Assistant Director, Athletics Development

Summary of Position

Assists with developing and implementing strategies and activities for athletics development and fundraising operations; helps develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for annual giving, donor engagement, sport-specific fundraising, alumni outreach, and donor stewardship; supports the Red & White Fund, Penguin Day of Giving, and other Athletics fundraising initiatives; assists with identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of alumni, donors, and prospective donors; incorporates use of Athletics’ facilities during games for donor engagement; develops and strengthens donor relationships through athletic events and other engagement opportunities; maintains donor and prospect information and assists with development communications and reporting on Donor Perfect and GiveCampus donor software. Provides support on an as-needed basis for Athletics Development initiatives.

Position Information

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Assists with the development and implementation of strategies to increase philanthropic support for Youngstown State Athletics; conducts outreach to alumni, former student-athletes, donors, and prospective donors through telephone, email, personal visits, and athletic events; assists with identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities designed to increase donor participation, retention, and annual giving.

Supports the Red & White Fund and other annual giving initiatives; assists with donor renewals, acquisition, stewardship, and upgrade strategies; reviews and analyzes donor information to identify opportunities for increased engagement and philanthropic support; maintains accurate documentation of donor contacts, activities, gifts, and follow-up; assists with preparation of donor reports, prospect information, correspondence, solicitation materials, and stewardship communications.Assists with the planning and execution of Penguin Day of Giving and other Athletics fundraising campaigns; works with coaches and Athletics staff to support sport-specific fundraising efforts; assists with alumni outreach, donor communications, campaign preparation, challenges and matching-gift opportunities, and post-campaign stewardship; helps develop strategies to increase participation among former student-athletes, parents, friends, and supporters of YSU Athletics.

Assists with alumni and former student-athlete engagement efforts; helps identify and maintain relationships with former student-athletes and other prospective supporters; supports fundraising and engagement opportunities associated with alumni groups, athletic events, reunions, and other Athletics Development activities.

Assists with donor engagement surrounding home and away athletic events, including selected football road games; helps coordinate donor hospitality and engagement activities and uses athletic events as opportunities to develop and strengthen relationships with current and prospective donors.

Maintains and utilizes Athletics Development databases and records to support fundraising activities; assists with donor research, prospect identification, contact reports, gift information, mailing lists, and other development data; reviews information to assist with donor retention, acquisition, and cultivation strategies.

Works collaboratively with the Associate Director, Athletic Sales & Development, Athletics administration, coaches, University Development and the YSU Foundation to advance the fundraising priorities of Youngstown State Athletics.

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Summary of Position

Assists with developing and implementing strategies and activities for athletics development and fundraising operations; helps develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for annual giving, donor engagement, sport-specific fundraising, alumni outreach, and donor stewardship; supports the Red & White Fund, Penguin Day of Giving, and other Athletics fundraising initiatives; assists with identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of alumni, donors, and prospective donors; incorporates use of Athletics’ facilities during games for donor engagement; develops and strengthens donor relationships through athletic events and other engagement opportunities; maintains donor and prospect information and assists with development communications and reporting on Donor Perfect and GiveCampus donor software. Provides support on an as-needed basis for Athletics Development initiatives.

Position Information

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Assists with the development and implementation of strategies to increase philanthropic support for Youngstown State Athletics; conducts outreach to alumni, former student-athletes, donors, and prospective donors through telephone, email, personal visits, and athletic events; assists with identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities designed to increase donor participation, retention, and annual giving.

Supports the Red & White Fund and other annual giving initiatives; assists with donor renewals, acquisition, stewardship, and upgrade strategies; reviews and analyzes donor information to identify opportunities for increased engagement and philanthropic support; maintains accurate documentation of donor contacts, activities, gifts, and follow-up; assists with preparation of donor reports, prospect information, correspondence, solicitation materials, and stewardship communications.Assists with the planning and execution of Penguin Day of Giving and other Athletics fundraising campaigns; works with coaches and Athletics staff to support sport-specific fundraising efforts; assists with alumni outreach, donor communications, campaign preparation, challenges and matching-gift opportunities, and post-campaign stewardship; helps develop strategies to increase participation among former student-athletes, parents, friends, and supporters of YSU Athletics.

