Assistant Director, Athletics Annual Giving

Lehigh University's Development and Alumni Relations team is seeking an Assistant Director of Athletics Annual Giving to drive meaningful donor engagement across a storied Division I athletics program. If you're a relationship-builder who understands the power of sport to connect alumni to an institution they love, this role offers real scope to make your mark.

Position Number: S80810

This position is a Grade: 9 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $56,030-$68,190 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Key Accountabilities

* Develop long-term donor relationships to secure a minimum of $150,000 in annual commitments for Lehigh priorities, specifically targeting $1,000+ outright gifts and $5,000+ pledges for unrestricted and sport-specific funds.

* Analyze demographic data, donor analytics, and giving history to establish annual fiscal goals, drive donor participation, and execute personalized outreach through digital and traditional channels.

* Partner with Gift Officers and head coaches to coordinate prospect solicitations, navigate donor dynamics, respond to constituent feedback, and serve as a university representative at on- and off-campus events.

* Manage a dedicated pool of 100-150 Athletics households and prospects, conducting exploratory conversations to qualify interest, identify leadership potential, and transition prospects to Major Gift portfolios.

* Execute all phases of the fundraising cycle-including discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship-through a rigorous schedule of 150-200 substantive contacts and personal visits annually.

* Develop individualized giving plans and pyramids to conduct 30-50 annual fund proposals per year, ensuring 100% outreach to new prospects within 90 days of assignment to meet revenue goals.

* Solicit prospects using video, text, phone, and social media, while crafting high-impact written appeals, customized proposals, and digital content that articulate Lehigh Athletics' priorities.

* Partner with the Athletics Engagement team and alumni volunteers to optimize prospect segmentation by sport, while maintaining strict data integrity through timely database contact reports.

* Collaborates with the Director of Athletics Annual Giving to administer, execute, and monitor comprehensive annual and multi-year philanthropic plans, ensuring alignment between frontline fundraising activities and departmental goals.

* Serves as the project lead for strategic initiatives, while identifying and recommending innovative approaches to enhance fundraising results, donor retention, and departmental strategy.

* Supports the evaluation and continuous improvement of athletics programs by tracking key performance metrics and providing data-driven feedback on program effectiveness.

* Oversee accurate gift booking in alignment with university standards, troubleshoot discrepancies, manage timely travel expense reporting, and provide regular project performance updates.

* Drive event attendance, assist in executing department-wide events like the Athletics Golf Classic and Hall of Fame, and collaborate with the engagement team on volunteer management, alumni career connections, and broad-based donor communications.

* Identify potential alumni volunteers from assigned sports to strengthen the engagement pipeline, while maintaining the flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends to support donor activities and athletic competitions.

Qualifications

* Bachelor's Degree

* Three to five years of related work experience

* Valid Driver's License with a good driving record

* Demonstrated experience in annual giving, fundraising, or donor relations - ideally within athletics, higher education, or a comparable development environment

* Proven ability to manage a donor portfolio and move prospects through a relationship-based solicitation cycle

* Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to represent Lehigh Athletics in front of coaches, donors, and alumni

* Experience working collaboratively across teams and with senior stakeholders to execute shared goals

* Comfort with CRM platforms and data-informed approaches to prospect…