Assistant Director, Athletics Annual Giving

Lehigh University's Development and Alumni Relations team is seeking an Assistant Director of Athletics Annual Giving to drive meaningful donor engagement across a storied Division I athletics program. If you're a relationship-builder who understands the power of sport to connect alumni to an institution they love, this role offers real scope to make your mark.

Position Number: S80810

This position is a Grade: 9 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $56,030-$68,190 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop long-term donor relationships to secure a minimum of $150,000 in annual commitments for Lehigh priorities, specifically targeting $1,000+ outright gifts and $5,000+ pledges for unrestricted and sport-specific funds.

• Analyze demographic data, donor analytics, and giving history to establish annual fiscal goals, drive donor participation, and execute personalized outreach through digital and traditional channels.

• Partner with Gift Officers and head coaches to coordinate prospect solicitations, navigate donor dynamics, respond to constituent feedback, and serve as a university representative at on- and off-campus events.

• Manage a dedicated pool of 100–150 Athletics households and prospects, conducting exploratory conversations to qualify interest, identify leadership potential, and transition prospects to Major Gift portfolios.

• Execute all phases of the fundraising cycle—including discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship—through a rigorous schedule of 150–200 substantive contacts and personal visits annually.

• Develop individualized giving plans and pyramids to conduct 30–50 annual fund proposals per year, ensuring 100% outreach to new prospects within 90 days of assignment to meet revenue goals.

• Solicit prospects using video, text, phone, and social media, while crafting high-impact written appeals, customized proposals, and digital content that articulate Lehigh Athletics' priorities.

• Partner with the Athletics Engagement team and alumni volunteers to optimize prospect segmentation by sport, while maintaining strict data integrity through timely database contact reports.

• Collaborates with the Director of Athletics Annual Giving to administer, execute, and monitor comprehensive annual and multi-year philanthropic plans, ensuring alignment between frontline fundraising activities and departmental goals.

• Serves as the project lead for strategic initiatives, while identifying and recommending innovative approaches to enhance fundraising results, donor retention, and departmental strategy.

• Supports the evaluation and continuous improvement of athletics programs by tracking key performance metrics and providing data-driven feedback on program effectiveness.

• Oversee accurate gift booking in alignment with university standards, troubleshoot discrepancies, manage timely travel expense reporting, and provide regular project performance updates.

• Drive event attendance, assist in executing department-wide events like the Athletics Golf Classic and Hall of Fame, and collaborate with the engagement team on volunteer management, alumni career connections, and broad-based donor communications.

• Identify potential alumni volunteers from assigned sports to strengthen the engagement pipeline, while maintaining the flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends to support donor activities and athletic competitions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree

• Three to five years of related work experience

• Valid Driver's License with a good driving record

• Demonstrated experience in annual giving, fundraising, or donor relations — ideally within athletics, higher education, or a comparable development environment

• Proven ability to manage a donor portfolio and move prospects through a relationship-based solicitation cycle

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to represent Lehigh Athletics in front of coaches, donors, and alumni

• Experience working collaboratively across teams and with senior stakeholders to execute shared goals

• Comfort with CRM platforms and data-informed approaches to prospect management

• A genuine connection to the role collegiate athletics plays in alumni engagement and institutional pride at a university like Lehigh

Why Lehigh?

Lehigh University combines rigorous academic tradition with a deeply engaged alumni community — and that combination creates exceptional conditions for a fundraiser who wants their work to matter. The Development and Alumni Relations division is well-resourced and collaborative, and you'll benefit from above-standard superannuation contributions, generous leave entitlements, access to study assistance programs, and a campus environment that takes professional development seriously. Working alongside coaches and athletics leadership, you'll see the direct impact of the relationships you build — in program support, in alumni reconnection, and in the enduring pride that comes with Brown and White. Lehigh University offers a comprehensive and family friendly benefits package which includes but is not limited to Health Care, Retirement and Educational benefits. Information can be found on our website.

Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university’s mission. 

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.

Special Considerations

• The duties of this position may allow the employee to work partially remote as deemed appropriate by their supervisor .

• This position has fiscal or financial responsibilities other than employee expense activity, such as processing or approving transactions; monitoring or preparing budgets; or generating income for University; therefore, a credit check is required.

• This position has direct contact with minors, therefore a background check is required.

• This position is responsible for driving University-owned vehicles as a routine function, therefore a valid Driver’s License and a good driving record is required.

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.

Only complete applications will be considered therefore please complete the application in its entirety.  Once the posting is removed from the website applications may no longer be allowed to be completed.