Director of Philanthropy, Athletics

Florida Institute of Technology; Melbourne (KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida Institute of Technology seeks a Director of Philanthropy, Athletics to manage athletic fundraising efforts and cultivate long-term relationships with donors. Responsibilities include identifying major gift prospects, developing strategic fundraising plans, and engaging corporate sponsorships.

The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's Degree, strong fundraising skills, and experience in higher education. This position requires exceptional communication and relationship-building abilities. Join us to support the mission and strategic priorities of Florida Tech Athletics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree Required in Business, Communications/Public Relations, Business Administration/Marketing, Philanthropic Studies/Nonprofit Management, or Psychology.
• Previous experience working in a front‑line fundraising or Corporate Relations role.
• Preference for experience working in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Lead the identification and stewardship of athletic major gift prospects.
• Develop strategic fundraising plans for athletic department priorities.
• Prepare compelling proposals and organize donor engagement activities.
• Cultivate corporate sponsorship revenue for Panther Athletics.
• Oversee sponsorship fulfillment, ensuring contract compliance.

Skills

Frontline fundraising experience

Strong communication skills

Ability to cultivate relationships

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Raiser's Edge CRM

Job description

Overview

The Director of Philanthropy, Athletics is a frontline fundraising professional responsible for the management of a portfolio of major gift prospects and corporate sponsors comprised of alumni and friends with an affinity to Athletics. Prospect management includes discovery and qualification of new prospects, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors, with a strong focus on cultivating long‑term relationships with donors who have the capacity to make transformative gifts, while leveraging the relationships and vision of university leaders to secure support for strategic priorities and initiatives. The role communicates and travels extensively, participates in a broad range of events on and off campus, and develops and strengthens prospect relationships to support the mission of the University and the Athletics department.

Responsibilities

• Lead the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of athletic major gift prospects and donors, managing a dynamic portfolio to maximize philanthropic support for Florida Tech Panther Athletics and collaborating with the university advancement team, coaches, and other stakeholders to align fundraising efforts with departmental and institutional goals.
• Develop and implement strategic fundraising plans to secure major gifts (US$25,000 and above) for key athletic department priorities, including scholar‑athlete scholarships, capital projects, and endowments.
• Prepare compelling proposals, presentations, and personalized communications tailored to major gift prospects, ensuring alignment with donor interests and university priorities, and organize targeted donor engagement activities such as personal visits, recognition opportunities, and monthly meetings with the Director of Athletics.
• Secure prospective donor meetings for university leadership to deepen philanthropic relationships at the highest levels of institutional engagement.
• Cultivate and maintain strong professional relationships with local, regional, and national businesses to drive corporate sponsorship revenue for Panther Athletics, serving as the department’s primary liaison with external corporate entities in coordination with the VP & AVP of Philanthropy and the Director of Athletics.
• Identify and qualify potential new corporate partners, schedule and conduct initial meetings, and prepare and present compelling proposals that share the Scholars, Champions, Leaders story and align with core values of Sweat Equity, Grit & Growth, and Build Your Legacy.
• Draft and coordinate sponsorship agreements that offer advertising, marketing, and promotional benefits, and close new multi‑year partnerships that generate sustainable revenue.
• Manage ongoing relationships with current corporate partners to ensure satisfaction, contract fulfillment, and renewals by engaging and consulting regularly to gather input on strategies and partnership growth.
• Oversee overall sponsorship fulfillment and execution, including direct client services for sponsor accounts, ensuring quality customer service and proof of performance for all advertising, marketing, and promotional deliverables.
• Ensure all corporate partnerships comply with NCAA, Sunshine State Conference, and University regulations, particularly regarding the use of scholar‑athlete name, image, and likeness.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor and corporate partner interactions, gift agreements, and stewardship activities using Advancement's Raiser's Edge CRM.
• Monitor fundraising and partnership revenue progress, analyze results, and provide regular reports to athletic and university leadership.
• Coordinate internal communications to align corporate partnerships with university direction, mission, and goals.
• Attend monthly athletics staff meetings to maintain departmental awareness and strengthen cross‑functional collaboration.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as directed by the VP & AVP of Philanthropy and the Director of Athletics in support of the department’s mission and strategic priorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree Required in Business, Communications/Public Relations, Business Administration/Marketing, Philanthropic Studies/Nonprofit Management, or Psychology; Master’s degree preferred.
• Previous experience working in a front‑line fundraising or Corporate Relations role.
• Preference for experience working in higher education.

Equal Opportunity

Equal Opportunity. Florida Institute of Technology does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics in its activities and programs. In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Florida Tech does not discriminate on the basis of sex. Inquiries concerning the application of the Non‑Discrimination and Anti‑Harassment policy may be directed to the Equal Opportunity Director and Investigator at 150 West University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901, or email [e-mail], or [phone]. Americans with Disabilities Act: Please notify us at least five days in advance if a reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed by calling the Office of Human Resources at 321-674-8100.