New Brunswick, New Jersey
Hyattsville, Maryland
Gainesville, Georgia
Braselton, Georgia
Posted: 09-Jan-25
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Salary: 65,669.22 - 108,354.21
Internal Number: 366311
Job Summary:
The Director of Annual Giving for Gopher Athletics will be responsible for overseeing fundraising efforts for annual giving programs. This role will also assist in securing leadership annual gifts ($10,000 - $50,000) in support of the department's top priorities. This role requires collaboration with various teams, including the Golden Gopher Fund, the University of Minnesota Foundation, Gopher Ticket Office, and other partners across the University.
The Director will work under the guidance of the Director of Development and Annual Giving Strategy and will play an essential role in driving private support for Gopher Athletics. This role will be pivotal in increasing revenue to ensure the department's success in the Big Ten Conference by helping to provide the necessary resources to achieve athletic and academic excellence.
Some limited regional travel may be required as well as working evenings and weekends as necessary in the performance of assigned duties. Salary is dependent on education and experience with the hiring range being $63,000-$68,000 annually, with additional earnings potential through the Annual Incentive Plan. The majority of the work is in-person with some hybrid/remote flexibility.
Appointment
This is a full-time, 100%, annually renewable, academic professional position.
Portfolio Management and Engagement (50%)
- Manages a portfolio of leadership annual gift donors and prospects ($10,000 - $50,000).
- Builds and maintains a portfolio of 75-100 leadership annual gift donors and prospects to ensure that timely steps are taken towards moving prospects through the cycle of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Utilizes various giving methods such as current, deferred giving, and non-cash gifts.
- Meets annual productivity goals for leadership annual gift solicitations funded (8), leadership annual gift solicitations delivered (12), annual gift production ($500,000), prospect qualifications (50), and substantive visits (125) (subject to change).
- Collaborates with University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) professionals and utilizes UMF centralized resources to achieve and exceed established standards and metrics for the position.
- Effectively utilizes UMFâ™s Donor Management System (DMS) to review relevant information on assigned and prospective donors and completes timely contact reports.
- Assists with the overall Golden Gopher Fund fundraising strategies, including support through leadership annual gifts, annual giving, endowments, planned giving and premium seating.
- Secure support for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) on behalf of the department.
Annual Fund Leadership & Donor Benefits (40%)
- Maximize revenues from all annual fundraising initiatives with the goal of retaining and growing Golden Gopher Fund members through seat-related, programmatic support and athletic scholarship gifts.
- Set annual operating plan and performance goals and report to the Director of Development and Annual Giving Strategy progress towards goals, challenges and successes.
- Coordinate, organize and facilitate annual fund campaigns with concentration on development of strategies for crowdfunding, student calling programs, direct mail solicitations, team support solicitations and other new initiatives in collaboration with UMF Central Annual Giving.
- Manage Golden Gopher Fund member benefits programs and fulfillment through the Gopher Loyalty Program and other donor engagement programming.
Other Duties (10%)
- Work with assigned volunteer groups/booster clubs on sport-specific fundraising priorities and efforts. Coordinate communication and outreach efforts to ensure quality control on donor engagement.
Required Qualifications:
- Completed Bachelorâ™s Degree
- Two (2) years of demonstrated ability to successfully solicit leadership annual gifts or other professional experience in areas related to development/fundraising which may include stewardship and annual giving; OR related experience in marketing, sales, public relations or financial advisement; OR experience in a related field with emphasis on relationship cultivation and solicitation of individuals/businesses.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior professional experience at an NCAA member institution.
- College athletics fundraising experience.
- Experience in a large, complex university setting is desired.
- Thorough knowledge of NCAA and Big Ten rules and regulations.
Other Key Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities/Competencies
- Experience writing and preparing fundraising solicitations and gift proposals.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent organizational skills, to include the ability to prioritize projects and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated success in working in a team setting.
- Ability to interact effectively with coaches, administrators, student-athletes, perspective donors, external constituencies, and vendors.
- Proficient computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets, Paciolan or similar ticketing platforms and other software necessary to the development operation.
- Demonstrated experience and commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace with individuals with diverse identities and underrepresented groups.