Elon University
Assistant Director of Development
🇺🇸 Elon, NC
🕑 Full-Time
💰 TBD
💻 Development & Advancement
🗓️ January 12th, 2026
Edtech.com's Summary
Elon University is hiring an Assistant Director of Development. This role manages a portfolio of annual and major gift donors for the Department of Athletics, drives fundraising efforts including leadership-level annual giving, major gifts, and supports key athletics fundraising events while ensuring compliance with NCAA regulations.
Highlights
- Manage donor portfolio focused on leadership-level annual giving and major gifts.
- Identify, cultivate, and solicit donors for athletic program support and projects.
- Lead fundraising events such as "Night of the Phoenix" and "Elon Day."
- Serve as liaison to the Phoenix Club Advisory Board and other athletics units.
- Maintain detailed documentation of donor and prospect activities.
- Ensure compliance with all NCAA rules and university regulations.
- Coordinate closely with University Advancement staff to meet fundraising goals.
- Bachelor's degree with 1-2 years of relevant fundraising experience required; Master’s preferred.
- Responsibilities include traveling to meet donors and participating in athletics and alumni events.
- Offers comprehensive benefits including tuition remission, retirement plan, health insurance, and employee engagement opportunities.
Assistant Director of Development Full Description
Title: Assistant Director of Development
Position Type: Staff Full-Time
Days Per Week: Varies based on practice and game schedules
Hours Per Week: Varies based on practice and game schedules
VP Area: Athletics
Position Summary
The Assistant Director of Athletics Development position will report to the Associate Athletics Director for Development and will serve as a gifts officer on behalf of the Department of Athletics for Elon University. The individual in this position will successfully work with the University Advancement office and staff in furtherance of institutional fundraising goals and campaigns. The Assistant Director of Development will manage a portfolio consisting of annual and major gift donors and prospects. The primary responsibilities of this position include identifying, cultivating and stewarding donors, soliciting gifts with an emphasis on leadership-level annual giving, and soliciting major gifts for the program support, projects, and other fundraising priorities for the athletics department. Additionally, the individual in this position will provide leadership in key fundraising events including the annual “Night of the Phoenix,” “Elon Day,” and other giving opportunities on behalf of the athletics department; will serve as a liaison between Athletics Development and the Phoenix Club Advisory Board; and will serve as a liaison to additional athletics units and external affinity groups as assigned. The Assistant Director of Development will be expected to document all donor and prospect moves in a regular and timely fashion while maintaining a consistent schedule of donor meetings and communications. A demonstrated commitment to NCAA rules compliance and adherence to NCAA regulations is required.
Benefits of Working at Elon
As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.
Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.
Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:
28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.
Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses
Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.
Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.
Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.
Free use of campus fitness facilities.
Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.
Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.
Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.
Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.
Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:
28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.
Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses
Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.
Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.
Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.
Free use of campus fitness facilities.
Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.
Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.
Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.
Minimum Required Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in any relevant field of study with minimum 1 year of experience with the following relevant work experience: 1-2 years of related fundraising experience.
Preferred Education and Experience
Master's degree in any relevant field of study
Job Duties
- Manage a portfolio of donors with an emphasis on leadership-level annual giving and major gifts.
- Identify annual and major gift leads including planned giving.
- Cultivate donors and prospects to successfully move them to solicitation.
- Secure support for athletic priorities including scholarships, unrestricted support, sport-specific support, facility renovations and new facilities.
- Develop and propose strategies for solicitation of major gifts
- Recommend a specific purpose and level of gift based upon a qualification process; develop a cultivation strategy; and initiate a solicitation plan.
- Assist with and attend Elon events including but not limited to athletic events, Family Weekend, Homecoming, and alumni/parent receptions (on campus and regionally)
- Travel in furtherance of monthly and annual visit goals with current and prospective donors, including alumni, parents and friends of Elon.
- Other duties as assigned, including complying with all University and CAA regulations, as well as all NCAA rules and regulations. Remains current with all changes in NCAA, as well as changes to University and CAA rules and regulations regarding intercollegiate athletics. This includes the requirement for self-reporting any possible rule violations and participation in the annual NCAA continuing education programs including passing the NCAA certification test, if applicable. Any violation of NCAA rules is prohibited.
- Provide support, guidance, and leadership to athletics annual fund operations in conjunction with sport-specific fundraising liaison responsibilities.
- Inclusive Community Building Community is foundational to Elon and a shared responsibility within our residential campus. All who work at Elon should demonstrate an understanding of and engagement with Elon’s foundational commitment to relationships, mentoring and collaboration in a close-knit residential community. We embrace the shared responsibility to foster inclusive excellence within a strong residential community. Accordingly, employees are expected to join together and build connections in activities that foster an active and engaged campus environment and engage in professional development to support the shared responsibility of enriching diversity, equity, and inclusion through meaningful relationships and mentoring at Elon. Employees are encouraged to, for example, attend or participate in campus activities such as College Coffee, Numen Lumen, campus cultural events, athletic events, continuing education, professional development opportunities and trainings, employee resource groups and other university-sponsored activities to demonstrate an active commitment to the Elon community.
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