Director of RAM Athletic Fund/Annual Giving

RiseMe; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

VCU Athletics seeks a Sr Gifts Officer DV 1 to lead Ram Athletic Fund annual giving, manage donor portfolios, and coordinate fundraising campaigns and events. The role partners with alumni relations, coaches, and university advancement to grow donor engagement and philanthropic revenue.

The position emphasizes fundraising strategy, donor stewardship, and data-driven analysis to meet annual goals and support Rams athletics excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing or related field or equivalent experience.
• Experience in athletics development, donor relations or fundraising preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple events and donor outreach programs with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual giving and RAF fundraising efforts for VCU Athletics.
• Manage a portfolio of 100+ donors and prospects; grow donor base.
• Develop and execute fundraising campaigns, events and communications.

Skills

Fundraising

Alumni relations

Event coordination

Donor stewardship

Relationships management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications or marketing

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Job description

Advertising Summary: The Director of Ram Athletic Fund/Annual Giving leads efforts to raise annual donations in support of VCU Athletics. This role manages a group of donors and prospects, building relationships and asking for support through consistent outreach and engagement. The position oversees annual fundraising efforts, including campaigns, events, and communications, with a focus on increasing the number of donors, keeping current donors engaged, and growing overall giving. A key part of the role is expanding support through alumni outreach—especially former student-athletes, Olympic sports programs, and young alumni—as well as working with coaches, administrators, and the Alumni Association to support fundraising and fan engagement goals. The Director also ensures donor information is accurate, tracks progress, and helps plan events and initiatives that encourage giving.

Unit: Athletics MBU

Department: Athletics Office

Department Summary: VCU Athletics’ mission is to win conference and national championships, provide a first-class student-athlete experience, serve as a source of pride for the University and community and cultivate graduates who excel as leaders.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Position Overview

The Director of Ram Athletic Fund/Annual Giving leads efforts to raise annual donations in support of VCU Athletics. This role manages a group of donors and prospects, building relationships and asking for support through consistent outreach and engagement. The position oversees annual fundraising efforts, including campaigns, events, and communications, with a focus on increasing the number of donors, keeping current donors engaged, and growing overall giving. A key part of the role is expanding support through alumni outreach—especially former student-athletes, Olympic sports programs, and young alumni—as well as working with coaches, administrators, and the Alumni Association to support fundraising and fan engagement goals. The Director also ensures donor information is accurate, tracks progress, and helps plan events and initiatives that encourage giving.

