Director of Athletics Development and Revenue Generation - 997859

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Title: Director of Athletics Development and Revenue Generation - 997859

Position Number:  997859 

Unit/Department: Athletic Development/Bulldog Club

FTE: Full-time 

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Title: Director of Athletics Development and Revenue Generation - 997859

Position Number:  997859 

Unit/Department: Athletic Development/Bulldog Club

FTE: Full-time 

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Department Summary:

Drake University's Athletics Department competes in the Missouri Valley Conference at the NCAA Division I level. Bulldog student-athletes thrive in the classroom and their respective field of play. Drake Athletics sport programs are considered Des Moines’ Hometown Team.

The department culture is predicated on a common value statement known as The Bulldog Way written by coaches, staff, and student-athletes. This intentional commitment to a championship culture is led by integrity, excellence, wanting the best for and best from one another, and aspiring to greatness provides a foundation for student-athletes, coaches, and athletics staff to study, work, and play.

Job Summary:

The Athletics Department is excited to launch its search for a new Director of Athletics Development.

This position is responsible for direct oversight, vision, and execution of the Bulldog Club at Drake University Athletics, the annual fund for Drake Athletics, and the Baton Club, the annual fund for Drake Relays. The Bulldog Club is dedicated to advancing and sustaining athletics at Drake University by engaging alumni, fans, and parents in a robust athletic network and providing a dynamic fundraising platform through which donors can support the athletics program as well as priorities of the Athletic Department’s capital campaign. This position will strategically direct the annual fund operations in its mission of supporting student-athletes through a comprehensive fundraising program.

The Director is responsible for the strategic programming of engagement activities for athletic donors and for managing a portfolio of approximately 100-150 donors and prospects with a giving capacity of $1K-25K annually, in support of the athletic department’s initiatives and goals.

The Director is responsible for raising restricted and unrestricted funds for the department through personal solicitations and events. The Director is also responsible for supporting key fundraising events and the annual fund. Where appropriate, the Director of Athletics Development will coordinate efforts with Athletic Marketing/Communication, Corporate Sponsorship, Drake Relays, Compliance and University Institutional Advancement. Responsibilities also include providing reports and data to ensure the department is on track to hit its financial goals.

The Director will work directly with Drake Athletics Marketing and Ticketing staff to develop strategic and creative solutions to increase revenue and attendance through season ticket sales, individual game sales, premium seating, and group ticket sales for all ticketed events, including the Drake Relays.

The Director is a key leader with critical decision-making responsibilities. This position will report directly to the Senior Associate Athletics Director – Advancement and Revenue Generation.

This position does require an understanding of and compliance with the rules of the NCAA, the Missouri Valley Conference, and Drake University.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree and two or more years of related experience
• Experience working in a successful annual fund program, fundraising, sales, volunteer management or related experience
• Excellent written, interpersonal and communications skills
• Strong organizational skills with proven ability to work well under pressure and to handle multiple prospects and requests concurrently, while meeting multiple deadlines.
• Strong working knowledge and understanding of all NCAA rules and regulations regarding compliance issues
• Donor experience in the areas of identification, cultivation, and solicitation. Must be able to develop good relationships with prospective/current donors
• Experience with solicitation and acquisition of membership sales and the ability to complete these tasks

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree
• Athletic-related work experience preferred
• A working knowledge of Microsoft Windows is required, and knowledge of Raiser’s Edge is a plus
• Additional desired qualifications include: thorough knowledge of athletics, experience in promotions, marketing, and public relations.

Core Job Duties:

Drake Athletics Annual Fund Leadership (30%)

• Plan, develop and lead the Bulldog Club, a comprehensive annual giving program for athletics that increases the annual, capital, and endowment support, expands the donor base, and builds a pipeline for future donors.

• Develop and implement a vital and comprehensive annual fund fundraising program with the primary purpose of generating community, corporate, and alumni support as well as private funding for the identified priorities of the athletic department and the University in association with the Senior Associate AD for Advancement and Revenue Generation.

• Develop, coordinate, and execute strategies to grow membership in the Bulldog Club, the D-Club, Drake’s alumni organization for student-athletes, and the Baton Club, the annual fund for Drake Relays.

