Senior Development Officer of Major Gifts – Utah State Athletics

The Senior Development Officer of Major Gifts for Utah State Athletics provides strategic leadership for the Athletics Major Gifts Program. Overseeing the day-to-day operations of the major gift team and driving philanthropic support. This position is responsible for leading the Blue A Society expanding it into a comprehensive major giving society that inspires long-term donor engagement and investment. This role will be responsible for strategies to identify cultivate solicit and steward major gift prospects. This individual will strategically develop proposals and secure major gifts to meet annual fundraising and cash revenue goals.

Working collaboratively across the university the Senior Development Officer partners with athletics leadership coaches central advancement and university administrators to advance fundraising initiatives and strengthen donor relationships. Qualified candidates will have a minimum of 5 years of experience in fundraising advancement development or related sales with a demonstrated record of securing major gifts managing donor portfolios and achieving fundraising goals. Experience in collegiate athletics fundraising is highly preferred.

Leadership

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the major gift team
• Oversee all aspects within the Blue A Society
• Build Blue A Society into a more comprehensive philanthropic major giving society.
• Responsible for Major Gift Team to reach annual fundraising goals including closed gifts and cash received.

Major Gift Fundraising

• Develop and execute strategies to identify cultivate solicit and steward major gift prospects.
• Personally solicit leadership and major gifts in support of athletics priorities.
• Meet annual fundraising and revenue goals.
• Serve on the principal gift team.

Collaboration

• Partner with athletics leadership coaches advancement staff and university leadership.
• Serve on Advancements leadership team.
• Work closely with central advancement offices.
• Have a firm understanding of USUs gift accepting and crediting policies and procedures and USUs naming policy.

Travel and External Engagement

• Attend athletic competitions donor events and alumni gatherings.
• Represent the athletic department at fundraising and stewardship events.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed for games and special events.

Data and Performance Management

• Maintain accurate donor records.
• Track visits proposals solicitations and fundraising metrics.
• Prepare reports on fundraising progress.

Reporting

• Will report to Matt White Vice President of Advancement and be assigned operationally to Carter Young Deputy Athletic Director & Chief Revenue Officer for Utah State Athletics.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelors degree in a related field plus five years of fundraising development advancement or related sales experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts or high-level philanthropic investments.
• Experience managing donor and prospect portfolios.

Preferred Requirement

• Collegiate athletics fundraising experience.

Along with the online application please attach:

1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under Resume/CV
2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants but not necessarily occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

As Utahs student-centered land-grant research university Utah State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities across the state through learning discovery extension and engagement. Founded in 1888 USU now holds two Carnegie distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships with local regional and global communities advancing knowledge and serving the public good across Utah the nation and the world. With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nations second-oldest undergraduate research program USU prepares students to become active civically engaged leaders who can address critical societal challenges.

USU enrolls over 29800 students both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah States 30 locations include a main campus in Logan Utah residential campuses in Price and Blanding and six additional statewide campuses along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference which it joined July 1 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025-26 with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors and to the community where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected valued and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit hire and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education research discovery outreach and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when it named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability contact the universitys ADA coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at or .

*updated 10/26

In its programs and activities including in admissions and employment Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment based on race color religion sex national origin age genetic information sexual orientation gender identity disability status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by University policy Title IX or any other federal state or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring promotion transfer or termination based on race color religion sex national origin age genetic information sexual orientation gender identity disability status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal state or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race color religion sex familial status disability national origin source of income sexual orientation or gender identity. Additionally the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USUs non-discrimination policies:

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

Old Main Room 405

1475 Old Main Hill Logan UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination please visit or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

*updated 08/2026