Director of Development - Athletics

Southeast Missouri State University is seeking a motivated, relationship-driven Director of Development to grow philanthropic support for SEMO Athletics and the SEMO Athletics Fund. This position will serve as a frontline fundraiser focused primarily on major gifts, capital project fundraising, leadership annual fund support, and sport-specific fundraising.

The position will work closely with Athletics leadership, University Advancement, coaches, athletics staff, and other campus partners to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors in support of Redhawk student-athletes and Athletics priorities.

• Manage a portfolio of Athletics donors and prospects, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and ongoing relationship management
• Develop and execute fundraising strategies to secure major gifts, sport-specific gifts, annual leadership gifts, capital project support, endowment support, and other philanthropic commitments for SEMO Athletics
• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, former student-athletes, season ticket holders, parents, community leaders, corporate partners, and friends of SEMO Athletics
• Help grow investment in SEMO Athletics by identifying donor upgrade opportunities, cultivating mid-level donors, supporting donor renewals, and assisting with annual giving strategies as needed
• Prepare donor proposals, case statements, stewardship reports, impact communications, and other materials that clearly communicate the value and impact of supporting SEMO Athletics
• Coordinate donor engagement and solicitation strategies in partnership with University Advancement, including prospect management, gift processing, stewardship, database activity, campaign alignment, and reporting
• Partner with coaches and sport administrators across all SEMO sports to identify fundraising priorities, engage prospects, and support approved sport-specific fundraising initiatives
• Support the successful operation of fundraising events, home athletic events, emerging revenue generation initiatives, and other external engagement opportunities
• Use Raiser’s Edge NXT, Paciolan/Pac Fund, and other platforms to manage prospects, track sales activity, document partner communication, monitor inventory, measure performance, and support revenue forecasting
• Represent SEMO Athletics at home athletic events, select away athletic events, fundraising events, donor functions, community events, University gatherings, and regional engagement opportunities, including evenings, weekends, and occasional travel as required
• Ensure all fundraising activity is conducted with professionalism, confidentiality, ethical fundraising practices, and compliance with University policies, Foundation procedures, NCAA rules, conference regulations, and applicable state and federal guidelines
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of University Advancement and SEMO Athletics priorities

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum two years of professional experience in fundraising, athletics development, university advancement, alumni relations, nonprofit fundraising, sales, or another relationship-based revenue generation field
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, communicate effectively, manage prospects, donors, or customers, and move individuals through a cultivation, solicitation, sales, or stewardship process
• Demonstrated ability or readiness to identify prospects, conduct outreach, make visits, present opportunities, ask for support, close gifts or revenue commitments, and provide appropriate follow-up and stewardship
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including…