Executive Director, Major Gifts & Alumni Engagement

Position Music; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Gator Boosters, Inc. seeks an Executive Director to lead its University Athletic Association fundraising arm, drive major gifts and donor engagement, and oversee a 12–15 person team in a high‑visibility role aligned with UF Athletics.

You will partner with UAA leadership, manage budget and P&L, and champion concierge donor service. The role focuses on building a major gifts program from the ground up, with growth goals, NIL awareness, and collaboration across sponsorship, ticketing, and stadium

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in business, communications, public administration, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of eight to ten years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, advancement, or athletic development, with demonstrated success in major gift solicitation and closure at the $100,000 level and above.
• Experience in collegiate athletics fundraising, ideally at the Power 4 or SEC level, strongly preferred; prior executive or senior leadership experience in an athletics development or booster organization is a significant advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a chief fundraiser and build a major gifts program from the ground up; experience setting and achieving ambitious, transformational fundraising growth targets is highly valued.
• Familiarity with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) fundraising dynamics is a plus, though this role is centered on traditional major gifts, stewardship, and alumni engagement rather than NIL collective management.
• Demonstrated success leading, coaching, and managing teams; ability to build a culture of excellence, accountability, and servant leadership.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills; natural connector who inspires trust and loyalty among donors, staff, and institutional partners.
• Deep commitment to a hospitality-first, white-glove service philosophy; proven ability to deliver high-touch, concierge-level experiences that strengthen donor loyalty and organizational reputation.
• Strong organizational and communications skills; ability to operate transparently, share information effectively across functions, and engage a broad constituency with clarity and credibility.
• Knowledge of and ability to provide guidance on tax laws, gift planning vehicles, and policies and procedures governing charitable donations to athletic organizations.
• Willingness to travel and to attend evenings, weekends, and special events as required; valid driver’s license required.
• An authentic passion for the University of Florida and Gator Athletics; ability to serve as a compelling, credible spokesperson for the mission and impact of Gator Boosters, Inc.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership and day-to-day management of Gator Boosters, Inc., including direct supervision of a team of 12-15 staff members, including a dedicated concierge-level team member focused exclusively on white-glove donor service; establish clear objectives, performance standards, and a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and execute an annual fundraising plan as outlined by UAA leadership; set ambitious yet achievable goals for annual giving, major gifts, scholarship endowments, and capital campaigns, including potential support for stadium renovation and other priority facility projects.
• Personally qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major and principal gift donors; build and sustain deep, long-term philanthropic relationships with alumni, fans, and corporate partners across Florida and nationally.
• Oversee and grow scholarship funding programs to ensure full scholarship support for all student-athletes; champion the student-athlete experience as a core pillar of donor engagement and stewardship.
• Establish and model a white-glove, concierge-level service standard throughout the organization; ensure every interaction with donors, members, and constituents reflects hospitality and respect.
• Participate in weekly Florida Gators leadership meetings and coordinate with sponsorship, ticketing, hospitality, and stadium renovation to align fundraising with broader revenue generation.
• Foster a culture of open communication, organizational alignment, and cross-functional collaboration; encourage teams to share information and support shared goals.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the UAA Director of Athletics and other senior leadership; provide timely reporting on fundraising progress and donor pipeline.
• Design and deliver meaningful, high-touch engagement experiences for donors and members; deepen connection to Gator Athletics and recognition of generosity.
• Manage prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship processes; refine systems for donor data integrity and reporting.
• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing team; invest in professional development and succession planning.
• Develop and manage the Gator Boosters budget; support sound decision-making through data and analytics.
• Ensure full compliance with NCAA, SEC, and University of Florida policies governing donor relationships; uphold ethical standards.
• Think boldly and act with ambition to innovate donor engagement and community-building while maintaining stewardship practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Major gifts

Donor stewardship

Strategic planning

Relationship building

Budgeting & P&L

Team management

NIL fundraising understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM experience

Job description

Gator Boosters, Inc. seeks an Executive Director to lead its University Athletic Association fundraising arm, drive major gifts and donor engagement, and oversee a 12–15 person team in a high‑visibility role aligned with UF Athletics.

You will partner with UAA leadership, manage budget and P&L, and champion concierge donor service. The role focuses on building a major gifts program from the ground up, with growth goals, NIL awareness, and collaboration across sponsorship, ticketing, and stadium