Assistant Athletic Director, Development

Washington State University; Pullman (WA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick and vacation leave

Paid holidays

Insurance package for employees and-de

Retirement

Deferred compensation

Job summary

Washington State University Athletics, Cougar Athletic Fund, seeks two Assistant Athletic Director, Development roles at Director of Development 4 or 5 levels, based in Pullman or Seattle. You will lead fundraising efforts, manage donor relationships, and coordinate major gift solicitations to meet ambitious annual goals.

Responsibilities include planning campaigns, traveling to solicit gifts, and collaborating with units to secure recurring support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of progressively responsible relevant fundraising experience, including 3 years of full-time fundraising and successful face-to-face solicitations of gifts $50,000+.
• Strong interpersonal skills in establishing and maintaining relationships and the ability to cultivate and steward donor relationships.
• Evening and weekend work required; valid driver’s license; willingness to travel.
• Master’s degree may substitute for up to one year of the required experience.

Responsibilities

• Support unit fundraising goals by planning/outreach to promote understanding of unit activities and research with the aim of cultivating donors and raising money.
• Engage in annual giving, major gift development, and planned gifts; manage a portfolio of donors and solicitations.
• Travel extensively within WA, the Pacific Northwest, and elsewhere to meet fundraising targets.
• Hold or develop a portfolio of major donors and close major gifts as part of a development team.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Major gifts

Proposal development

Relationship management

Event planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree substitution for up to 1 year of experience

Job description

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on: September 20, 2026

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s)

1522-NN_ADMINPRO - Director of Development 4, 1523-NN_ADMINPRO - Director of Development 5

Business Title

Assistant Athletic Director, Development

Employee Type

Admin. Professional

Position Details

The Opportunity

Washington State University Athletics, Cougar Athletic Fund, is hiring two positions for an Assistant Athletic Director of Development, each at either the Director of Development 4 or Director of Development 5 level. The positions may be based in either Pullman, WA, or Seattle, WA.

In the role as either a Director of Development 4 or 5, you will be responsible for supporting unit fundraising goals by planning and conducting outreach designed to promote constituent understanding of a unit’s activities and research with the aim of cultivating donors and raising money. These efforts may include, but are not limited to annual giving, major gift development, and planned gift identification and advancement. Extensive travel in Washington State, the Pacific Northwest, and elsewhere is required.

A Director of Development 4 secures 12 - 16 major gifts or pledges, opens a minimum of 20 solicitations, and has a minimum annual fundraising goal of $1,000,000.

A Director of Development 5 manages a portfolio of 75 - 100 donors, secures 12 - 16 major gifts or pledges, opens a minimum of 20 solicitations, and has a minimum annual fundraising goal of $2,000,000. They also close a third of their major gifts at $250,000 or higher.

Additional Information

This is a full-time (100% FTE), permanent position. Overtime eligibility will be determined based on final salary placement.

Monthly Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Director Of Development 4

Pullman: $6,012.09 - $8,750, Seattle: $6,493.05 - $9,697.96

Director Of Development 5

Pullman: $6,733.54 - $9,666.67, Seattle: $7,272.22 - $10,848.94

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits

• paid sick and vacation leave
• paid holidays
• medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents
• retirement
• deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts
• training and development
• employee tuition waiver

For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for AP staff and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications

Director of Development 4

• Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of progressively responsible relevant experience, which includes three (3) years of full-time fundraising experience, demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission, evidence of ability to plan and execute a fund drive (i.e. responsibility for a project from conception to realization), demonstrated success in face-to-face solicitations of gifts of $50,000 or more OR comparable experience. Comparable experience includes progressively responsible full-time consultative sales in real estate, industrial equipment, vehicles, custom services, or bulk commodities, which include long term relationships between salespeople and clients, which includes negotiating the terms and conditions of individual sales with customers, program oversight and management, clearly defined goals and objectives, and a demonstrated track record of sales success. A Master’s degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience.
• Experience demonstrating strong interpersonal skills in establishing and maintaining internal and external relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate, develop and steward client/donor relationships
• Understanding of proposal development and writing, fundraising and/or client development principles and techniques; project management skills; and relevant event planning/management.
• Demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission.
• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards.
• Evening and weekend work required.

Director Of Development 5

• Bachelor’s degree and six (6) years of progressively responsible relevant experience, which includes four (4) years of full-time fundraising experience, demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission, evidence of ability to plan and execute a fund drive (i.e. responsibility for a project from conception to realization), demonstrated success in face-to-face solicitations of gifts of $50,000 or more OR comparable experience. Comparable experience includes progressively responsible full-time consultative sales in real estate, industrial equipment, vehicles, custom services, or bulk commodities, which include long term relationships between salespeople and clients, which includes negotiating the terms and conditions of individual sales with customers, program oversight and management, clearly defined goals and objectives, and a demonstrated track record of sales success. A Master’s degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience.
• Experience demonstrating strong interpersonal skills in establishing and maintaining internal and external relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate, develop and steward client/donor relationships
• Understanding of major gift proposal writing, fundraising and/or client development principles and techniques; project management skills; and relevant event planning/management.
• Demonstrated success in major gift proposal writing and submission.
• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards.
• Evening and weekend work required.

Preferred Qualifications

Director of Development 4

• Fundraising experience closing major gifts of $100,000 and above.
• Evidence of ability to plan and execute a fundraising project from conception to realization.
• Experience engaging faculty and translating their research into layman terms for prospective donors.
• Experience with alumni/donor database applications.

Director Of Development 5

• Fundraising experience closing major gifts of $250,000 and above.
• Evidence of ability to plan and execute a fundraising project from conception to realization.
• Experience articulating athletic department and/or higher education philanthropic priorities in a compelling manner for prospective donors.
• Experience with alumni/donor/ticket database applications.
• Advanced Degree.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility

Not eligible for work visa sponsorship

About Department/College/Area/Campus

Cougarathleticfund.com/

Area/College

Athletics, Intercollegiate

Department Name

Cougar Athletic Fund

Location

Pullman, WA or Seattle, WA

Background Check

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type

Full time

Position Term

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [e-mail].

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/