Director of Athletic Development

Function of Position:
Responsible to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, with additional supervision from the
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, to develop, execute, and assess effective strategies to enhance 
constituent engagement and financial support for Wartburg College Athletics; collaborate with coaches 
to plan and implement appeals to enhance sport-specific and general athletic philanthropic activity; 
provide strategic leadership of the Wartburg Booster Club; cultivate and steward leadership-level 
Athletics donors; manage a corporate partnership program to secure sponsorship revenue for Athletics.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
1) Manage the development and execution of strategies to enhance support of Intercollegiate 
Athletics, working with Athletics and Advancement colleagues to increase annual charitable giving 
to the Athletics Booster Club and other sport-specific fundraising.

• Plan, execute, and assess a variety of appeals including digital push days, telemarketing, direct 
mail, and/or other athletic-related initiatives designed to engage alumni, parents, and friends, in 
support of Athletics; working with the Director of Annual Giving to ensure effective coordination.

2) Implement and sustain a comprehensive corporate partnership program to create sponsorship 
opportunities, generate revenue, and secure the engagement of potential business and/or 
community partners. 

3) Provide strategic leadership of the Wartburg Booster Club, resulting in increased constituent 
engagement and gift revenue. 

4) In collaboration with Marketing & Communication, plan and implement donor communications.
5) Create and implement an effective stewardship program to engage and motivate donors.

6) Create leadership level giving strategies for Athletic priorities, identifying and managing a portfolio of
key donors in order to cultivate, sustain, and steward relationships in support of $1,000+ gifts toward 
Athletics priorities. Engagement will be primarily digital/virtual, with some potential face-to-face visits.

7) Incorporate opportunities at home/away sporting events or other special occasions (such as Hall of 
Fame dinner) to engage donors and fans and generate financial support for Athletics. 

8) Maintain communication with Athletics,Advancement staff to effectively manage donor relationships.

9) Coordinate with major gift officers for athletics solicitations of assigned donors, as well prospective 
donors, to grow the Knights Legacy Circle.

10) Comply with all NCAA, American Rivers Conference, and Wartburg College rules, regulations, and 
policies.

11) Ensure all inbound communication is handled professionally and promptly.

12) Meet goals for key metrics to assess performance and program effectiveness

Supervision:
Employee works independently but reports directly to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, 
with additional supervision from the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, and is expected to proactively 
collaborate with colleagues in Intercollegiate Athletics, Marketing & Communication and Development. 
Employee is expected to demonstrate initiative and pursue completion of all objectives as set by the 
Vice President for Institutional Advancement, planning and prioritizing their own work and resolving 
unusual cases in consultation with their supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications:
Requires a bachelor’s degree and two years of related work experience. Preferred qualifications include: 
experience working with annual/athletic giving; dedicated commitment to the importance of 
philanthropy and the value of intercollegiate athletics within an NCAA Division III environment; excellent 
communication, project management, and organizational skills; high level of energy, initiative, creativity 
and a “can do” attitude. Skills required include strong written and communication and analytical skills; 
attention to detail and accuracy; aptitude and experience with computers and technology needed to 
meet objectives; ability to organize and prioritize multiple work assignments; ability to collaborate with 
others in a team environment; and an appreciation for the College’s mission. Work is required on nights 
and weekends as necessary to fulfill position duties. Occasional travel may be required.

WARTBURG COLLEGE is a selective liberal arts college of the ELCA, nationally recognized for community 
engagement. As an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution, Wartburg College actively seeks applications  from members of underrepresented ethnic and minority groups