Director of Athletics and Recreation Development

About the role

The Director of Athletics and Recreation Development will drive fundraising strategy for the athletics and recreation program at Colby College, building on a strong foundation of annual, endowment, and capital gift performance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of growing principal, major, leadership, and annual gift fundraising for athletics and recreation, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects and donors for the program.
• Establish revenue projections for each team and execute the fundraising strategy to achieve set goals by working in close collaboration with the Harold Alfond Director of Athletics and head coaches.
• Lead prospect managers in solicitations and other guidance for athletics prospects, partnering on establishing solicitation targets and strategies, and driving the total pipeline for Athletics fundraising.
• Support coaches in solicitations, fundraising strategy, and engagement of alumni and families who support their teams.
• Manage, attend, and network at several athletics-oriented and team-based events throughout the year, including, but not limited to, home games, select away games, alumni days, engagement events, and other key events.
• In partnership with athletics, identify opportunities for key celebratory events that will unlock philanthropic support.
• Lead and elevate the management, stewardship, and solicitation activity of 20+ philanthropic varsity boards, activating their full potential to grow peer-to-peer fundraising and enhance athletics, and maintaining a pipeline of potential board members with philanthropic capacity and inclination.
• Oversee marketing and communication strategies to continuously promote opportunities for communicating the priorities of Colby Athletics and Recreation to a broad audience of prospects and donors.
• Proactively manage a portfolio of high-level prospects and donors.
• Oversee and maintain a robust stewardship program to appropriately recognize and thank all donors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and long-term while successfully attending to more immediate goals and tasks;
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to motivate and inspire donors, volunteers, coaches, and colleagues;
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including superb relationship skills and ability to network with people across a wide range of levels of power and influence;
• Exceptional organizational skills, ability to consistently meet simultaneous deadlines and follow through on assignments promptly, and attention to detail;
• Able to handle confidential information tactfully and exercise discretion;
• Strong, self-motivated work ethic; flexibility; and proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively and constructively as a member of a diverse community;
• Highly developed computer skills including experience using Microsoft Office Suite; Google Suite; email, web, and database applications, as well as an interest in and ability to learn new computer programs with ease and in a self-guided manner;
• Experience with fundraising software;
• A focus on teamwork, collaborative leadership, strategic thinking, workflow and the ability to effectively manage time and multiple tasks are essential;
• Willingness to travel and to work hours outside the normal working day to be present and networking at games and events (i.e. nights and weekends);
• Valid driver’s license required and must meet the College’s Fleet Safety Policy requirements.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years of experience in advancement (or a closely related field) is required, with proven experience managing a portfolio, closing major and leadership gifts, and managing staff;
• Experience in soliciting athletics prospects or otherwise managing an athletics fundraising program is preferred;
• Flexibility to travel and work evenings or weekends;
• A bachelor’s degree is required.