Assistant AD for Major Gifts

Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid annual leave

Tuition benefits

Retirement options

Onsite work only

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University is seeking an Assistant Athletic Director for Major Gifts to secure transformational gifts for athletics priorities. You will manage a portfolio of 90–125 top prospects with a giving capacity of $50,000 or more, advancing capital projects, endowments, and programmatic initiatives.

The role requires strategic, relationship-driven fundraising in collaboration with athletics leadership and university advancement, and involves travel for donor cultivation and

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service and verbal and written communications skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively and build relationships with a wide range of constituents.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and fundraising databases.

Responsibilities

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward 90–125 donors.
• Secure gifts typically $50k+ for capital projects and endowments.
• Collaborate with athletics leadership and university advancement.
• Prepare and present proposals and gift agreements.
• Manage moves management and donor engagement plans.
• Travel to events for donor cultivation as needed.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Customer service

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

CRM systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications/marketing

Job description

Advertising Summary:

Build the future of VCU athletics. We are seeking a strategic,relationship-driven fundraiser to manage a portfolio of 90–125high-capacity prospects and secure transformational gifts($50,000+) for capital projects, endowments, and key athleticpriorities. Working in close partnership with athletics leadershipand university advancement, you will drive the philanthropicsupport that empowers our student-athletes and elevates ourprograms.

Unit: Athletics MBU

Department: Athletics Office

Department Summary:

VCU Athletics’ mission is to winconference and national championships, provide a first-classstudent-athlete experience, serve as a source of pride for theUniversity and community and cultivate graduates who excel asleaders.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Position Summary

The Assistant Athletic Director for Major Gifts is responsible forsecuring significant philanthropic support for the Department ofIntercollegiate Athletics through the identification,qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship ofhigh-capacity donors and prospects. This position manages aportfolio of approximately 90-125 individuals capable of makingmajor philanthropic gifts (typically $50,000+), with a focus onadvancing athletics priorities including capital projects,endowments, and programmatic initiatives. The role requires astrategic, relationship-driven approach and close collaborationwith athletics leadership and university advancement. Allphilanthropic gifts are charitable in nature and are not contingentupon ticket purchases, seating, or other transactionalbenefits.

Core Responsibilities

Major Gifts

• Manage (identify, engage, cultivate, solicit, steward) aportfolio of approximately 90-125 of the top prospects with agiving capacity of $50,000 or greater; engage in discovery work todetermine interest in VCU priorities;
• Solicit gifts at the major gifts level (at or above $50k)through personal appointments, calls, and correspondence in orderto obtain and/or increase donor contributions;
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors insupport of athletics priorities, including capital projects,endowments, and programmatic initiatives.
• Independently identify major gift prospects through athleticsengagement, professional networks, and external relationships inaddition to collaboration with central advancement.
• Partner with Development and Alumni Relation’s ProspectDevelopment department to ensure strategic and data-informed movesmanagement for the athletics constituency;
• Apply a disciplined moves management approach to advanceprospects through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, andstewardship stages.
• Utilize personalized fundraising targets to communicate withAthletics leadership about fundraising effectiveness and forpersonal accountability.
• Develop and execute individualized engagement strategies tomove prospects through the major gift pipeline and achievefundraising goals.
• Travel to in-season and postseason athletic events, asappropriate, to support donor cultivation, engagement, andstewardship activities.
• Develop comprehensive, customized proposals aligned with donorinterests and athletics priorities.
• Prepare and present proposals, gift agreements, and namingopportunities in coordination with athletics and universityadvancement leadership.
• Collaborate on naming opportunities, endowment structures, andcomplex gift arrangements, including pledges, multi-yearcommitments, and blended gifts.
• Play an active role in campaign strategy, including prospectsegmentation, goal setting, tracking, and reporting.
• Participate in joint visits and coordinated solicitations fortransformational gifts.
• Support engagement and strategy for top-tier donors inpartnership with senior athletics leadership.
• Assist in preparing senior leadership (e.g., Athletic Director,President) for high-level donor meetings and solicitations.
• Secure philanthropic support for priority initiatives,including the continued development of the Athletic Village.
• Participate in regular prospect strategy and portfolio reviewmeetings with athletics and advancement leadership.
• Provide stewardship support through impact reporting andcoordination of donor recognition aligned with gift level andintent.

Revenue Operations

• Ensure compliance with University, DAR, State, Atlantic 10Conference, and NCAA regulations related to development programs,cash management and gift management.
• Utilize the Talent@VCU performance management system formid-year and/or annual performance reviews.
• Track donor activity, pipeline progression, and revenueoutcomes within the CRM system and monitor progress toward majorgift fundraising goals.
• Maintain accurate and current prospect records, ensuring properdocumentation of contacts, strategies, and engagement activitywithin the CRM system.

Other duties as assigned

• Attend and participate in Campus, DAR, and Foundation staffmeetings as frequently as possible to remain informed oninstitutional fundraising priorities and initiatives;
• Collaborate with Development and Alumni Relations teams,including planned giving, corporate and foundation relations,principal giving and presidential and university philanthropy todesign donor-central strategies that maximize giving andengagement. Partner on joint cultivation, solicitation andstewardship efforts as needed.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing or related fieldor an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills andexperience;
• 3 years of professional experience in athleticsdevelopment;
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating leadership annual fundgifts (<$5,000)
• Experience in stewardship, alumni/donor relations, and/oradvancement;
• Excellent customer service and verbal and written communicationskills;
• Ability to create and maintain positive relationships with awide variety of internal and external constituents;
• Ability to manage time efficiently, prioritize work and handlemultiple projects simultaneously;
• Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends for specialevents
• Knowledge of and proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite,competent in software word processing and spreadsheetprograms;
• Ability to communicate effectively, engage in effective problemsolving and priority setting, function independently anddemonstrate initiative;
• Ability to work as an effective team member, identify and meetcontinuous quality improvement goals;
• High level of organizational skills; ability to work with ahigh level of accuracy and attention to detail;
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment ofrespect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty,staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or acommitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in communications, marketing or related fieldor an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills andexperience;
• 5 or more years of professional or internship experience infront line fundraising work, customer relations, or sales-relatedfield
• Personal attributes: Honesty, integrity, enthusiasm, teamplayer, follow through and commitment, attention to detail, andself-confidence;
• Professional credibility is required to engage and leveragesenior leadership, volunteer leadership, and other keystakeholders;

Salary Range: $80,000 - $90,000

Application Priority Deadline - September 30, 2026

Benefits

All full-time university staff are eligible forVCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annualand holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planningand savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs,employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunitiesfor career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40+

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

University Job Title: 15241Y - Major Gifts Officer DV1

Contact Information:

Contact Name: GlennHofmann
Contact Email: [e-mail]