University of Southern California · 2 days ago
Executive Director of Principal Gifts, USC Athletics
Los Angeles, CA
Contract
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$185K/yr - $240K/yr
8+ years expThe University of Southern California (USC) is one of the world’s leading private research universities. USC Advancement is seeking a strategic, relationship-centered, results-oriented fundraising leader to serve as Executive Director of Principal Gifts for USC Athletics, responsible for securing high-level philanthropic support for the athletics program.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Serve as a frontline principal gift officer, personally managing a robust national portfolio of prospects with the capacity to give $1M+
Lead every stage of the donor lifecycle from identification and cultivation to solicitation and stewardship, with a goal of securing multiple seven- and eight-figure commitments annually
Develop and execute customized, data-informed cultivation strategies that align donor interests with USC Athletics priorities
Partner and provide support to the Director of Athletics and advancement leaders to design compelling proposals and gift opportunities that drive transformational support
Schedule donor visits utilizing key athletic department leaders including the Director of Athletics and Head Coaches/General Managers
Achieve and exceed defined performance metrics, including annual visit, solicitation, and revenue goals
Travel and attend marquee games and events to build meaningful connections with donors and prospects while representing USC with pride
Work closely with the Director of Athletics, Athletics Major Gifts team, and University Advancement leadership to advance strategic priorities and ensure cohesive donor engagement
Attend regular Athletics and Advancement staff meetings to maintain strong alignment between development initiatives and programmatic goals
Coordinate donor strategies with peers across campus to ensure holistic relationship management and institutional alignment
Engage and inspire alumni, parents, and friends of USC Athletics through events, game-day experiences, and regional programs that deepen donor connection to the Trojan spirit
Work collaboratively with Advancement Communications and Athletics staff to deliver personalized donor experiences that showcase impact and gratitude
Represent USC Athletics with professionalism, discretion, and credibility when engaging high-profile prospects and partners
Provide mentorship and strategic guidance to development colleagues, modeling best practices in principal gift fundraising
Contribute to overall campaign planning and execution within University Advancement, ensuring Athletics fundraising efforts align with broader institutional priorities
Maintain a disciplined approach to prospect management, documentation, and reporting within the Advancement CRM (Salesforce)
Directly supervise one full-time professional staff member and may provide functional oversight of additional staff, as assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree (or combined experience/education as a substitute)
Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive professional fundraising experience, preferably in higher education, intercollegiate athletics, or related nonprofit environments, including advancement or development leadership roles
Proven success securing major and principal gifts, managing a national principal gift portfolio, and achieving ambitious fundraising and revenue goals
Experience developing and executing comprehensive advancement strategies aligned with institutional priorities
Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to guide, mentor, and motivate high-performing teams
Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with demonstrated success engaging high-level donors and institutional stakeholders
Highly organized with exceptional strategic thinking, analytical, problem-solving, and project management abilities
Ability to navigate complex organizations, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple priorities with discretion and professionalism
Strong understanding of intercollegiate athletics, donor motivations, and the role of philanthropy in sports programs
Experience with donor and development management systems (e.g., Salesforce, DonorPerfect, Raiser's Edge NXT, eTapestry, Bloomerang, easyTithe)
Preferred
Master's degree
10 years of experience
Experience with donor/development management systems (e.g., DonorPerfect, Raiser's Edge NXT, eTapestry, Bloomerang, easyTithe)
Demonstrated understanding, strong insight, and experience in development and/or fundraising in the Los Angeles and Greater Southern California region
Benefits
USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of benefits and perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future.
Company
University of Southern California
University of Southern California is a private research university offering opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
University of Southern California has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (253)
2024 (239)
2023 (172)
2022 (207)
2021 (182)
2020 (195)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$19.64MKey Investors
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research InstituteCalifornia Institute for Regenerative MedicineCDA Foundation
2025-02-04Grant· $10.8M
2025-01-30Grant· $5.93M
2024-07-30Grant
Leadership Team
David A Barnhart
Director, USC Space Engineering Research Center
H
Hossein Pourmand
Assistant Vice President, Research Initiatives, University Advancement
Recent News
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2025-12-30
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2025-12-21
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