Senior Associate Athletics Director-Development

Towson University•Towson, MD

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Associate Athletics Director-Development serves as the Lead Development Officer for Towson University (TU) Athletics. This role is responsible for achieving financial, donor, and activity goals to support annual and multi-year fundraising objectives. Key aspects include partnering with the Director of Athletics and coaches to identify priority needs, developing compelling funding opportunities, and advancing philanthropic initiatives to enhance the student-athlete experience. The position also involves identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects, as well as developing and implementing Athletics-specific fundraising and communication strategies. Additionally, this role manages and develops a high-performing Athletics development team, providing supervision, mentorship, and coaching to achieve fundraising goals. The Senior Associate will design and implement annual giving strategies, grow leadership giving societies, and monitor team performance. Finally, the position acts as a strategic resource across the Athletics Department, collaborating with leadership and staff to advance departmental goals and facilitate external relationships with alumni, donors, corporate partners, and community stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
Three years of non-profit leadership and major gift cultivation and solicitation experience
Comprehensive knowledge of philanthropic giving vehicles and charitable contribution strategies, including those utilized by individuals, families, donor-advised funds, and family foundations
Expertise in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship practices that broaden and deepen constituent engagement with Towson University and Towson Athletics
Demonstrated ability to motivate, inspire, and develop professional staff and volunteers, fostering a high-performing, goal-oriented team committed to achieving fundraising success
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the character, judgment, and professionalism needed to establish and sustain productive partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
Knowledge of current trends in philanthropy, along with the ability to anticipate needs, adapt strategies, and proactively implement business and development plans that address both immediate and long-term objectives
A proven record of securing significant philanthropic support, including repeated success cultivating, soliciting, and closing six-figure gifts and above

Nice To Haves

Supervisory experience in a sales or revenue-generating environment, with a preference for candidates who have led teams within a nonprofit or higher-education advancement setting
Personal experience and strong familiarity with the Maryland and Mid-Atlantic region’s athletic, philanthropic, and community landscapes, with the ability to leverage established networks to advance Towson University’s fundraising goals

Responsibilities

Serve as the Lead Development Officer for TU Athletics
Achieve all assigned financial, donor, and activity goals to support the successful execution of annual and multi-year fundraising objectives for Towson Athletics
Partner regularly with the Director of Athletics and coaches to identify priority needs, develop compelling funding opportunities, and advance philanthropic initiatives that elevate the student-athlete experience
Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects with the capacity and inclination to support Athletics and the broader priorities of Towson University
Develop and implement Athletics-specific fundraising and communications strategies that strengthen constituent engagement, increase philanthropic revenue, and grow the number of donors to Athletics
Promote and cross-sell philanthropic opportunities across the university, ensuring that prospects connected to Athletics are also aware of additional institutional priorities where their interests may align
Conduct a minimum of 10 meaningful external visits each month with prospects and donors, including at least two visits conducted jointly with the Director of Athletics and/or coaching partners
Actively engage every prospect within the assigned portfolio, advancing individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies that move prospects through the giving cycle
Collaborate with internal and external revenue-generating units, including University Ticketing Operations and other campus partners, to coordinate outreach, align messaging, and ensure a seamless donor and fan experience
Manage and Develop a High-Performing Athletics Development Team
Supervise, mentor, and support Athletics development staff to increase philanthropic support for Athletics and achieve annual and multi-year fundraising goals
Hold regular individual and team meetings to review workplans, assess progress toward goals, develop cultivation and solicitation strategies for top prospects, and provide coaching to strengthen fundraising effectiveness and improve yield ratios
Design and implement annual giving cultivation, engagement, and solicitation strategies that enhance donor satisfaction, deepen affinity, and increase donor retention across Athletics
Grow membership in Athletics leadership giving societies through targeted outreach, personalized stewardship, and strategic engagement
Monitor team performance and intervene proactively to ensure goals are met, identifying opportunities for professional development, resource alignment, and strategic adjustments when necessary
Collaborate closely with colleagues across University Advancement to cultivate, engage, and steward donors in a coordinated, positive, and professional manner that reflects TU’s values and supports institutional priorities
Serve as a Strategic Resource Across the Athletics Department
Collaborate with members of the Athletics Leadership Team and staff to advance departmental goals and support priority initiatives that strengthen the overall success, visibility, and reputation of TU Athletics
Facilitate and steward external relationships—including alumni, donors, corporate partners, and community stakeholders—to benefit Athletics beyond philanthropic support and enhance the broader student-athlete and fan experience