Assistant/Associate Director of Athletic Leadership Giving

Trinity College has a strong and storied athletic tradition that prides itself on a broad-based program that today sponsors 30 varsity sports—15 men’s and 15 women’s. Athletics has always been a part of the fabric of life at Trinity. Trinity’s varsity teams compete in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Over the years, Trinity teams have secured 29 national championships across ten sports, including an impressive 27 titles in the past two decades. In 2025 alone, Trinity celebrated three national championships: the Women’s Squash team won the College Squash Association National Title, the Men’s Basketball team captured the NCAA Division III National Championship, and the Men’s Rowing team claimed the Division III IRA National Championship. 

​​The Assistant/Associate Director, Athletics Leadership Giving reports to the Director of Athletic Fundraising and is responsible for the solicitation of Trinity College alumni and parents capable of annual leadership gifts greater than $10K or more. The Assistant/Associate Director also oversees a giving program dedicated to meeting annual athletics fundraising goals and expanding the number of leadership-level donors. This position is responsible for managing a portfolio of 120+ alumni and parents who are capable of making leadership-level commitments to the College.  

​The Assistant/Associate Director is a member of the Major Gifts team and works collaboratively with peers and in other fundraising areas including gift planning, family giving, and the Trinity College Fund. In addition, the Assistant/Associate Director collaborates with the Director to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to increase annual cash giving through direct solicitation, recognition, and stewardship of annual leadership donors, as well as targeted appeals, communications, volunteer development, and events.  

​Frequent travel, evening, and weekend work are required to successfully perform the duties of this position. Must be a team player who is highly motivated and dedicated to the goals of advancing higher education. 

Responsibilities

• ​​Execute and lead the annual Athletics Giving program dedicated to meeting annual athletics fundraising goals​ 

• Manage a portfolio of 120+ alumni and parents who are capable of making leadership-level ($10k+) commitments to the College​ 

• ​​Create and maintain a yearly fundraising plan that includes a calendar of fundraising, engagement, and stewardship strategies. Oversee the creative development, design, quality, messaging, and production of all solicitation and stewardship materials for Athletics Giving.​ 

• ​​Collaborate closely with the Director of Athletics and Recreation to develop donor strategies and communications. ​ 

• ​​Cultivate and grow relationships with leadership giving prospects via phone, email, video calls, and in-person meetings, with a minimum expectation of 50 visits annually. ​ 

• ​​Oversee planning and successful growth of the Trinity Athletics Fund, including Trinity Athletics Giving (TAG) Week, ensuring consistent messaging and donor segmentation. Successfully build collaborative relationships with coaches to support TAG efforts, and achieve targeted sport-specific fundraising goals.​ 

• ​​Assist in hosting and developing successful engagement events to promote athletic fundraising as opportunities arise. Attend at least one home game of each team per year, especially using Saturday events as a means to meet engaged alumni and current parents.​ 

• ​​Develop and implement a plan to grow the Champions Club, the leadership giving society of the Trinity Athletics Fund.​ 

• Perform other related duties as assigned and based on departmental need. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree

• 1-3 years of successful annual giving fundraising or comparable experience. 

• Proven success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing leadership annual fund gifts ($10,000+)  

• ​Experience with volunteer engagement and annual fund development. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, coupled with a genuine ability to engage effectively with a broad range of constituents. 

• Familiarity with intercollegiate athletics and the role of athletics within an elite liberal arts college environment. 

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to create and implement prospect strategies and collaborate with campus partners. 

• ​Willingness and ability to meet alumni and parents through local visits, travel, and virtual platforms such as Zoom. 

• Self-driven, highly organized, flexible, and able to successfully manage multiple priorities. 

• Team player with a strong sense of integrity and work ethic. 

• Demonstrates empathy and actively values and fosters behaviors that support a diverse college community. 

Desired Qualifications

• Master's Degree (Preferred)

• Familiarity with fundraising principles and experience in higher education or academic settings.

• Experience with Slate and/or other CRM systems.

• Plus Delta Discipline of Frontline Fundraising training.

• Evidence of commitment to liberal arts education and mission through professional or volunteer experience.

• Comprehensive knowledge of Trinity College’s mission and programs and/or experience in a comparable college setting.

• Experience video editing, managing web pages, and sophisticated email segmenting.

About Us
Trinity is a highly selective, independent, nonsectarian liberal arts institution located in the capital city of Hartford, Connecticut. The college maintains a rigorous academic profile complemented by a vibrant co-curricular program. With more than 2,100 full-time undergraduate students, representing forty-three states and ninety-one countries, we consider our location in a culturally and socioeconomically diverse capital city to be among Trinity’s most distinctive assets; and we cultivate strong connections with our surrounding neighbors and with institutions and organizations throughout Hartford and the region. As a preeminent liberal arts college in an urban setting, Trinity College prepares students to be bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives.

Applicants should apply online at https://trincore-ibvxjb.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/14/?utm_medium=jobshare&utm_source=External+Job+Share

Trinity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.