Lafayette College offers an outstanding opportunity for a motivated and driven individual to become part of an accomplished development team. Lafayette is a highly selective, liberal arts college with an endowment ranked in the top 2% nationally of independent colleges. Presently, the College is in the silent phase of a $600M capital campaign.
The Senior Associate Athletic Director for Advancement will oversee all aspects of the Athletic Advancement department, ensuring a coordinated and high-performing operation that delivers on fundraising goals and enhances the overall donor experience. Central to this role’s success is the strategic management, mentorship, and development of the direct team, specifically overseeing the Associate Director and, through them, the Assistant Director. This individual will build a cohesive, aligned unit where the direct team is highly leveraged to maximize pipeline growth, donor engagement, and annual giving benchmarks.
The position will also develop fundraising strategies, goals, and metrics for all 23 varsity sports, the Maroon Club, and the College’s comprehensive athletics fundraising efforts. This individual will manage a portfolio of prospects capable of principal, major ($100,000+), and leadership ($25,000+) gifts, guiding the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors. The role requires a strategic and collaborative approach, working closely with Advancement colleagues in Individual Giving, Parent Philanthropy, and the Maroon Club, as well as with Athletics leadership, coaches, and volunteers, to achieve shared objectives.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential:
Strategic Leadership, Team Management & Advancement Planning
● Serve as the primary liaison between the Athletic Director and the Division of Advancement on athletics fundraising strategy and priorities.
● Provide direct supervision, strategic direction, and mentorship to the Associate Director, while ensuring the Assistant Director is effectively managed and integrated into the team’s broader fundraising objectives.
● Foster a collaborative and high-performing team culture, ensuring that the direct team is aligned, motivated, and equipped to hit individual performance metrics and collective department goals.
● Provide a comprehensive, strategic view of athletics advancement efforts, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and campaign priorities.
● Collaborate with the Athletic Director, Vice President for Advancement, Associate Vice President for Development and senior institutional leaders on the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major athletics donors.
● Lead advancement coordination and planning for significant athletics fundraising initiatives, capital projects, and campaign efforts.
● Participate as a member of the Principal Gifts and Major Gifts team, contributing to prospect strategy discussions and institutional fundraising planning.
● Develop and implement strategic initiatives designed to enhance philanthropic support and engagement across the athletics program.
Major Gifts & Donor Engagement
● Manage and actively cultivate a portfolio of 100-125 principal, major, and leadership gift prospects and donors, including regular travel for donor visits and relationship development.
● Serve as a visible and highly engaged representative of athletics advancement at institutional, alumni, donor, and athletics events.
● Partner with senior leadership, including the President and other advancement officers, on high-level donor cultivation and solicitation strategies.
● Oversee engagement strategies for priority athletics programs, including football, men’s soccer, and men’s and women’s basketball.
● Support and advance planned giving opportunities related to athletics philanthropy in partnership with advancement colleagues.
Collaboration & Financial Coordination
● Serve as a liaison between Athletics, Athletics Finance, and College Finance to support fundraising planning, reporting, and resource alignment.
● Collaborate across departments to ensure effective communication, donor stewardship, and execution of advancement initiatives.
● Support the integration of athletics advancement efforts within broader institutional fundraising objectives and campaigns.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education, Experience and Knowledge:
● Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
● 8–10 years of progressive experience in fundraising (or comparable sales role), with a strong focus on major gifts, leadership giving, and annual giving programs.
● Demonstrated success in managing multi-channel campaigns and achieving measurable results.
● Proven track record of successfully managing, mentoring, and developing professional fundraising staff.
● Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
KEY COMPETENCIES
● Strategic Leadership & Team Management: Ability to set vision, align initiatives with institutional priorities, and directly lead, mentor, and maximize the performance of a professional team.
● Fundraising Acumen: Deep understanding of major gifts ($100k+), leadership gifts ($25k+), leadership annual giving (Marquis Society $2,500+), donor behavior, and CRM databases.
● Team Leadership & Development: Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.
● Collaboration & Influence: Skilled at building partnerships and working cross-functionally to achieve shared goals.
● Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft strategic proposals for prospects.
● Volunteer Engagement: Experience effectively recruiting, training, and managing volunteers to advance fundraising goals.
WORKING CONDITIONS and PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
● Schedule Flexibility & Commitment: Demands irregular, extended hours (50–60+ hours/week during peak seasons) plus travel, including select nights, weekends, and holidays to support special events.
● Work Environment: Fluctuates between a standard office setting and indoor/outdoor athletic venues with significant travel required.
● Physical Demands & Stamina: Requires the physical resilience to stand, walk, bend, crouch, and climb stadium stairs in preparation for and during events.
The College reserves the right to change or reassign job duties or combine positions at any time.
Qualified applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references https://apply.interfolio.com/192451
Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community, one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. All Lafayette operations reflect the College’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) initiatives, and Lafayette welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.