Associate Athletics Director, Development

Stanford University School of Medicine; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 169,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford Athletics, within the Office of Development, seeks an Associate Athletics Director, Development to lead the major gifts function, oversee a team of three fundraisers, and drive fundraising strategies to advance Stanford Athletics’ priorities.

The role manages a high‑level donor portfolio, partners with coaches and university colleagues, and mentors staff to meet ambitious goals while strengthening donor relations and supporting Stanford’s mission.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated fundraising experience, sensitivity, and diplomacy.
• Excellent judgment, interpersonal and communication skills; ability to lead and motivate others.
• Strategic skills to craft and help implement fundraising plans.
• Demonstrated managerial talent in guiding major gifts efforts.
• Customer service expertise serving faculty.
• Proven ability to meet fundraising goals with a strong track record in managing donor relationships.
• Ability to manage a large number of fundraising activities simultaneously.
• Solid verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective management experience and excellent interpersonal skills; experience recruiting, evaluating, mentoring staff.
• Demonstrated experience engaging diverse groups, including strong volunteer management.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement a specific fund-raising program. Cultivate and solicit gifts to the university.
• Manage an active portfolio, and track solicitation assignments and progress.
• Collaborate with staff and faculty to develop gift ideas and foster relationships.
• Lead fundraising activities, provide stewardship, identify new donors and volunteers, coordinate efforts.
• Staff academic leaders in donor interactions and build relationships with them.
• Direct and supervise major gift officers and infrastructure partners.
• Provide opportunities for professional growth focusing on retention to increase team capacity.
• Ensure resources are allocated towards programs and resolve internal issues.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Strategic planning

Team leadership

Donor relations

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Description

Main Work Location: Historic Stanford Campus

Schedule: Hybrid (at least 3 days per week on site)

Budgeted Salary Range: The expected pay range for this position is $169,027 to $250,000 per annum.

Stanford’s Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation (“DAPER”) is the premier intercollegiate athletics program in the country. We are the proud Home of Champions! We lead the nation with 138 NCAA team championships, have won the Women’s Capital One Cup four of the last five years, and have brought home the Learfield Directors’ Cup for 26 of the possible 31 seasons. We support nearly 900 student-athletes who compete on 36 intercollegiate athletics teams, as well as the university’s physical education, recreation, and wellness initiatives. Our dedicated staff embodies a culture of excellence, embraces our mission of scholar-athleticism, and exemplifies a relentless championship spirit. To learn more about Stanford Athletics, please visit gostanford.com.

Housed within Stanford Athletics, the development team is a part of the Office of Development (OOD), which advances Stanford’s mission by raising philanthropic support from alumni, parents, families, friends, and institutional funders. Working in concert with volunteers and university leaders, OOD staff members strive to accelerate Stanford’s purposeful impact in the world. Stanford is committed to a donor-centric approach to development. Every member of the Office of Development staff plays a role in providing the university’s donors with the service and attention that ensures an exceptionally positive and fulfilling philanthropic experience.

Position Summary

The Associate Athletics Director, Development will lead the major gifts function within the DAPER Development Team (team of 3 fundraisers), providing strategic direction, staff leadership, and oversight of a comprehensive fundraising unit designed to advance Stanford Athletics’ priorities. Responsibilities include managing a portfolio of high-level prospects, developing and executing major gift strategies, partnering with coaches, staff, volunteers, and university colleagues, and driving efforts to achieve ambitious fundraising goals. The ideal candidate will bring significant fundraising experience, strong strategic and relationship-building skills, proven success managing teams and donor portfolios, and the ability to inspire and collaborate with diverse stakeholders to advance the mission of Stanford Athletics.

Responsibilities

Core Duties:

• Plan and implement a specific fund-raising program. Cultivate and solicit gifts to the university.
• Manage an active portfolio, and track solicitation assignments and progress. Work with a portfolio of assigned prospects to cultivate, solicit, and steward their support.
• Collaborate with other staff, academic leaders, and faculty to develop gift ideas and strategies and to foster relationships that will be productive for Stanford.
• Lead a wide range of fundraising activities, providing stewardship, identifying new prospective donors and volunteers, maintaining an active level of contacts, coordinating volunteer efforts in the school/unit, and facilitating relationships between potential and current donors and volunteers.
• Staff academic leaders, faculty and other key institutional representatives in their contact with donors/prospects, including navigating and coaching grateful patient interactions, and build their own personal relationship with them.
• Direct and supervise efforts of major gift officers, infrastructure partners and or support staff.
• Provide opportunities for professional growth focusing on retention to increase capacity and stability of the team.
• Ensure appropriate resources are allocated towards programs, resolve internal allocation issues.

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s degree

Minimum Experience

Eight years of relevant experience and management experience, preferably in an educational institution or nonprofit or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Demonstrated fundraising experience, sensitivity, and diplomacy.
• Excellent judgment, interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to lead and motivate others and earn the respect of associates at all levels.
• Strategic skills to craft and help implement fundraising plans.
• Demonstrated managerial talent in guiding major gifts efforts.
• Customer service expertise serving faculty.
• Proven ability to meet fundraising goals with a strong track record in managing and balancing donor and faculty relationships.
• Ability to manage a large number of fundraising activities simultaneously.
• Solid verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective management experience and excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated experience recruiting, evaluating, mentoring, and placing staff.
• Demonstrated experience engaging and motivating groups of diverse individuals, including strong volunteer management skills.

Drivers License Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid California non-commercial Class C Driver's License.
• Ability to drive day or night.
• When conducting university business, must comply with the California Vehicle Code and Stanford University driving requirements.