• Work with marketing and communications to develop a communication plan for athletic fundraising and engagement, including the creation and segmentation of all mailings as well as electronic solicitations and use of social media. Coordinate communication related to donor stewardship and impact, collateral materials and regular updates on Drake Athletics websites.

• Cross-departmentally work with University Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving on Drake All-In, the University and Athletics department days of giving in the spring.

• Directs Bulldog Club and Baton Club volunteers to ensure that development activities are maximizing monies raised and to maintain good public relations with donors, businesses, and corporations. - (Essential)

Leadership Annual Giving Coordination (30%)

• Develop and manage a portfolio of current annual fund donors and prospects to move them to higher levels of engagement and donation. Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 donors, consisting of annual fund and major gift donors, with planned solicitations of up to $25,000.

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100-150 donors/prospects and conduct outreach to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward them on behalf of the University and Athletic Department.

• Identify, research, and write individualized proposals for solicitation and stewardship activities regarding gift donors for annual, capital, and endowment gifts for the athletics programs in coordination with the Senior Associate AD for Advancement and Revenue Generation and the University Institutional Advancement staff.

• Works to cultivate existing, larger annual fund and greater donor relationships with the intent of sustaining and increasing the relationship with the donor. Meet individually with Bulldog Club donors, alumni, and fans in an effort to increase ticket sales, fundraising, and revenue generation.

• Meet with 15-18 significant prospects each month to meet fundraising and key performance metrics.

• Assist in directing all cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation strategies for private support from donors and prospects, with a specific focus on new donors.

• Work directly with coaches and the Director of Drake Relays to support the development and implementation strategies to achieve individual team, and Drake Relays fundraising goals. Leadership Annual Giving Coordination

• Develop and manage a portfolio of current annual fund donors and prospects to move them to higher levels of engagement and donation. Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 donors, consisting of annual fund and major gift donors, with planned solicitations of up to $25,000.

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100-150 donors/prospects and conduct outreach to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward them on behalf of the University and Athletic Department.

• Identify, research, and write individualized proposals for solicitation and stewardship activities regarding gift donors for annual, capital, and endowment gifts for the athletics programs in coordination with the Senior Associate AD for Advancement and Revenue Generation and the University Institutional Advancement staff.

• Works to cultivate existing, larger annual fund and greater donor relationships with the intent of sustaining and increasing the relationship with the donor. Meet individually with Bulldog Club donors, alumni, and fans in an effort to increase ticket sales, fundraising, and revenue generation.

• Meet with 15-18 significant prospects each month to meet fundraising and key performance metrics.

• Assist in directing all cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation strategies for private support from donors and prospects, with a specific focus on new donors.

• Work directly with coaches and the Director of Drake Relays to support the development and implementation strategies to achieve individual team, and Drake Relays fundraising goals. - (Essential) 

Increasing Ticket Sales Revenue (20%)

• Works directly with Drake Athletics Marketing and Ticketing staff to develop strategic and creative solutions to increase revenue and attendance through season ticket sales, individual game sales, premium seating, and group ticket sales.

• Works directly with Drake Ticket Office staff to streamline the ticket sales and annual giving process in addition to allocating seating, hospitality, parking, and other Bulldog Club benefits. - (Essential)

Other duties as assigned (20%)

• Assist in developing annual athletics fundraising goals, objectives and athletic department private fundraising priorities in cooperation with the Senior Associate AD for Advancement and Revenue Generation. Design and implement strategies to achieve the identified goals and objectives.

• Assist with budget management and recommendations as well as monitor expenses accordingly.

• Expected to successfully collaborate with on-campus entities working on behalf of athletics (i.e. Marketing/Communications, Advancement, Alumni Association, etc.)

• Coordinate the forwarding of checks and cash to the University Institutional Advancement office for accurate reporting of all financial records.

• Update Raiser’s Edge software on a consistent and timely basis regarding athletic donor database and records, and activities related to donor interaction. - (Essential)

Salary & Benefits

The salary for these positions is competitive with peer schools and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts. If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time with our digital benefits guide: Drake Benefits Guide (Plan Year 2024).

One of our very popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Drake also participates in two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children. You can learn about both the tuition waiver policy and tuition exchange programs here: Tuition Benefits.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Applicants are asked to complete the online application and attach a resume and cover letter.

Review of Applications Begins: 

A review of applications will begin immediately. This position will remain open until filled.

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