Major Gift Director

Reports to: Deputy Director

Position Overview:

The Rams Club, the fundraising arm of Carolina Athletics, invites applications for the position of Major Gift Director. The Rams Club plays a vital role in the University of North Carolina’s $4.25 B “For All Kind” Capital Campaign, which has just crossed the halfway mark. With the third largest goal of the campaign, The Rams Club seeks to raise $500 M in support of Carolina’s student-athletes. Our four main fundraising priorities are: Scholarships, Facilities, Team Support, and the Annual Fund.

As part of our campaign, The Rams Club has launched a $100 M women’s fundraising initiative: “FORevHER Tar Heels” – an initiative to champion and celebrate Carolina’s women student-athletes.

With all of these exciting opportunities and four years remaining in the campaign, a Major Gift Director is needed to add to our team. The Major Gift Director will work as a part of The Rams Club to promote athletics fundraising priorities to alumni, parents, former student-athletes and friends of the university. This position will be responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors and new prospects, concentrating on gifts of $100,000 and above. You will work on specific projects and manage 150-200 prospects along with monetary goals specific to the assigned projects. This role is field-oriented, requiring frequent travel and direct contact with donors and prospects. You will work closely with our staff, Athletics Administration, Coaches and University Development colleagues to develop and close gifts in support of Carolina Athletics.

Required Education/Experience:

Four-year Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s preferred. A minimum of five years of fund-raising or sales-related experience needed to apply. Collegiate athletics experience preferred.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and manage fundraising efforts, make socialization calls, and work cooperatively with other departmental and Rams Club staff. Responsible for identifying, cultivating and soliciting 150-200 active major gift prospects. Gifts of $100,000 and above will be targeted.
• Participate in developing solicitation strategies and proposals for obtaining major gifts and special gift support for The Rams Club. Provide the proper stewardship for prospects after gifts are secured.
• Develop plan to expand The Rams Club’s relationship with alumni, non-alumni, former student-athletes and the greater Carolina community to encourage their financial support of the scholarship program, operating endowments, and capital projects.
• Ability to work closely with Board members to convey campaign priorities while cultivating members as campaign prospects.
• Attend Rams Club and Athletic Department events, University Development and Campaign Strategy meetings, and additional opportunities to represent the Rams Club as needed.
• Work with University Development to ensure good communication and alignment regarding campaign prospects and fundraising events and activities.
• Success in this position will be guided by annual metrics; such as number of monthly visits, number of gift commitments, and dollars raised; as well as the ability to work well with our team.
• Resources, such as a robust donor and prospect database, prospect research, data analytics team, proposal writers and designers, and an assigned development associate exist to help the role achieve goals.
• Must be willing to travel extensively. Minimum 150 face to face visits with donors per year. Evening, weekend, and holiday work required.
• Must be able to drive.
• Ability to see, hear, speak, maintain cognitive function at a high level and move about the office.
• Ability to lift 20 pounds.
• Ability to attend athletic events in varying environments including inclement weather.

Necessary Skills:

• Proficient computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Working knowledge of database systems such as Titan, EverTrue, and other database management systems.
• Ability to interact, write, speak and communicate clearly with our donors and constituents, while portraying a professional image and demeanor.
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize work tasks.

PLEASE SUBMIT JOB APPLICATION, COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO ROBIN UNGANO, via the following:

robin@ramsclub.com