Director of Development - Athletics

Southeast Missouri State University; Cape Girardeau (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Southeast Missouri State University seeks a proactive Director of Development for Athletics to grow philanthropic support for SEMO Athletics and the SEMO Athletics Fund. The role focuses on major gifts, capital projects, and leadership annual giving while collaborating with Athletics leadership and campus partners.

The position manages donor relationships, develops fundraising strategies, and ensures ethical, results-driven engagement across events, proposals, and communications to support SEMO

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of Athletics donors and prospects, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and ongoing relationship management.
• Develop and execute fundraising strategies to secure major gifts, sport-specific gifts, annual leadership gifts, capital project support, endowment support, and other philanthropic commitments for SEMO Athletics.
• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, former student-athletes, season ticket holders, parents, community leaders, corporate partners, and friends of SEMO Athletics.
• Help grow investment in SEMO Athletics by identifying donor upgrade opportunities, cultivating mid-level donors, supporting donor renewals, and assisting with annual giving strategies as needed.
• Prepare donor proposals, case statements, stewardship reports, impact communications, and other materials that clearly communicate the value and impact of supporting SEMO Athletics.
• Coordinate donor engagement and solicitation strategies in partnership with University Advancement, including prospect management, gift processing, stewardship, database activity, campaign alignment, and reporting.
• Partner with coaches and sport administrators across all SEMO sports to identify fundraising priorities, engage prospects, and support approved sport-specific fundraising initiatives.
• Support the successful operation of fundraising events, home athletic events, emerging revenue generation initiatives, and other external engagement opportunities.
• Use Raiser’s Edge NXT, Paciolan/PacFund, and other platforms to manage prospects, track sales activity, document partner communication, monitor inventory, measure performance, and support revenue forecasting.

Skills

Fundraising

Relationship building

Communication

Donor cultivation

team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge NXT

Paciolan/PacFund

Job description

Director of Development for Athletics
Full-Time/Term

Position Summary

Southeast Missouri State University is seeking a motivated, relationship-driven Director of Development to grow philanthropic support for SEMO Athletics and the SEMO Athletics Fund. This position will serve as a frontline fundraiser focused primarily on major gifts, capital project fundraising, leadership annual fund support, and sport-specific fundraising.

The position will work closely with Athletics leadership, University Advancement, coaches, athletics staff, and other campus partners to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors in support of Redhawk student-athletes and Athletics priorities.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of Athletics donors and prospects, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and ongoing relationship management
• Develop and execute fundraising strategies to secure major gifts, sport-specific gifts, annual leadership gifts, capital project support, endowment support, and other philanthropic commitments for SEMO Athletics
• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, former student-athletes, season ticket holders, parents, community leaders, corporate partners, and friends of SEMO Athletics
• Help grow investment in SEMO Athletics by identifying donor upgrade opportunities, cultivating mid-level donors, supporting donor renewals, and assisting with annual giving strategies as needed
• Prepare donor proposals, case statements, stewardship reports, impact communications, and other materials that clearly communicate the value and impact of supporting SEMO Athletics
• Coordinate donor engagement and solicitation strategies in partnership with University Advancement, including prospect management, gift processing, stewardship, database activity, campaign alignment, and reporting
• Partner with coaches and sport administrators across all SEMO sports to identify fundraising priorities, engage prospects, and support approved sport-specific fundraising initiatives
• Support the successful operation of fundraising events, home athletic events, emerging revenue generation initiatives, and other external engagement opportunities
• Use Raiser’s Edge NXT, Paciolan/PacFund, and other platforms to manage prospects, track sales activity, document partner communication, monitor inventory, measure performance, and support revenue forecasting
• Represent SEMO Athletics at home athletic events, select away athletic events, fundraising events, donor functions, community events, University gatherings, and regional engagement opportunities, including evenings, weekends, and occasional travel as required
• Ensure all fundraising activity is conducted with professionalism, confidentiality, ethical fundraising practices, and compliance with University policies, Foundation procedures, NCAA rules, conference regulations, and applicable state and federal guidelines
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of University Advancement and SEMO Athletics priorities

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum two years of professional experience in fundraising, athletics development, university advancement, alumni relations, nonprofit fundraising, sales, or another relationship-based revenue generation field
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, communicate effectively, manage prospects, donors, or customers, and move individuals through a cultivation, solicitation, sales, or stewardship process
• Demonstrated ability or readiness to identify prospects, conduct outreach, make visits, present opportunities, ask for support, close gifts or revenue commitments, and provide appropriate follow-up and stewardship
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to write professional correspondence, develop proposals or presentation materials, and clearly communicate funding priorities
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, personal initiative, and the ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines, relationships, and follow-up activity in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work collaboratively with a variety of audiences, including Athletics and University leadership, coaches, staff, donors, alumni, volunteers, community partners, and campus colleagues
• Ability to use donor databases, CRM systems, or similar technology to manage relationships, track activity, and support data-informed outreach
• Ability to work frequent evenings and weekends, including home and away athletic events, fundraising events, donor functions, community events, University gatherings, and regional engagement opportunities, with occasional travel as required
• Commitment to NCAA rules compliance, University policies, donor confidentiality, and ethical standards
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license

To ensure full consideration, application materials must be received byOctober 20, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

About Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO): Founded in 1873 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Southeast Missouri State University provides student-centered education and experiential learning with a foundation of liberal arts and sciences, embracing a tradition of access, exceptional teaching and commitment to student success that significantly contributes to the development of the region and beyond. SEMO values access to high quality, affordable education with a broadly representative student body, faculty and staff that respects and celebrates a diverse learning community in a global society.

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