Athletics Advancement Coordinator

Aquinas College; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI, seeks an Athletics Advancement Coordinator to build relationships with alumni, families, fans, and community partners, coordinating events and sponsorship activities.

This role partners with the Director of Athletics Advancement and other departments to expand engagement, manage logistics, and support fundraising goals through meaningful experiences at Aquinas Athletics.

Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• 1–3 years of professional experience or internships in athletics, event management, alumni and community engagement, sponsorship sales, marketing, communications, fundraising, hospitality, or related fields.
• Ability to build positive relationships and provide excellent customer service.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities and follow-through.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with coaches, alumni, families, volunteers, and business partners.
• Familiarity with CRM systems, event management software, or similar systems.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.

Responsibilities

• Support engagement strategies connecting alumni, families, fans, and community partners with Aquinas Athletics.
• Develop and maintain team-specific networks coordinating engagement activities with coaches.
• Coordinate logistics for athletics-related events and volunteer opportunities.
• Serve as a welcoming representative at events.
• Support integration of Athletics into broader institutional engagement efforts.
• Assist the Director of Athletics Advancement in identifying and cultivating prospective sponsors and community partners.
• Prepare sponsorship materials, proposals, presentations, and partnership agreements.
• Coordinate sponsorship fulfillment activities, including signage, recognition, hospitality benefits, digital promotions, and game-day activations.
• Maintain regular communication with corporate partners to ensure a positive experience and strong retention.
• Track sponsorship inventory and fulfillment obligations.
• Maintain accurate records and reports of engagement activities, sponsorship contacts, event participation, and partnership outcomes.
• Help identify prospective donors, sponsors, and community partners for referral to Athletics and Institutional Advancement leadership.
• Utilize CRM systems and other tools to support relationship management efforts.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Organization and project management

Team collaboration

Customer service

Education

Associates or Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

CRM systems

Event management software

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Athletics Advancement Coordinator

Grand Rapids, MI, US

The Athletics Advancement Coordinator facilitates meaningful relationships among athletics alumni, families, fans, community members, and corporate partners of Aquinas College. Reporting to the Director of Athletics Advancement, this position plays a key role in coordinating athletics-related events, supporting college-wide sponsorship activities, and strengthening connections with external constituents.

Working collaboratively with the Director of Alumni and Community Engagement, Aquinas Athletics administration and coaches, Institutional Advancement, and Marketing and Communications, the Coordinator helps create experiences that increase participation, strengthen affinity, enhance visibility, and support specific athletics fundraising and college-wide sponsorship goals.

Alumni, Family, and Community Engagement

• Support engagement strategies designed to connect alumni, families, fans, and community partners with Aquinas Athletics.
• Help develop and maintain team-specific networks by coordinating alumni and family engagement activities with coaches and identifying opportunities for involvement.
• Coordinate logistics for athletics-related engagement events and volunteer opportunities, including alumni gatherings, family events, Saints Room activities, golf outings, Hall of Fame events, Homecoming activities, and community engagement programs.
• Serve as a welcoming and visible representative of Aquinas Athletics at events and activities.
• Support the integration of Athletics into broader institutional engagement efforts.

Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship Support

• Assist the Director of Athletics Advancement in identifying and cultivating prospective sponsors and community partners.
• Support the preparation of sponsorship materials, proposals, presentations, and partnership agreements.
• Coordinate sponsorship fulfillment activities, including signage, recognition, hospitality benefits, digital promotions, and game-day activations.
• Maintain regular communication with corporate partners to ensure a positive experience and strong retention.
• Track sponsorship inventory and fulfillment obligations.

Relationship Management and Administration

• Maintain accurate records and reports of engagement activities, sponsorship contacts, event participation, and partnership outcomes.
• Help identify prospective donors, sponsors, and community partners for referral to Athletics and Institutional Advancement leadership.
• Utilize CRM systems and other tools to support relationship management efforts.

Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• One to three years of professional experience or equivalent internships in athletics, event management, alumni and community engagement, sponsorship sales, marketing, communications, fundraising, hospitality, or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships and provide excellent customer service.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities and follow-through.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with coaches, alumni, families, volunteers, and business partners.
• Familiarity with CRM systems, event management software, or similar systems.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.

Aquinas College, an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic and Dominican traditions, provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, emphasizes career preparation focused on leadership and service to others, and fosters a commitment to lifelong learning dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the common good.

Aquinas College is recognized as the exceptional Catholic liberal arts college that prepares individuals for careers of leadership and service in developing a sustainable and just global community. Aquinas College is recognized by its values: Faith, Service, Learning and Community.

Aquinas College prides itself as a leader in sustainability, and this requires the participation of every member of the college community. In this regard, employees and their supervisors are expected to engage in the process of “appreciative inquiry” to identify ways that each position can advance sustainability in the employment experience.

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties, all employees are expected to conform to the Aquinas College Service Statement:

The College serves our community with excellence and respect through an institutional commitment to quality, accountability, cooperation, professionalism and responsiveness .

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Aquinas College is an equal opportunity employer and an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition. Aquinas College provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, emphasizes career preparation focused on leadership and service to others, and fosters a commitment to lifelong learning dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the common good. Aquinas College values: Faith, Learning, Service and Community.

Aquinas College offers an excellent benefits package that includes affordable medical, dental, and vision plans, generous paid vacation each year as well as paid holidays, paid sick time and short-term disability, and college-paid life and AD&D insurance. Additionally, Aquinas employees and their dependents are eligible for free tuition at Aquinas after one year of full-time employment.

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