Senior Associate Athletic Director, Development - Cal State Long Beach

About the role

The Senior Associate Athletic Director, Development serves as the department's chief athletics development officer. This executive leadership position is responsible for leading the comprehensive athletics fundraising program, with a strong emphasis on securing major gifts of $50,000+ and principal gifts of $1 million+. The position leads a team of six, including two direct reports within Athletics Development, while also providing sport supervision for an NCAA Division I men's and women's program.

In addition to coaching staff, the sport supervision portfolio includes assistant coaching staff and student assistants, providing leadership and operational oversight that extends beyond fundraising into the broader success of the athletics department.

You'll work closely with university leadership, coaches, donors, alumni, and community partners to strengthen philanthropic support, advance strategic priorities, and help position Long Beach State Athletics for long-term success.

In addition to personally managing a major gift portfolio, you'll provide leadership for athletics development operations, annual and planned giving initiatives, donor engagement, and a high-performing development team.

Responsibilities

• Lead Long Beach State Athletics' comprehensive philanthropic strategy, overseeing major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, donor engagement, campaigns, and fundraising operations.
• Personally manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts of $25,000+ with a focus on gifts above $100,000, including principal gifts at the $1 million+ level from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Develop and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that deepen donor engagement and increase philanthropic investment.
• Supervise and mentor athletics development staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performing fundraising culture.
• Partner with Athletics, University Relations and Development, coaches, and campus leadership to align fundraising priorities with institutional goals.
• Lead fundraising efforts supporting scholarships, capital projects, facility enhancements, and comprehensive campaigns.
• Serve as a member of the Executive Director of Athletics' Senior Staff, contributing to strategic planning and department-wide leadership.
• Represent Long Beach State Athletics with alumni, corporate partners, volunteers, donors, and community stakeholders to strengthen relationships and expand philanthropic support.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Five or more years of successful major gift fundraising experience, including donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Demonstrated knowledge of comprehensive fundraising, including major gifts, annual giving, capital campaigns, planned giving, prospect research, proposal development, and donor engagement.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational, planning, and strategic thinking abilities.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience with the ability to develop and motivate high-performing teams.
• Ability to build productive partnerships with campus leaders, coaches, alumni, volunteers, and external constituents.
• Proficiency with CRM systems and standard business applications.
• Valid California driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience fundraising for an NCAA Division I athletics program.
• Experience leading comprehensive athletics fundraising initiatives within higher education.
• Demonstrated success securing major and principal gifts.
• Experience developing fundraising strategies that leverage data, analytics, and donor insights.