Senior Development Officer of Major Gifts – Utah State Athletics

Overview

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.

Responsibilities

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 Advancement’s leadership team.
• Work closely with central advancement offices.
• Have a firm understanding of USU’s gift accepting and crediting policies and procedures and USU’s 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.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s 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.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

 

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

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

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.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

 

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 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, officially joining on 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 they 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 university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or [email protected]. 

 

*updated 07/2026

Notice of Non-discrimination

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 individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Matthew Pinner

Executive Director

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 401D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

 

Cody Carmichael

Title IX Coordinator

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 402D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

 

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

 

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| [email protected]

 

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  [email protected]

 

*updated 10/2025