Director / Assistant Athletic Director of Development

Position Title & Department:

 Director / Assistant Athletic Director of Development; Athletics Posting #

5468

Department Description:

As part of the University of San Diego, a Roman Catholic University, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is committed to advancing academic and athletic excellence and enhancing students' lives while promoting the University of San Diego.

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

This position is responsible for helping meet the fundraising objectives of the USD Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Under the supervision of the Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Development, the Director /Assistant Athletic Director of Development for the Torero Athletic Fund (TAF) is a frontline fundraiser and team leader responsible for driving philanthropic support for USD Athletics through annual fund growth, major gifts, and exceptional stewardship. The Assistant Athletic Director owns the annual fund strategy for TAF, manages a dynamic portfolio of prospects (leadership annual and major gift), and partners closely with coaches, Athletics leadership, and Advancement colleagues to deliver a best‑in‑class donor experience. The role also oversees signature stewardship and engagement events that deepen donor loyalty and lifetime value.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Annual Fund Leadership & Strategy: 

• Develop and execute the annual fundraising plan for TAF, including revenue, membership growth, and retention targets across giving levels.
• Own the leadership annual giving program for Athletics (e.g., $1,000–$24,999), including segmentation, appeals, and personalized cultivation plans.
• Partner with Marketing/Communications to produce an integrated calendar of campaigns (email, direct mail, social, game‑day, text, and digital giving days).
• Coordinate with Ticketing and Business Operations to align benefits, priority points/seating, and renewal processes with TAF membership tiers.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Serve as the primary liaison to coaches and sport administrators on TAF strategy, aligning messaging and opportunities across programs while maintaining a centralized benefits structure.
• Provide guidance to staff and student workers supporting annual fund, stewardship, and events; may directly supervise coordinators or assistants.
• Model USD’s values and commitment to student‑athlete success; contribute to a culture of inclusivity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Major Gift Fundraising: 

• Manage a portfolio of 50-100 prospects with capacity at $10K+; conduct 100-125 annual prospect meetings with a focus on qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Create clear strategies and written next steps for each prospect; prepare proposals and gift agreements in partnership with Advancement Services.
• Secure multi‑year leadership commitments to TAF and, when aligned, sport‑specific or capital priorities in collaboration with central development and coaches.
• Leverage matching gift programs and corporate philanthropy to maximize donor impact and close rates.

Pipeline, Data & Reporting

• Maintain timely, accurate contact reports, strategies, and proposals in the CRM; use dashboards to monitor progress to goal.