Director of Development (0462U), Leadership Giving (SoCal), Intercollegiate Athletics

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

Departmental Overview

The Athletic Development Office, which is the sole fundraising group for IA, is comprised of teams of individuals who focus on major gifts, annual giving, athletic campaigns, and alumni relations. This position is responsible for helping meet the fundraising objectives of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and ensuring predetermined major gift fundraising goals are met.

Under the supervision of the Assistant Athletics Director for Leadership Giving, the Director of Development, Leadership Giving (LGO) is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift-level prospective donors, defined as individuals capable of contributing $100,000 or more to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. The LGO is responsible for developing and managing the Athletic Department's relationships with its valued supporters in Southern California and must ensure these relationships are nurtured and maintained for the benefit of the department over time. The LGO will be assigned a specific portfolio of prospects that have the potential to give at the major gift level. He/she should be comfortable working with prominent and wealthy individuals.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: May 9, 2026

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, and direct large-scale fundraising campaigns that include multiple components.

• Manage a portfolio of 100-125 major gift prospects, focusing on prospects rated at $100,000 and above
• Make at least 10-15 substantive contacts per month with an emphasis on quality personal visits. (e.g., significant moves that advance a relationship).
• Qualify leadership gift prospects and solicit gifts directly.
• Ensure that predetermined fundraising goals are met.
• Design and implement customized, donor-specific cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and/or steward leadership gift prospects and donors.

Develop and implement an athletics fundraising and alumni strategy throughout Southern California. This will align with the campus regional team and be guided by sporting events and prospect/donor cultivation.

• Motivate administrators, coaches, staff, and volunteers to participate in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of leadership gifts.
• Apply knowledge and understanding of the University of California, Berkeley and Intercollegiate Athletics, its traditions, programs, campus issues, needs, and priorities to the development process. Persuasively discuss athletic programs, needs, and priorities with prospective donors and volunteers.
• Draft/write proposals for solicitation of individual, corporate, and/or foundation prospects.
• Independently manage collaborative working relationships with fundraising colleagues in University Development, in particular the Southern California Regional Team, Alumni and Relations, and campus schools and units to develop strategies for joint solicitations and to negotiate differences.
• Comply with University policies regarding managing prospects, updating CADS database, and other policies.

Results have a major impact on the program's overall goals, and assignments are typically at the 'leadership gifts' or 'corporate/foundation relations' level, including managing donor portfolios capable of giving $100K or more. Annual dollar, solicitation, and visit metrics are all determined in conjunction with IA priorities and in consultation with the Assistant Athletics Director, Leadership Giving.

Assist with the structuring and development of Intercollegiate Athletics fundraising efforts, including the development of new fundraising strategies, new ways to structure gifts, and new fundraising marketing materials.

• Recruit, train, and support key volunteers who assist in advancement efforts.
• Facilitate communication between administrators, coaches, donors, prospects, and volunteers, as appropriate.
• May attend functions, meetings, and serve on internal/external committees as a representative of the campus.

Other, including professional development.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.
• Advanced working knowledge of all aspects of the location, including current issues of concern for both the campus and/or throughout higher education/healthcare generally. Advanced working knowledge of the location, its vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements, and infrastructure.
• Advanced knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.
• Advanced written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen, to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies. Ability to make persuasive and compelling presentations of goals and objectives for a location in order to secure gifts.
• Advanced organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills, including skill in creative and effective decision-making and problem identification/avoidance/resolution, and strong project management skills.
• Very strong skills in maintaining confidentiality.

Education Level

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training