Job Description

Major Gifts Professional I (Athletics) Posting Number
req26733 Department
Administration and Athletics Department Website Link
arizonawildcats.com Location
Tucson Campus Address
1 National Championship Drive, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA Position Highlights

The Athletics Department is dedicated to excellence in collegiate sports, building a modern model of intercollegiate athletics, fostering, integrity, innovation, and student-athlete success.

The University of Arizona Athletics Department invites you to apply to the role of the Major Gifts Professional I.

The principal objective of this position works with the major gifts program to enhance donor encouragement for the Athletics Department.

This position requires the ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and travel as needed.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist with identifying, fostering, soliciting, and retaining annual and leadership-level donors by supporting relationship-building activities that advance fundraising priorities under the direction of development leadership.
• Manage an assigned portfolio of donors and prospects by conducting routine outreach, maintaining regular communication, and implementing established stewardship activities to encourage continued philanthropic support.
• Assist in implementing donor relations and stewardship plans by coordinating donor benefits, recognition activities, and engagement opportunities that enhance the donor experience and support retention efforts.
• Prepare and distribute fundraising communications, including donor solicitations, stewardship, correspondence, newsletters, event invitations, and impact messaging, using established communication strategies and approved materials.
• Coordinate donor recognition and acknowledgment activities
  by ensuring timely processing of recognition items, thank-you correspondence,
  and stewardship communications in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Collaborate with development staff, advancement services, ticket operations,
  marketing, and foundation partners to support fundraising initiatives, donor
  engagement activities, and stewardship efforts.
• Support fundraising
  initiatives by identifying opportunities to strengthen donor relationships,
  increase annual giving participation, and assist in moving donors through
  established engagement, and stewardship processes.
• Assist with the planning
  and coordination of donor engagement events, hospitality functions, and special donor relations opportunities by managing logistics, communications, and
  event support.
• Serve as a liaison with advancement services and gift
  processing staff to assist with gift administration, donor benefit fulfillment,
  tax receipting, and stewardship reporting while following established policies
  and procedures.
• Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports,
  communication histories, and stewardship activities within fundraising systems
  to support reporting, donor management, and fundraising operations.
• Represent
  the organization at donor events, athletics contests, and engagement activities
  by providing courteous donor service and supporting stewardship efforts during
  occasional evenings and weekends.
• Assist with monitoring assigned program or
  event budgets by tracking expenditures and following established financial
  procedures.
• Budget accountability.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Fosters a collaborative work environment through respectful and effective communication.
• Demonstrated experience managing value added projects and strategic
  initiatives.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written
  communication skills.
• Ability to problem solve and make decisions.
• Ability to
  multi-task with frequent interruptions.
• Ability to establish and maintain
  positive working relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Dedication
  and motivation to initiate, lead and support value-added projects.
• Meticulous
  attention to detail.
• Knowledge of NCAA, Big 12, and University of Arizona
  position related rules and compliance.
• Demonstrated organizational skills,
  including the ability to plan, establish priorities and successfully manage
  multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain positive
  interpersonal relations.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with
  individuals at all organizational levels, and project a positive, professional
  attitude.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through experience required.
• 1 year of relevant work experience is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a Power 4 Conference.

FLSA
Exempt Full Time/Part Time
Full Time Number of Hours Worked per Week
40 + nights and weekends Job FTE
1.0 Work Calendar
Fiscal Job Category
University Advancement Benefits Eligible
Yes - Full Benefits Rate of Pay
Depends on Experience Compensation Type
salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE) Grade
8 Compensation Guidance
The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.

The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator Career Stream and Level
PC1 Job Family
Major Gifts Job Function
University Advancement Type of criminal background check required:
Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive) Number of Vacancies
1 Target Hire Date
Expected End Date
Contact Information for Candidates
Michael Smith

mikesmith@arizona.edu
Open Date
8/6/2026 Open Until Filled
Yes Documents Needed to Apply
Resume, Cover Letter, and One Additional Document Special Instructions to Applicant Please submit Resume, Cover Letter, and the answers to the following questions as the Additional Document. Thank You.

1. Describe your knowledge and understanding of NCAA and Big 12 rules and regulations, as they pertain to recruitment and regulations.

2. Please list below any experience you have had since 2015 with high school or college student-athletes. This includes working or volunteering in any capacity with a high school, AAU, sports club, junior college or 4-year institution student-athlete, athletics team or department.

3. Applicants for this position are subject to the following NCAA Bylaws 11.4.2, 11.4.2.1, 11.4.2.2, 11.4.3, 11.4.3.1, 11.4.3.2, 11.4.4, 11.4.4.1, and 11.4.4.2. You may be asked about these Bylaws in an interview, and you may be asked to sign a future affirmation confirming the same prior to or upon your employment by The University of Arizona, if you are selected for employment. Do you understand that by submitting your application for employment, you are affirming that you have read these Bylaws, and that such Bylaws would not preclude your employment by The University of Arizona?

4. Are you the parent, coach, relative or guardian of a prospective student-athlete (i.e., student in 9-12 grade or 7–12 grade for men’s basketball or junior college student) in the sport of men’s basketball, women’s basketball or football or have any other type of association with any prospective student-athlete in the sports of men’s basketball, women’s basketball or football? If yes, please explain.

5. Is your potential employment within the athletic department conditioned upon the enrollment of any prospective student-athlete (i.e., student in 9-12 grade, 7–12 grade for men’s basketball or junior college) in the sport of men’s basketball, women’s basketball or football? If Yes, please explain.

6. Do you understand that failure to disclose any information related to your affiliation with a prospective student-athlete (student in 9-12 grade, 7-12 grade for men’s basketball or junior college) in the sports of football, men’s basketball, or women’s basketball might render your application ineligible for consideration?

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses. These reports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at cleryact@arizona.edu.