundraising. The Director works closely with Athletics leadership, University Advancement, coaches, athletics staff, and campus partners to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors in support of Redhawk student-athletes and Athletics priorities. The role manages a portfolio of Athletics donors and prospects and develops fundraising strategies for major gifts, sport-specific gifts, annual leadership gifts, capital projects, endowment support, and other philanthropic commitments. It builds relationships across the SEMO Athletics community, prepares proposals and stewardship materials, and coordinates donor engagement with University Advancement. The position also partners with coaches and sport administrators, supports fundraising events and other external engagement opportunities, and uses fundraising and ticketing platforms to manage prospects, track activity, monitor inventory, measure performance, and support revenue forecasting. The Director represents SEMO Athletics at home and select away athletic events, fundraising and donor events, community events, University gatherings, and regional engagement opportunities. Frequent evening and weekend work and occasional travel are required. Fundraising activity must follow professional and ethical standards, donor confidentiality requirements, University policies, Foundation procedures, NCAA rules, conference regulations, and applicable state and federal guidelines. Other duties may be assigned in support of University Advancement and SEMO Athletics priorities. To ensure full consideration, application materials must be received by October 20, 2026; the position remains open until filled. Applicants must submit a letter of interest addressing all required qualifications and a resume. Names and contact information for three professional references may be requested later if not already submitted.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Minimum two years of professional experience in fundraising, athletics development, university advancement, alumni relations, nonprofit fundraising, sales, or another relationship-based revenue generation field.
Demonstrated ability to build relationships, communicate effectively, manage prospects, donors, or customers, and move individuals through a cultivation, solicitation, sales, or stewardship process.
Demonstrated ability or readiness to identify prospects, conduct outreach, make visits, present opportunities, ask for support, close gifts or revenue commitments, and provide appropriate follow-up and stewardship.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to write professional correspondence, develop proposals or presentation materials, and clearly communicate funding priorities.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, personal initiative, and ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines, relationships, and follow-up activity in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to work collaboratively with Athletics and University leadership, coaches, staff, donors, alumni, volunteers, community partners, and campus colleagues.
Ability to use donor databases, CRM systems, or similar technology to manage relationships, track activity, and support data-informed outreach.
Ability to work frequent evenings and weekends, including athletic events and engagement activities, with occasional travel as required.
Commitment to NCAA rules compliance, University policies, donor confidentiality, and ethical standards.
Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of Athletics donors and prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and ongoing relationship management.
Develop and execute strategies to secure major gifts, sport-specific gifts, annual leadership gifts, capital project support, endowment support, and other philanthropic commitments for SEMO Athletics.
Build and maintain relationships with alumni, former student-athletes, season ticket holders, parents, community leaders, corporate partners, and friends of SEMO Athletics.
Identify donor upgrade opportunities, cultivate mid-level donors, support donor renewals, and assist with annual giving strategies as needed.
Prepare donor proposals, case statements, stewardship reports, impact communications, and other materials explaining the value and impact of supporting SEMO Athletics.
Coordinate donor engagement and solicitation strategies with University Advancement, including prospect management, gift processing, stewardship, database activity, campaign alignment, and reporting.
Partner with coaches and sport administrators across SEMO sports to identify fundraising priorities, engage prospects, and support approved sport-specific fundraising initiatives.
Support fundraising events, home athletic events, emerging revenue generation initiatives, and other external engagement opportunities.
Use Raiser’s Edge NXT, Paciolan/PacFund, and other platforms to manage prospects, track sales activity, document partner communication, monitor inventory, measure performance, and support revenue forecasting.
Represent SEMO Athletics at home athletic events, select away athletic events, fundraising events, donor functions, community events, University gatherings, and regional engagement opportunities.
Conduct fundraising activity professionally and confidentially, following ethical fundraising practices and applicable University, Foundation, NCAA, conference, state, and federal requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of University Advancement and SEMO Athletics priorities.