Associate Athletic Director for Major Gifts

UNC Charlotte; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Carolina at Charlotte is seeking an Associate Athletic Director for Major Gifts to lead frontline fundraising for the athletics department. You will identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts of $35,000+ while managing a portfolio of high-net-worth donors and partners.

You will report to the Deputy Athletic Director and work with coaches and advancement colleagues to align campaigns, host donors, and maintain rigorous records in donor systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Three years of frontline major gift fundraising or equivalent experience.
• Experience in intercollegiate athletics development or higher education advancement.
• Ability to travel regionally and nationally, and to work nights and weekends.
• Proficiency with donor databases and fundraising software.

Responsibilities

• Portfolio ownership of 100–125 major gift prospects and securing $35,000+ commitments.
• Conduct high-volume discovery and donor visits to identify new prospects.
• Formulate, execute, and document donor strategies to cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts.
• Align fundraising with department initiatives and capital campaigns.
• Host major prospects and donors at events to deepen engagement.
• Collaborate with University Advancement partners to maximize donor impact.
• Maintain timely records in Paciolan and Ascend; track proposals and pipeline metrics.
• Ensure fundraising activities comply with university, NCAA, and conference rules.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Public speaking

Relationship management

Prospecting

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

CFRE designation

Tools

Paciolan

Ascend

MS Office

Job description

Associate Athletic Director for Major Gifts

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

• The finalist will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and/or a Motor Vehicle Report
• The Search Committee will not contact references without first verifying permission with
  the finalist.
• Please ensure your resume reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences to
  support your answers to the supplemental questions.

Working Title Associate Athletic Director for Major Gifts

Position Designation

Position Designation EHRA Non-Faculty

Employment Type

Employment Type Permanent - Full-time

Months per Year 12

Work Schedule

Monday – Friday, including nights and weekends for athletic events and donor engagements. Scheduled hours are to be determined by the supervisor.

Hours per week 40

FLSA Status

FLSA Status Exempt

Division

Department

Work Location

Work Location Student Activity Center

Salary Range

Salary Range $90,000 - $97,850

Primary Purpose of Department

The position funds raises to support the mission of the Athletic Department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. With a balanced program that supports opportunities for all students and staff, the department promotes a total person concept that provides its student-athletes with the necessary tools to be successful in academic, athletic, and social settings. The Department of Athletics supports the highest ethical standards of the University, the NCAA , and its conference affiliation.

Primary Purpose of Position

The Associate Athletic Director for Major Gifts is an action-oriented frontline fundraiser responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major philanthropic gifts ($35,000+) to support Charlotte Athletics’ strategic priorities, capital projects, and endowment needs. Reporting directly to the Deputy Athletic Director – Chief Philanthropy Officer, this role builds and aggressively manages a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals, alumni, former student-athletes, and corporate partners. The position works collaboratively with athletics leadership, head coaches, administrators, and University Advancement partners to translate athletic priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities and advance overall institutional goals.

Summary of Position Responsibilities

• Portfolio Ownership: Maintain and aggressively move a personal portfolio of 100–125 major gift prospects through the moves management continuum to secure commitments of $35,000+.
• Discovery & Qualification: Independently conduct high-volume discovery work and face-to-face donor visits to systematically identify and qualify new prospective donors.
• Solicitation & Pipeline Building: Formulate, execute, and document customized donor strategies to cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts, capital campaign commitments, and blended/planned gifts.
• Campaign & Capital Priorities: Align fundraising efforts with major department initiatives, capital expansion projects, sports-specific enhancement funds, and broader university fundraising campaigns.

Leadership & Athletic Partnership

• Executive Partnership: Serve as a strategic partner to the Deputy Athletic Director– Chief Philanthropy Officer, Athletic Director, senior administration, and head coaches, integrating them into the development cycle and preparing them for high-level solicitations.
• Collaborative Support: Partner with coaches and athletic staff to translate team-specific capital and operating needs into fundable philanthropic opportunities. Specific responsibility as a sports liaison to 2+ coaches, helping identify funding priorities, identify potential donors, and expand partnerships with former student-athletes.
• Donor Engagement & Events: Host major prospects and donors at athletic events, competitions, baseline/courtside areas, and donor trips to deepen institutional engagement.
• Advancement Alignment: Collaborate closely with University Advancement partners (Gift Planning, Prospect Research, Annual Giving, and Alumni Engagement) to maximize donor impact and maintain unified institutional records.
• Database & Metrics Tracking: Maintain timely and precise records in Paciolan and Ascend, ensuring contact reports, proposals, and pipeline metrics are updated regularly.
• Compliance & Ethics: Ensure all fundraising activities strictly adhere to University, Athletic Foundation, NCAA , and conference rules, policies, and ethical standards.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Three years of professional experience in frontline major gift fundraising, intercollegiate athletics development, higher education advancement, or equivalent high-level relationship management/sales.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree or Certified Fund Raising Executive ( CFRE ) designation preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of cultivating, soliciting, and closing major philanthropic gifts ($35,000+) or closing high-value accounts.
• Direct experience in NCAA Division I athletic fundraising or university advancement.
• Proficiency with Paciolan software, donor databases, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong interpersonal, public speaking, and written communication skills with the ability to articulate the vision of Charlotte Athletics passionately and persuasively.
• Willingness and ability to travel regionally and nationally, as well as work nights and weekends for athletic events and donor engagements.

Necessary Certifications/Licenses

• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Certifications/Licenses

Special Notes to Applicants

• The finalist will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and/or a Motor Vehicle Report
• The Search Committee will not contact references without first verifying permission with
  the finalist.
• Please ensure your resume reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences to
  support your answers to the supplemental questions.

If time-limited please indicate appointment end date

Contact Information

9201 University City BlvdCharlotte, NC 28223