Associate Athletic Director, Development (Administrator I)

About the role

San Diego State University is seeking an experienced Associate Athletic Director, Development to join the Athletics and University Relations and Development (URAD) teams. Reporting to the Athletic Director, the successful candidate will manage a portfolio of 150+ major gift prospects, cultivate donor relationships, and lead major gift initiatives to support SDSU Athletics.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 150+ major gift prospects and oversee the full donor lifecycle, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Secure major and planned gifts in support of SDSU Athletics priorities and initiatives.
• Develop and implement donor strategies in collaboration with Athletics leadership, development professionals, coaches, and volunteers.
• Represent SDSU Athletics and the university in donor meetings, events, and community engagements.
• Help establish and execute short- and long-term fundraising goals for Athletics Development.
• Provide strategic direction for donor cultivation and stewardship efforts in partnership with Athletics Development and URAD teams.
• Oversee the Assistant Director, Development role, and support the continued growth and effectiveness of Athletics Development operations.
• Collaborate with leadership to strengthen fundraising programs and advance departmental priorities.
• Oversee athletics endowed scholarship and planned giving initiatives, including the Coryell Legacy Society program.
• Coordinate and execute signature donor engagement events, including the annual Coryell Legacy Society Dinner.
• Support strategies that encourage long-term philanthropic investment in SDSU Athletics.
• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, donors, volunteers, community leaders, and university stakeholders.
• Serve as an ambassador for SDSU Athletics and advocate for the needs of student-athletes.
• Collaborate across the university to advance fundraising priorities, donor engagement, and campus partnerships.
• Support special projects and initiatives that contribute to the success of Athletics Development and the broader university mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, in a relevant field or combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of major gifts fundraising or closely related experience managing high-value, relationship-based revenue portfolios.
• Demonstrated success closing relationship-based commitments of $50,000+ (one-time or cumulative over time), preferably in a philanthropic setting.
• Demonstrated success as a development professional in a donor-centered fundraising environment.
• Experience across multiple areas of advancement, including prospect management, annual giving, donor relations, communications, gift administration, and gift acceptance.
• Ability to research, analyze, and interpret biographical, corporate, foundation, and philanthropic information to support fundraising strategies.
• Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with donors, volunteers, campus partners, and external stakeholders while representing the university professionally.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, evolving, and goal-oriented organizational environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience fundraising within a large, complex university or intercollegiate athletics environment.
• Experience managing a large portfolio of major gift prospects and successfully upgrading donors to higher levels of philanthropic support.
• Experience with comprehensive or capital campaigns and fundraising technology platforms such as Salesforce, Paciolan, Ticketmaster, or Ellucian.

Benefits

The expected hiring salary for this position ranges from $105,000 to $115,000 annually. SDSU offers a comprehensive benefits package including generous leave benefits, retirement security, comprehensive health coverage, educational opportunities, and voluntary benefits.