Assists with alumni and former student-athlete engagement efforts; helps identify and maintain relationships with former student-athletes and other prospective supporters; supports fundraising and engagement opportunities associated with alumni groups, athletic events, reunions, and other Athletics Development activities.

Assists with donor engagement surrounding home and away athletic events, including selected football road games; helps coordinate donor hospitality and engagement activities and uses athletic events as opportunities to develop and strengthen relationships with current and prospective donors.

Maintains and utilizes Athletics Development databases and records to support fundraising activities; assists with donor research, prospect identification, contact reports, gift information, mailing lists, and other development data; reviews information to assist with donor retention, acquisition, and cultivation strategies.

Works collaboratively with the Associate Director, Athletic Sales & Development, Athletics administration, coaches, University Development and the YSU Foundation to advance the fundraising priorities of Youngstown State Athletics.

Acts as a lead worker; provides functional guidance to lower-level workers.

Designs and delivers training materials and/or other supporting documentation necessary for the operation of the assigned area.

Analyzes complex data sets and prepares comprehensive reports with recommendations for leadership.

Researches and recommends process improvements for departmental operations on a routine or regular basis. Evaluates effectiveness and recommends enhancements of services.

Participates and/or leads complex projects, including implementation plans, timelines, and resource requirements.

Complies with NCAA and institutional rules and regulations.

Participates on various University, conference, and national committees, and other special assignments.

Prepares for and attends events such as NCAA and conference championship events.

Meet all job safety requirements and all applicable OSHA safety standards that pertain to essential job functions.

Other Functions and Responsibilities: Assists with training new hires.

Performs other duties as assigned and/or required that are within the level of responsibility for this classification at the discretion of the supervisor.

Equipment Operated: Computer and all other standard office equipment.

Work Schedule: Typically, Monday through Friday. Able to work flexible schedule including nights and weekends along with overnight travel.

Primary Location: Youngstown

Supervision Exercised: May exercise supervision over student employees.

Reports to: Associate Athletics Director Development

Qualifications and Competencies

Required Certifications, Training, and/or Licensures: None

Sponsorship and/or Work Authorization Status: This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of: University policies and procedures*; office practices and procedures; department/division goals and objectives*; department/division policies and procedures*; workplace safety practices and procedures*; English grammar and spelling; records management; office management; project management.

Skill in: Use of office equipment; typing, data entry; computer operation; use of computer software and other programs applicable to the assigned department/division*.

Ability to: deal with problems involving several variables within familiar context; define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; determine material and equipment needs; calculate fractions, decimals, and percentages; compile and prepare reports; use proper research methods to gather data; understand a variety of written and/or verbal communications; prepare accurate documentation; maintain records according to established procedures; travel to and gain access to work site; effectively interact with personnel and public to answer routine questions; train or instruct others; move quickly and effectively from one tasks to another; work independently and in a team environment; develop and maintain effective working relationships.

(*) Developed after employment.

Minimum Qualifications : At least a bachelor’s degree and two years of related and/or equivalent experience; OR at least an associate degree and four years of related and/or equivalent experience. Experience in relationship building, customer service, communications, marketing, athletics, sales, fundraising, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in sports management, business, marketing, or another directly related field. Sales and/or development experience in a professional or collegiate athletic environment or a development officer experience in a non-athletic field. Collegiate coaching and/or playing experience. Experience in a relationship-focused role involving customer or donor engagement, sales, fundraising, marketing, communications, athletics, event management, or business development.

Physical Requirements: In accordance with the U.S. Department of Labor physical demands strength ratings, this position will perform sedentary work.

Sedentary: work involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs may be defined as Sedentary when walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other Sedentary criteria are met.

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