Assistant Director Development Athletics

The Tufts University Advancement division (UA) is a comprehensive development and alumni engagement enterprise with a staff complement of approximately 210 staff members. Functional units within UA include Development/Fundraising, Alumni Engagement, Stewardship and Donor Relations, Special events, Gift Processing, Research, Prospect Management, Gift Planning, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Information Systems and Management, Campaign Planning and Infrastructure Services. UA's mission is to build strong, lifelong relationships with Tufts University's constituents, match donors' interests with the university's needs and priorities, and secure the financial resources necessary for Tufts to achieve excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship. The division is strongly committed to serving the academic agenda of the university, creating a culture of philanthropy in the extended Tufts community, and pursuing excellence and best practices in its work. Integrity, collegiality, diversity, accountability, mutual trust, and respect for the individual as well as the intentions of our donors are the values that guide the division's work.

The position of Assistant Director of Development for Athletics develops and maintains substantive relations with alumni, parents, and friends of Tufts University to raise the significant philanthropic resources necessary to meet the Department of Athletics? annual giving, capital, and endowment needs. The position will be a part of University Advancement, which is responsible for developing relationships with prospective donors through face-to-face visits, donor meals, receptions, and other events, as well as by facilitating meetings with athletics leadership, deans and other members of the faculty and administrative staff. Direct mail, annual reports, publications, and other means of communication are employed to cultivate prospects, develop awareness of the University?s strengths, reputation, needs and priorities while setting the stage for annual and major gift solicitations.

The Assistant Director of Development for Athletics will be responsible for leadership annual and major gift solicitation of alumni, parents, and friends in support of the Tufts' athletics program. S/he is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift- level prospective donors. S/he will manage a portfolio of 120 -150 individual major and special gift prospects. The successful candidate will develop and implement strategic plans aimed at maximizing each individual's philanthropic support by working with the Director of Development for Athletics, other colleagues in Advancement, the Director of Athletics, athletics coaches, academic leaders, and high-level volunteers. The Assistant Director of Development for Athletics will be responsible, along with other members of the team, for articulating and communicating the needs and priorities of the Department of Athletics and individual athletics programs within the context of the University's overall mission, goals and objectives. S/he will seek and arrange face-to-face meetings, work with volunteers and staff, telephone and/or visit prospects as well as identify and qualify prospects. The Assistant Director will collaborate, as appropriate, with colleagues in annual giving, gift planning, parents giving, alumni relations, and other departments to develop and implement comprehensive cultivation and solicitation strategies. The Assistant Director will be expected to materially contribute to the successful achievement of the annual goal by soliciting and securing leadership annual gifts of $10,000 or more, as well as endowment and capital gifts in the range of $100,000 to $1,000,000. The ability to work under pressure and within deadlines is all necessary and important to the successful execution of this position.