Assistant Director, External Relations

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College / VP Area: Development & Alumni Rel
Work type: Staff
Location: Newark, DE/Hybrid
Categories: Development & Alumni Relations, Full Time

Under the limited direction of the Associate Director, Business Engagement and Philanthropy the Assistant Director, Annual Giving and Events, is responsible for the coordination between the athletics development team, the athletics external relations team and the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics fundraising efforts. The Assistant Director will be instrumental in tracking and implementing strategic development initiatives to provide increased revenue in support of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Services Mission of “Achieving Excellence Together”.

The Assistant Director collaborates with other Development and Alumni Relations staff and the Athletics External team to meet Athletics’ fundraising goals.

• Develops, organizes, manages, and implements short and long-range annual giving fundraising plans, goals, strategies, and policies for alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends, all aimed at increasing giving, participation, and involvement.
• Develops comprehensive strategy for building the culture of philanthropy amongst the students, alumni, parents, and friends of the University and Athletics with goals of consistently increasing annual fund total contributions and numbers of donors year over year.
• Manages direct response marketing for the Blue & Gold Fund through direct mail, phone, email, and web strategies in coordination with the Development and Alumni Relations’ Office of Annual Giving.
• Executes the name-a-locker program, pledge per win program, I Heart UD Day, Giving Tuesday, crowdfunding campaigns, auctions and other annual giving strategies to bring in revenue for all 21 varsity sports.
• Supervises interns in the athletics development office.

• Maintains a special events comprehensive program that continually engages and connects with the audiences of Delaware Athletics.
• Engages and inspires our audiences through the creation of exciting and innovative event experiences that include but are not limited to: donor appreciation events, homecoming, Hall of Fame induction, championship celebrations, alumni reunions, golf outings, student‑athlete graduation, home and away game tailgates, small donor dinners/events, etc.
• In partnership with other members of external relations, clearly articulate desired and measurable outcomes for each event and examine event return on investment when applicable.
• Plans, manages, and executes logistics for Delaware Athletics special events.
• Creates event documents including run of shows/scripts, memos, maps, signage, nametags and other informational materials.

• In conjunction with the development team, executes initiatives for a volunteer-based fundraising and engagement program by cultivating relationships with former student‑athletes, young alumni, parents, and friends to help meet annual fundraising objectives.
• Supports coaches and staff with alumni and donor communications and events. Holds teams accountable for alumni communications and monitors the messaging within these communications to ensure department alignment.
• Manages the acknowledgement process for donor gifts, season ticket holders, single‑game ticket buyers, and other Delaware Athletics audiences.
• Manages the annual thank‑a‑thon to thank all donors through student‑athletes, coaches and staff.
• Assists with gameday donor stewardship including oversight of gameday donor space operations, including the Sears Suite during football and BCC Club for Delaware Diamond Society donors during basketball, as well as Honorary Captain and Supporter of the Game recognition programs.
• Implements a holistic engagement program that demonstrates the impact of constituent‑giving through written reports and other strategic communication.
• Assists with the endowed athletic scholarship matching and stewardship process.
• Oversees gameday donor space operations, including the Sears Suite during football and BCC Club for Delaware Diamond Society donors during…