Associate Athletics Director for Development - OVCA
Association of Fundraising Professionals, Chicago, IL, United States
Overview
Position: Associate Athletics Director for Development. Location: Chicago, IL. Department: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Department of Athletics. Reports to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Advancement and collaborates with the Department of Athletics to lead fundraising efforts for Flames Athletics. Requisition ID : 1040543 Salary Range : The budgeted salary range for the position is $90,000 - $100,000. The final offer is determined based on market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, and budget constraints. Posting Close Date : May 8, 2026 Key Responsibilities
Manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors rated $25,000 and above, including alumni and friends of the athletics program, applying appropriate strategies and tactics in prospect and portfolio management. Develops personalized engagement and solicitation strategies to maximize each prospect’s philanthropic capacity. Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, and solicits prospects in support of athletics funding priorities. Meets or exceeds annual performance metrics, including asks, closes, and qualifications per year with UIC alumni and donors to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major gift donations. Collaborates with athletics leadership to build a compelling case for support; presents funding opportunities clearly and works with central communications and donor relations when appropriate. Leverages departmental and campus events as cultivation and stewardship touchpoints, coordinating with OVCA and Athletics partners to align activities with fundraising goals. Facilitates and coordinates all communications with assigned prospects; tracks development activity and donor interactions in the fundraising database. Works with the director of portfolio management and researchers to identify and move prospects through the pipeline. Promotes a culture of compliance with UIC, Missouri Valley Conference, and NCAA rules. Performs other related duties and participates in special fundraising projects as assigned. Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree or foreign equivalent; Master’s Degree preferred. Minimum of 5 years of successful fundraising or related experience, preferably in college athletics or higher education. Proven success in securing and conducting face-to-face meetings for major solicitations. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team-based environment. General understanding of NCAA rules and regulations as they pertain to donors and benefits. Excellent communication, presentation, business development, and organizational skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and fundraising software. Benefits and Equal Opportunity
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits, including health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, paid time off, and tuition waivers for employees and dependents. EEO Statement : The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and/or veteran status. Required employment notices and posters are available for review on the official site.
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Position: Associate Athletics Director for Development. Location: Chicago, IL. Department: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Department of Athletics. Reports to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Advancement and collaborates with the Department of Athletics to lead fundraising efforts for Flames Athletics. Requisition ID : 1040543 Salary Range : The budgeted salary range for the position is $90,000 - $100,000. The final offer is determined based on market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, and budget constraints. Posting Close Date : May 8, 2026 Key Responsibilities
Manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors rated $25,000 and above, including alumni and friends of the athletics program, applying appropriate strategies and tactics in prospect and portfolio management. Develops personalized engagement and solicitation strategies to maximize each prospect’s philanthropic capacity. Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, and solicits prospects in support of athletics funding priorities. Meets or exceeds annual performance metrics, including asks, closes, and qualifications per year with UIC alumni and donors to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major gift donations. Collaborates with athletics leadership to build a compelling case for support; presents funding opportunities clearly and works with central communications and donor relations when appropriate. Leverages departmental and campus events as cultivation and stewardship touchpoints, coordinating with OVCA and Athletics partners to align activities with fundraising goals. Facilitates and coordinates all communications with assigned prospects; tracks development activity and donor interactions in the fundraising database. Works with the director of portfolio management and researchers to identify and move prospects through the pipeline. Promotes a culture of compliance with UIC, Missouri Valley Conference, and NCAA rules. Performs other related duties and participates in special fundraising projects as assigned. Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree or foreign equivalent; Master’s Degree preferred. Minimum of 5 years of successful fundraising or related experience, preferably in college athletics or higher education. Proven success in securing and conducting face-to-face meetings for major solicitations. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team-based environment. General understanding of NCAA rules and regulations as they pertain to donors and benefits. Excellent communication, presentation, business development, and organizational skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and fundraising software. Benefits and Equal Opportunity
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits, including health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, paid time off, and tuition waivers for employees and dependents. EEO Statement : The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and/or veteran status. Required employment notices and posters are available for review on the official site.
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