Core Responsibilities

RAF & Alumni Relations

• Prospect, cultivate, solicit, and steward primarily annual gifts, managing a portfolio of 100+ prospects and donors, including key Ram Athletic Fund donors with $25,000+ giving capacity.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with a portfolio of supporters and prospects while identifying and qualifying leadership annual giving prospects to strengthen pipeline development.
• Utilize personalized fundraising targets to communicate with Athletics leadership about fundraising effectiveness and for personal accountability.
• Leverage technology, including social media and video tools, to enhance engagement, stewardship, and solicitation in a targeted, high‑velocity manner.
• Oversee the annual fund for the Department of Athletics, including all restricted and unrestricted giving to the Ram Athletic Fund;
• Grow Ram Athletic Fund membership, increase donor retention, and enhance philanthropic revenue;
• Develop and execute annual fundraising strategies, including direct mail, email, digital campaigns, and giving day initiatives;
• Manage a comprehensive annual fund communications calendar and solicitation cycles;
• Segment donor audiences and tailor appeals based on giving history, affinity, and engagement data;
• Establish and track performance metrics, including participation rate, average gift size, and donor retention;
• Prepare reports and analysis on fundraising progress, donor trends, and campaign performance;
• Manage annual fund budget, including revenue forecasting and resource allocation across campaigns and initiatives;
• Oversee multichannel solicitation strategies, including digital giving, crowdfunding, and peer‑to‑peer campaigns;
• Ensure consistent branding, messaging, and donor experience across all annual fund communications;
• Focus on growing the donor base through alumni engagement, including former student‑athletes and Olympic sports programs;
• Implement and manage a young student‑athlete alumni outreach program and young alumni giving society;
• Develop and implement strategies to expand alumni giving opportunities;
• Coordinate and execute sport program alumni events and regional events around RAM’s home and away contests to cultivate and engage alumni;
• Grow the donor base through strategic engagement and elevation of season ticket holders;
• Collaborate with colleagues in the VCU Alumni Association on fan engagement initiatives and strategies to increase ticket sales, fundraising, and overall pride in VCU Athletics;
• Serve as liaison with the ticket office to align fundraising and ticketing strategies;
• Coordinate fundraising for specified sports, with emphasis on Olympic sports;
• Communicate with administrators, coaches, and volunteers to establish fundraising priorities, identify opportunities, and involve them in donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship;
• Plan and develop special projects and major department events to increase the RAF donor base;
• Serve as a point person for generating challenge gifts and recruiting volunteers for giving day and other grassroots campaigns;
• Monitor engagement to identify and launch initiatives that drive donations;
• Maintain a database of active annual fund donors and ensure data integrity in coordination with advancement services;
• Ensure alumni and former student‑athlete data is accurate and maintained within RADAR;
• Manage the Ram Athletic Fund Board and all associated committees, including coordination of meetings, agendas, and strategic engagement.
• Provide direction, oversight, and support to graduate assistants, interns, and student workers assisting with development and donor engagement operations.
• Facilitate the annual process for determining donor benefits and stewardship offerings for Ram Athletic Fund members, ensuring alignment with giving levels and institutional policies.
• Serve as the intercollegiate athletics development liaison for Homecoming and related institutional engagement events.
• Oversee allocation of priority seating for Ram Athletic Fund members, including season tickets, away games, Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, and NCAA Tournament allocations in accordance with donor priority systems.
• Direct sales, fulfillment, and customer service operations related to men’s basketball courtside and floor seating donors, ensuring a high level of service and donor experience.

Administrative Duties

Ensure compliance with University, DAR, State, A-10, and NCAA regulations related to development programs and cash management;

• Utilize the Talent@VCU performance management system for mid-year and/or annual performance reviews;
• Gather, record, and retrieve prospect and donor information using the University donor and alumni database, internet research, and collaboration with development staff;
• Coordinate social media strategies for the Ram Athletic Fund;
• Track donor activity, pipeline progression, and revenue outcomes with the database of record and monitor progress toward fundraising goals;
• Maintain accurate and current prospect records, ensuring proper documentation of donor strategies and cultivation within the donor database of record;
• Attend and participate in Campus, DAR, and Foundation staff meetings as frequently as possible to remain informed on institutional fundraising priorities and initiatives.

Other duties as assigned

Ensure collaboration with Development Alumni Relations teams, including alumni relations, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, principal giving, signature events, and presidential and university philanthropy, to design donor-centric strategies that maximize giving and engagement. Partner on joint cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts as needed.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing or related field or an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills and experience;
• Working knowledge of or experience in stewardship, alumni/donor relations, and/or event coordination;
• Excellent customer service and verbal and written communication skills;
• Ability to create and maintain positive relationships with a wide variety of internal and external constituents;
• Ability to manage time efficiently, prioritize work and handle multiple projects simultaneously;
• Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends for special events
• Knowledge of and proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, competent in software word processing and spreadsheet programs;
• Ability to communicate effectively, engage in effective problem solving and priority setting, function independently and demonstrate initiative;
• Ability to work as an effective team member, identify and meet continuous quality improvement goals;
• High level of organizational skills; ability to work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail;
• Experience working in customer service, fundraising, or sales environments working directly with people for engagement;
• Demonstrated professional experience in athletics development;
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in communications, marketing or related field or an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills and experience;
• 1-2 Years of professional or internship experience in front line fundraising work, customer relations, or sales-related field

Salary Range: $65,000 - $75,000

Application Priority Deadline - September 30, 2026

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well‑being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40+

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

University Job Title: 15224N - Sr Gifts Officer DV 1

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Glenn Hofmann Contact Email: [e-mail]