As the Iron Dukes, Assistant Director of Major Gifts, you will join a collaborative and mission driven advancement team dedicated to building meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, and friends who are passionate about Duke Athletics. You’ll be encouraged to bring your authentic self, your ideas, and your relationship building strengths to help advance Duke’s tradition of excellence.

Be Bold. This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of a major gifts portfolio and play a key role in securing transformational philanthropic support for Duke Athletics. You will work strategically, creatively, and collaboratively to engage donors and align their passions with the priorities of Duke’s varsity programs.

What You’ll Do:

• Manage an active portfolio of major gifts prospects with the goal of securing six and seven figure gifts to support Duke Athletics. Annual activity and fundraising goals will be established in consultation with the Director of Major Gifts / Iron Dukes.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized prospect strategies using contact reports, trip reports, and ongoing analysis.
• Identify, qualify, and cultivate new prospects while managing donor correspondence and engagement activities.
• Partner closely with Athletics and University Development colleagues to coordinate donor communication and solicitation strategies.
• Serve as the Major Gifts liaison for assigned varsity programs, developing targeted fundraising strategies aligned with program priorities.
• Participate in development travel and engage with donors at athletic events, including evenings and weekends, as part of a flexible, non traditional work schedule.
• Perform other related duties in support of Athletics Development as needed.

Choose Duke.

• Bachelor’s degree (required); Master’s degree (preferred).
• Minimum of three years of experience in fundraising, development, or athletic development.
• High ethical standards and impeccable personal integrity.
• Exceptional relationship building skills with donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Strong understanding of major gift fundraising principles and donor motivations.
• Self motivation, creativity, and enthusiasm for advancing Duke Athletics.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast paced, collaborative, and diverse university setting.

About Duke University Athletics

Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina. Duke is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and sponsors 27 varsity sports, Recreation and Physical Education and the Duke University Golf Club.

Connections working at Duke University Athletics