University of Colorado Boulder - Deputy Athletic Director for Philanthropy & Strategic Initiatives

About the CU Boulder

The University of Colorado Boulder is Colorado’s leading public research university, transforming lives since 1876. As the state’s flagship institution and a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), CU Boulder is internationally recognized for excellence in research, teaching, and public service. CU Boulder is home to five Nobel Laureates and is the only university to send space instruments to every planet in the solar system.

The university aligns its efforts to advance research and creative excellence, global sustainability impact, and the success of all students, faculty, and staff.

CU Athletics plays a vital role in advancing the university’s mission, spirit, and national profile. Through competitive excellence, the student‑athlete experience, and meaningful community engagement, CU Athletics serves as a front porch to the institution and a powerful platform for philanthropic investment.

The Deputy Athletic Director for Philanthropy & Strategic Initiatives serves as the senior executive leader for all philanthropic strategy, fundraising operations, and donor engagement for CU Athletics and the Buff Club. This position provides vision, leadership, and execution for a comprehensive athletics fundraising program that drives transformational private support, strengthens alignment between CU Athletics and CU Boulder Advancement, and advances institutional priorities.

As CU Boulder launches its first‑ever campus‑based comprehensive campaign, this role will play a central leadership role in shaping athletics’ campaign priorities and philanthropic strategy.

The position will lead a modern, integrated fundraising enterprise focused on major gifts, principal gifts, annual giving, premium seating philanthropy, donor stewardship, and engagement experiences. The Deputy AD will personally cultivate and solicit the department’s largest and most complex gifts while building and managing a high‑performing development team.

This role carries a dual reporting relationship to the Director of Athletics and the Vice Chancellor for Advancement and serves as a key member of the Athletics Executive Leadership Team and a senior leader within CU Boulder Advancement. In addition, the role may include, at the discretion of the Director of Athletics, sport oversight responsibilities that provide broader departmental leadership exposure and meaningful professional development.

• Serve as the chief architect of CU Athletics’ comprehensive philanthropy and strategic initiatives program.
• Establish and execute a multi‑year fundraising vision aligned with Athletics strategic priorities and campus‑wide advancement goals.
• Partner closely with the Director of Athletics, Vice Chancellor for Advancement, and senior campus leaders to identify, prioritize, and advance transformational funding opportunities.
• Provide strategic counsel to Athletics leadership on philanthropic trends, campaign planning, donor strategy, and revenue diversification.
• Ensure strong integration and alignment between Athletics Development and Advancement donor and prospective donor systems, policies, and best practices.

• Serve as a frontline principal gift officer, personally managing a national portfolio of high‑capacity donors and prospective donors.
• Lead all stages of the donor lifecycle: discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Secure multiple seven‑ and eight‑figure gifts over time and consistently close significant six and seven‑figure commitments annually.
• Partner with the Director of Athletics, head coaches, senior administrators, and campus and system leaders in high‑level donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop compelling philanthropic investment opportunities tied to facilities, endowments, scholarships, program excellence, NIL‑supportive initiatives, the Crawford Family WHOLE Student‑Athlete model, and the overall student‑athlete experience.

• Provide executive oversight of the Buff Club and all annual giving programs supporting CU…