Assistant / Associate Director of Development, Athletics & Recreation

Colby College; Colby (KS); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Colby College seeks an Assistant/Associate Director of Athletic Fundraising to expand annual and capital support for athletics and recreation. The role reports to the Director of Development for Athletics and Recreation and cultivates gifts from alumni, parents, and friends, with a focus on leadership annual fund gifts and above.

The Associate Director will manage 150–200 households and drive solicitations from $10,000–$100,000+, while the Assistant Director focuses on communications, pipeline

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience required.
• 3-5 years of fundraising or related experience; demonstrated success in making direct solicitations preferred.
• Experience with email marketing tools and database management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of Colby alumni, parents, and friends capable of leadership annual fund gifts and contributions toward athletics and recreation priorities.
• Partner with the Colby Fund team, Advancement Communications, and Athletics Communications to design and execute multi-channel communications and dedicated athletic giving challenges.
• Manage a portfolio of athletics alumni varsity boards with the goal of increasing alumni participation and annual fund support.
• Participate in events to engage key volunteers and move solicitations forward.
• Assist with annual giving plans and campaigns to achieve dollar and participation goals for athletics.

Skills

Strong written and oral communication

Organizational and time management

Moves management process understanding

Willingness to travel

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

GiveCampus

Blackbaud

Job description

Job DescriptionDepartment:Advancement Athletics FundraisingPay Rate Type:SalaryEmployee Type:Job Summary:The College seeks a highly motivated Assistant/Associate Director of Athletic Fundraising to build on momentum generated by the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center and expand annual and capital support. Reporting to the Director of Development for Athletics and Recreation, this position qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards alumni, parents, and friends to help achieve a $3.2M area goal for FY27 ($2.8M raised in FY26). Scope and portfolio size are aligned with rank:Assistant Director: Focuses on team and department communications, prospect qualification, pipeline building, volunteer board support, and solicitations at the $2,500–$10,000+ level.Associate Director: Manages a portfolio of 150–200 households, driving solicitations from $10,000–$100,000+ for annual, endowed, and capital priorities while leading varsity board strategy.Both levels partner with coaches and volunteers to manage a cohort of Friends of Colby Athletics varsity boards and identify new major-gift prospects.The hiring range for the Assistant Director level is $55,000 - $65,000The hiring range for the Associate Director level is $75,000 - $90,000Essential FunctionsTo be successful in this position, an individual should be able to perform the essential duties and bring the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that support the role. This list of duties is intended to be representative rather than exhaustive, and additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.For Associate Director:Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of Colby alumni, parents, and friends capable of making leadership annual fund gifts and contributions toward athletics and recreation priorities within the Dare Northward, particularly those at $10,000 and aboveFor Assistant Director:Partner with the Colby Fund team, Advancement Communications, and Athletics Communications to design and execute multi-channel communications (email, direct mail, web, social media) and dedicated athletic giving challenges.Essential Functions for both: In partnership with the Director of Development for Athletics and Recreation, manage a portfolio of athletics alumni varsity boards with the goal of increasing alumni participation, growing annual fund support for specific varsity programs, and engaging the community of athletics alumniParticipate in execution of events and programs in support of development activities, engage key volunteers, and effectively utilize events and other activities to move solicitations forwardPartner with the Colby Fund team to implement an annual giving plan that achieves the dollar and participation goals for athletics and recreation within the Colby Fund, including mass annual giving campaigns and micro campaignsPartner with coaches in budgeting and goal-setting process, solicitations, and board management programRoutinely gather and analyze data in order to assess alumni or families who should be assigned to gift officersShare athletics and recreation updates, milestone anniversaries, and current use fundraising needs with divisional colleagues to advance athletics fundraising effortsServe as a visible and accessible representative of athletics engagement by attending athletics contests and events regularlyPerform additional duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without noticePosition QualificationsMinimum Education and ExperienceAssociate Director : Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience3-5 years of fundraising or related experience; demonstrated success in making direct solicitations preferredStrong written and oral communication skills requiredOrganizational and time management skills are essential, as is the ability to work effectively both as part of a team and independentlyAssistant Director : Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experienceMinimum of 2 years of fundraising/communications experience; athletics annual giving/fund management and/or non-profit annual giving experience highly preferredExperience with email marketing tools, database management, and microsoft office suite required. Experience with GiveCampus and Blackbaud technology preferredQualifications for both: Professional conduct and appropriate handling of confidential information is requiredAttention to detail and accuracy are criticalTalent to manage multiple projects and priorities while working within deadlines to achieve ambitious goalsPrior experience managing volunteers, the ability to manage complex relationships, and proven collaboration and teamwork skills in a diverse community to leverage activities, initiatives, and programs for multiple purposesUnderstanding of the moves management process and ability to think and work strategicallyWillingness to travel and to work hours outside the normal working day (i.e. nights and weekends)Valid driver’s license required and must meet the College’s Fleet Safety Policy requirementsPhysical/Mental DemandsThe physical demands and work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this position and/or may be encountered while performing essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.To perform this role effectively, an employee is expected to handle employee information, documents, and sensitive matters with care, professionalism, and respect for privacy.This position involves working with a variety of timelines, including some that require quick turnaround and responsiveness to urgent needs.In this role, the employee will interact with members of the public and others in a variety of situations and conversations. Presenting oneself in a professional, respectful, and thoughtful manner at all times is an important part of the role.This position includes regular movement throughout office spaces, hallways, meeting rooms, and other campus locations.Daily work will involve extended use of a computer, including keyboard and mousePhysical requirements differ by position. In general, most roles involve lifting up to 10 pounds regularly, with some positions requiring occasional lifting of up to 35 pounds.Vision requirements for this position include the ability to see clearly at close and far distances and to adjust focus as needed.The work environment is dynamic and engaging, often involving multiple tasks and projects that require shifting focus and strong organizational skills..The noise level is generally moderate; however, there may be occasional moments of louder sounds depending on campus activity.Colby College supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.To Apply:Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the Colby College website. Please upload a cover letter and resume to your application.