Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development

California State University, Fresno; Fresno (CA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

CalPERS retirement

15 paid holidays

Fee waiver education

Job summary

California State University, Fresno's Athletics Department seeks a Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development to lead all fundraising efforts and supervise the Bulldog Foundation staff. The role focuses on securing major gifts, building donor relationships, and advancing scholarships, facilities, and strategic initiatives to support Bulldog student-athletes.

The successful candidate will ensure compliance with NCAA, Pac-12, CASE, and CSU policies while coordinating with University

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, major in business, marketing, public relations/communications, kinesiology, or sports administration preferred.
• Minimum five years of experience managing a development department for a Division I athletics program and/or a comprehensive intercollegiate athletics program.
• Master’s degree in sports administration or business administration preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development and fundraising activities for the Athletics Department and The Bulldog Foundation.
• Direct prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Ensure compliance with NCAA, Pac-12, CASE, CSU policies and procedures.
• Coordinate with University Advancement and report to the Director of Athletics.

Skills

Major gifts solicitation

Donor relations

Fundraising leadership

Team leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $10,000 - $13,000 per month, commensurate with qualifications and experience. This is a CSU Management Personnel Plan (MPP) position.

The CSU system provides a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental and vision plans, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), sick and vacation time, and 15 paid holidays a year. Eligible employees are also able to participate in the fee waiver education program. A summary of benefit information can be found here.

Job Summary

Leads and manages all development and fundraising activities for the Department of Athletics, including supervision of fundraising staff within The Bulldog Foundation. The Bulldog Foundation is a separate non-profit organization that is responsible for providing funding for scholarships, student-athlete recruitment, development, and retention, athletic facilities, and other strategic initiatives that help Bulldog student-athletes succeed in the classroom, compete at the highest level, and thrive in life.

This position is required to ensure that the department and staff operate in compliance with all policies, rules, and procedures of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Pac-12 Conference, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), California State University (CSU), and California State University, Fresno.

This position reports directly to the Director of Athletics and works in partnership with University Advancement to ensure coordination of prospect identification, assignment, cultivation, solicitation, gift acknowledgment, and stewardship. This position also serves as the primary liaison with The Bulldog Foundation Board of Directors.

Key Qualifications

• Proven ability to develop donor relationships and successfully solicit major gifts.
• A deep appreciation of and passion for the mission and aspirations of Fresno State Athletics as well as the ability to articulate its uniqueness, importance, and relevance to all constituencies.
• Successful record of personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major individual and institutional donors at high six-and seven-figure levels.
• The ability to inspire philanthropic support from high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and major foundations.
• Proven success building or expanding a comprehensive, sustainable fundraising enterprise and fostering a collaborative, high-performance team environment.
• A transparent, collaborative leadership style and superb decision-making skills.
• Commitment to working in a team environment with shared goals; sound judgment and integrity; willingness to try new approaches and take appropriate risks; and a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to the mission and objectives of the Athletics Department and institution.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with people at all levels of an organization, across a diverse range of educational, cultural, and social backgrounds; respect and appreciation for each individual and project a professional approach and attitude.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required, major in business, marketing, public relations/communications, kinesiology, or sports administration preferred.
• Minimum five years of experience managing a development department for a Division I athletics program and or a comprehensive intercollegiate athletics program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in sports administration or business administration.
• Experience managing and growing an annual scholarship fund generating over $3.5 million per year.
• Experience with developing a capital campaign for a comprehensive intercollegiate athletics program and/or a Division I athletics program.

Applications received by August 17, 2026, will be given full consideration by the search committee. Applications received after that date will be forwarded at the request of the Hiring Manager and/or search committee.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with California State University, Fresno. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Fresno State has identified as sensitive.

Additional Information

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Fresno State is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. (e.g. H1-B Visas)