Sr Associate Athletic Director of Development

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview:

The Senior Associate Athletic Director of Development for Athletics at Merrimack College is responsible for securing significant philanthropic support for the College’s athletic programs. The role involves managing relationships with high net-worth individuals and corporations, developing strategies for major gifts, and collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance fundraising efforts. The position requires a proactive approach to engage prospects and donors, ensuring successful cultivation of and solicitation of gifts to support the College’s mission and athletic initiatives.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of approximately up to 100 high net-worth individuals and corporations, building deep philanthropic relationships and soliciting major gifts of $100,000and above.

• Develop and implement strategies for cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major gift prospects, successfully moving them through the qualification and cultivation processes to solicitation.

• Develop and implement strategies for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewardship corporate sponsorships.

• Conduct a minimum of 15 face-to-face meetings per month.

• Travel locally and nationally to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects and donors.

• Engage in Athletics, Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) and Revenue Sharing strategic initiatives in accordance with NCAA and conference rules and policies.

• Grow the Athletic Board of Advisors, individuals who provide both philanthropic support and strategic advice to the Department of Athletics, coaches and leadership.

• Partner with Athletic leadership, development colleagues, coaches, trustees, and other volunteers to identify opportunities for prospect engagement within the teams.

• Prepare written briefings and solicitation strategies for senior leadership and coach visits with prospective donors, as well as follow-up documentation and correspondence.

• Prepare proposals for gift solicitations.

• Maintain records of activities and engagements in Slate.

• Develop and execute documented stewardship plans for all major gift donors.

• Attend advancement events, including Homecoming, Commencement, President’s Cup Golf Tournament.

• Assume additional responsibilities as required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in direct frontline fundraising in major and planned gifts, including experience with Athletic fundraising.

• Demonstrated effectiveness in working with a diverse student body, coaches, parents, staff and other constituents.

• Ability to establish credibility and confidence with stakeholders.

• Exceptional collaboration and interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively engage with all levels within the College.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with executive-level alumni.

• Ability to work independently and formulate creative strategies and effective moves management for major gift advancement.

• Exceptional organizational, verbal and written communication skills.

• Flexibility and willingness to assume new tasks and special assignments as needed.

• Strong technology skills including proficiency in Google applications and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).

• Ability to anticipate and embrace change; demonstrate willingness to to achieve, acquire, and utilize new skills and challenging tasks; and is flexible in changing conditions.

• Extensive experience in the successful solicitation of five-, six, and seven-figure gifts working with individuals and families.

• A deep appreciation for Merrimack’s mission, goals and culture and proven ability to create engagement and fundraising strategies tied to the mission and strategic priorities.

• Strong motivation to succeed in a fast-paced and goal oriented environment. Self starter as well as a team player.

• Flexibility and willingness to travel as a representative of Merrimack College.

• Evening and weekend work required as needed.

• Must have a valid unrestricted U.S. Driver’s License for one year, and maintain throughout employment an insurable (as determined by the College’s insurer’s criteria) or a satisfactory driving record.

• Prior fundraising experience in higher education preferred.

Application Materials Should Include:

• Resume

• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Work Location

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building unity within our community. We seek to foster belonging, promote access, and create opportunities for all community members. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts, and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students from 43 states and 42 countries. The College features more than 100 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: Graduate School of Counseling and Social Work, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering and Computational Sciences, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Education and Social Policy, and the Girard School of Business. The College’s suburban 240-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in the towns of North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 33rd in the Regional Universities North category in 2024. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.