Director of RAM Athletic Fund​/Annual Giving

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Summary:

The Director of Ram Athletic Fund/Annual Giving leads efforts to raise annual donations in support of VCU Athletics. This role manages a group of donors and prospects, building relationships and asking for support through consistent outreach and engagement. The position oversees annual fundraising efforts, including campaigns, events, and communications, with a focus on increasing the number of donors, keeping current donors engaged, and growing overall giving.

A key part of the role is expanding support through alumni outreach—especially former student-athletes, Olympic sports programs, and young alumni—as well as working with coaches, administrators, and the Alumni Association to support fundraising and fan engagement goals. The Director also ensures donor information is accurate, tracks progress, and helps plan events and initiatives that encourage giving.

Unit: Athletics MBU

Department: Athletics Office

Department
Summary: VCU Athletics’ mission is to win conference and national championships, provide a first-class student-athlete experience, serve as a source of pride for the University and community and cultivate graduates who excel as leaders.

The Director of Ram Athletic Fund/Annual Giving leads efforts to raise annual donations in support of VCU Athletics. This role manages a group of donors and prospects, building relationships and asking for support through consistent outreach and engagement. The position oversees annual fundraising efforts, including campaigns, events, and communications, with a focus on increasing the number of donors, keeping current donors engaged, and growing overall giving.

A key part of the role is expanding support through alumni outreach—especially former student-athletes, Olympic sports programs, and young alumni—as well as working with coaches, administrators, and the Alumni Association to support fundraising and fan engagement goals. The Director also ensures donor information is accurate, tracks progress, and helps plan events and initiatives that encourage giving.

• Prospect, cultivate, solicit, and steward primarily annual gifts, managing a portfolio of 100+ prospects and donors, including key Ram Athletic Fund donors with $25,000+ giving capacity.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with a portfolio of supporters and prospects while identifying and qualifying leadership annual giving prospects to strengthen pipeline development.
• Utilize personalized fundraising targets to communicate with Athletics leadership about fundraising effectiveness and for personal accountability.
• Leverage technology, including social media and video tools, to enhance engagement, stewardship, and solicitation in a targeted, high-velocity manner.

• Oversee the annual fund for the Department of Athletics, including all restricted and unrestricted giving to the Ram Athletic Fund;
• Grow Ram Athletic Fund membership, increase donor retention, and enhance philanthropic revenue;
• Develop and execute annual fundraising strategies, including direct mail, email, digital campaigns, and giving day initiatives;
• Manage a comprehensive annual fund communications calendar and solicitation cycles;
• Segment donor audiences and tailor appeals based on giving history, affinity, and engagement data;
• Establish and track performance metrics, including participation rate, average gift size, and donor retention;
• Prepare reports and analysis on fundraising progress, donor trends, and campaign performance;
• Manage annual fund budget, including revenue forecasting and resource allocation across campaigns and initiatives;
• Oversee multichannel solicitation strategies, including digital giving, crowdfunding,…