Job Description:

The Executive Director, Brown University Sports Foundation/Senior Associate Athletic Director reports to the Associate Vice President for Development. This position oversees the Brown University Sports Foundation team, leading all of the University’s athletic advancement activities (fundraising, communications, events, volunteer management) to engage and solicit Brown’s 17,000+ athletic alumni/ae, parents, and donors. The Executive Director/Senior Associate Athletic Director is directly responsible for developing and implementing a strategic plan that meets all annual, endowment, and facility fundraising goals for Brown’s extensive athletic program including 34 Division I University sports and 37 club sports teams. The Executive Director also actively identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards donors and prospects across the country for annual leadership gifts and six to seven-figure commitments to support the University’s priorities, including but not limited to athletics. The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) raises $20 million annually from 5,500+ individual contributors across annual funds, restricted current use, endowment, and capital needs.

Brown University is committed to advancing diversity, inclusion, and equity. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply. Brown University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Education and Experience

Job Description:

The Executive Director, Brown University Sports Foundation/Senior Associate Athletic Director reports to the Associate Vice President for Development. This position oversees the Brown University Sports Foundation team, leading all of the University’s athletic advancement activities (fundraising, communications, events, volunteer management) to engage and solicit Brown’s 17,000+ athletic alumni/ae, parents, and donors. The Executive Director/Senior Associate Athletic Director is directly responsible for developing and implementing a strategic plan that meets all annual, endowment, and facility fundraising goals for Brown’s extensive athletic program including 34 Division I University sports and 37 club sports teams. The Executive Director also actively identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards donors and prospects across the country for annual leadership gifts and six to seven-figure commitments to support the University’s priorities, including but not limited to athletics. The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) raises $20 million annually from 5,500+ individual contributors across annual funds, restricted current use, endowment, and capital needs.

Brown University is committed to advancing diversity, inclusion, and equity. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply. Brown University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in fundraising or related fields, such as development, sales, customer relations, nonprofit, education, etc.

• A minimum of 3 years of managerial experience

Required Qualifications

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Strong computer and information management skills.

• Proven ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors of large gifts; proven ability to identify, train, manage, and support volunteers.

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. Ability to manage multiple projects under deadline. Must be detail-oriented and have the ability to produce accurate high-quality work under deadline. Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.

• Experience managing professional and support staff. Must demonstrate the ability to train staff, assign work, and monitor /evaluate progress.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a collegiate athletic environment highly desirable (athlete, coach, administrator, fundraiser)

• Higher Ed experience

• Nonprofit experience

• Experience with major foundation and corporate fundraising and proven ability to create and secure new funding sources from private sector donors.

Job Competencies

• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), including experience/ability to identify and emphasize diverse perspectives in programming, communications, and strategy.

• Adherence and accountability for all NCAA Ivy League rules as a representative of Brown Athletics.

• Responsible for individual staff professional growth as related to their major job responsibilities.

• Must be able to navigate sophisticated, complex positions with multiple stakeholders, internally and externally and simultaneously.

• Must be able to navigate personnel, alumni, donor, coach, and administrator situations with artful care, empathy, and strategy.

• Manage a prospect base of approximately 17,000, including alumni, parents, and friends of the University.

• Manage an annual goal for athletic fundraising of $20 million, including an annual fund goal of at least $5 million, and from a donor base of more than 5,500. The total annual goal consists of annual and restricted current-use support, major facility projects, endowment, and special project support. Goals are adjusted annually to reflect University Priorities.

• Personally raises significant annual leadership and capital-level gifts ($1 million and up) for both athletics and broader University priorities totaling $5 million annually.

• Management of the BUSF operating budget (approx. $300K+/year).

Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter and resume with their application. All offers of employment are contingent upon a completed criminal background check and education verification satisfactory to Brown.

Recruiting Start Date:

2024-02-08

Job Posting Title:

Executive Director, Brown University Sports Foundation / Senior Associate Athletic Director

Department:

Advancement

Grade:

Grade 13

Worker Type:

Employee

Worker Sub-Type :

Regular

Time Type:

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

37.5

Position Work Location:

Submission Guidelines:

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any staff position at Brown University you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

Still Have Questions?

If you have any questions you may contact employment@brown.edu.

EEO Statement:

Brown University is an E-Verify Employer.

As an EEO/AA employer, Brown University provides equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person’s race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law, and caste, which is protected by our University policies.