Under the direction of the Associate Athletics Director for Development, responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Research, contact, solicitation and stewardship of major gift prospects ($25,000 and above);
• Coordination of donor activities at select athletic events;
• Representation of the Athletic Department at University and community events.

The Director of Development for Major Gifts (Development Officer II) is responsible for raising gifts to support the mission, vision and priorities of USU Athletics. The position will focus on the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of athletics major gift prospects/donors. The position is responsible for achieving identified goals and objectives established by the Associate Athletics Director for Development in coordination with the Athletic Director and Vice President of Advancement. The position will also work closely with various members of the advancement division, coaching staff, athletic development staff, and other appropriate campus and external groups.  The position will help further the Athletic Development Mission, which is to invite alumni and friends of the university to support Aggie athletics through engagement and philanthropy.

• Soliciting and closing major gifts is critical, with a primary focus on increasing both dollars and donors to athletics.
• Working within the framework of the Prospect Management System, develop and maintain relationships with approximately 75 major athletics donor prospects.
• Developing strategies to discover, qualify, cultivate, and solicit major donor prospects and refining plans to match donors’ needs and desires.
• Drafting written proposals for prospect presentations.
• Meeting annual goals as established by the Associate Athletics Director in collaboration with the Athletic Director and Vice President of Advancement.
• Cultivate and solicit prospective donors for gifts to support Aggie Athletics including the Blue A Society, Big Blue Scholarship Fund, Merlin Olsen Fund, Wayne Estes
• Fund, Capital Projects, Sport Gift Accounts, and other athletics related funds.
• Developing collaborative relationships with other gift officers and athletics and advancement personnel to advance the achievement of goals.
• Significant travel, including overnight, is required.
• Willingness to work athletics events, including nights and weekends, is required.    

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Persistence and resourcefulness in developing and executing solicitation strategies and closing gifts/sales.
• Commitment to following NCAA rules.  
• Ability to travel frequently.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree
• 2 or more years of successful major gift experience in college athletics fundraising.
• Experience in college athletics as a student-athlete, coach, or administrator.
• Knowledge and experience in using fundraising software and CRM systems.
• Experience designing and executing capital and comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
• Understanding of priority seating programs including benefit fulfillment, and athletic development industry standards.
• Record of success in establishing positive relationships with boosters, alumni, students, faculty and staff; ability to work productively with the university and the community. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong communication skills, including excellent writing and editing skills.
• Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information.
• Highly developed organizational skills, including the ability to work under pressure to handle multiple prospects and requests, and meet competing deadlines.
• Ability to foster positive interpersonal relationships and professional image with external and internal constituencies.

Along with the online application, please attach:

1.    Resume to be uploaded in the Candidate Profile

2.    Cover Letter to be typed/psted into a text box at the end of the application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

The Division of Advancement is a welcoming office where teamwork and inclusiveness are highly valued. Advancement staff are engaged in the meaningful work of securing private financial resources to fuel Utah State University's mission by creating gratifying gift and engagement experiences for USU's generous and passionate alumni and friends. Comprising the division are the office of the Vice President, the USU Foundation & Board, Advancement Services, the Alumni Association (Alumni Engagement), Gift Planning, Corporations and Foundations, Strategic Communications, Stewardship, the Annual Fund and ACE (Alumni Center for Engagement). Furthermore, the division coordinates all fundraising efforts across campus, including colleges, various programs, extension campuses, and USU Athletics. Through the collaboration of these units, the Division of Advancement is able to achieve significant annual fundraising goals by inspiring stakeholders to invest their time and resources in Utah State University. 

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023