About the Job

Overview

 The Senior Associate AD/Development will lead, manage, and support a team of gift officers and development staff while also carrying a portfolio of approximately 75 donors. Reporting to the Deputy AD and serving as a leader in Gopher Athletics, the Senior Associate AD/Development will play a key role in increasing private support for athletics. This position will be critical in growing revenue for the department to provide the necessary resources to ensure success in the Big Ten Conference. The salary range for this position is $150,000 - $170,000, based on experience. 

Development Team Leadership and Management (35%)

 • Oversee individual major gift fundraising team by providing mentorship, strategic direction, accountability, and structure for development officers to engage in ambitious and intentional major gift fundraising.

 • Cultivate a climate which fosters learning and development of personnel, collaboration, a high level of morale, and the pursuit of excellence through thoughtful relationship-building, acting strategically, and delivering fundraising results

 • Assist team with proposal and visit strategies. This will include frequent individual check-in meetings and active involvement with strategy meetings.

 • Inform and support meaningful and effective solicitation, engagement, and qualification activities that increase gift pipeline and grow major donor counts.

 • Work collaboratively with Deputy AD to set development officer goals and monitor their progress against Key Performance Indicators.

 • In partnership with the Deputy AD, develop and oversee travel, events, and operations budget.

 • Carry out administrative personnel actions (performance management, hiring, training, onboarding, offboarding, etc.).

 Strategy Leadership (15%) 

• As a senior leader, the Senior Associate AD will serve as a trusted advisor and will provide visible leadership across the athletics department.

 • Work closely with stewardship, events, and annual giving team members to ensure seamless integration and support of major gift efforts

. • Work collaboratively with University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) staff, including the Prospect Development, Planned Giving, Principal Gifts, Regional Development, and Leadership Annual Giving teams to enhance the work and impact of each athletics development officer.

 • In partnership with the Deputy AD and other team leads, play an active role in charting annual and multi-year strategic plans for athletics fundraising. 

• Help coordinate efforts with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) including communication with collective and NIL donors. Ensure efforts are aligned to provide maximum support for student-athletes. 

Portfolio Management and Engagement (50%)

 • Develop and manage a portfolio with a focus on top individual prospects ($50,000 and above). Utilize various giving methods such as cash, pledges, deferred giving, and non-cash gifts. 

• Builds and maintains a portfolio of approximately 50-75 major gift prospects to ensure that timely steps are taken toward solicitation, closure, and stewardship. Performance expectations for this level of gift officer include approximately 15 solicitations per year at $50,000 or more. Total annual gift production expectations for this level of position are $4M or more. The candidate selected will work closely with prospect management and development leaders to set appropriate goals.

 • Engage the Athletics Director, coaches and staff in donor cultivation strategies and visits as appropriate, supporting their activities with briefings, talking points, and itineraries. 

• Effectively utilize UMF’s Donor Management System (DMS) to review relevant information on assigned and prospective donors and prospects and complete and file timely and thorough reports of all contacts.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

 • Bachelor’s degree.

 • Minimum of five (5) years of professional development experience, with demonstrated ability to promote and successfully solicit major gifts; or five (5) or more years of experience in marketing, consultative sales, public relations, financial advising or related field with emphasis on relationship cultivation and solicitation of individuals/businesses. 

• Experience leading, supervising, or managing development teams and programs.

 • Ability to exercise a high degree of discretion and collaboration in working with a diverse range of constituents.

 • Outstanding oral and written communication skills. 

• Strategic, hardworking, and able to work with a high degree of flexibility in a collaborative, fast-paced, and goal-oriented environment.

 • Proficient in the use of software and applications such as Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace and familiar with databases and/or Customer Relationship Management programs. 

• Ability to staff evening and weekend events and ability to travel throughout the year, including travel with teams.

 • Successful candidates will embrace the United Are We strategic plan, including our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. 

 • Valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications 

• Seven (7) or more years of progressive fundraising experience. 

• Two (2) or more years of experience managing individual gift officers. 

• Experience working in college athletics.

About the Department

With more than 140 years of tradition, Gopher Athletics is one of the oldest and most decorated athletics departments in the country. Minnesota was a charter member of the Big Ten Conference – our teams have won more than 200 conference titles to go with 26 national titles. There are more than 600 student-athletes and nearly 300 full-time employees in our athletics department. That community has built Minnesota into a nation’s top-ranked public school with respect to student-athlete academic performance in each of the past four years, a span of time during which the Gophers have won 13 conference team titles and a collection of individual conference and national crowns. Housed in the historic Dinkytown neighborhood on the northern edge of the University campus, Gopher Athletics is succeeding against a backdrop unique in college athletics, nestled at the heart of a bustling, modern metro area. We are proud of our decorated history, but we are prepared to achieve even greater success in the years to come. Ski-U-Mah!

United Are We

Gopher Athletic’s Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Benefits

Working at the University

At the University of Minnesota, you’ll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning. We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

1. Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
2. Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
3. Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
4. Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
5. University HSA contributions
6. Disability and employer-paid life insurance
7. Employee wellbeing program
8. Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
9. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
10. Financial counseling services 
11. Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
12. Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefits.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

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