Development Fellow
University of Tennessee Athletic Marketing Department
Development Fellow
Job Description
The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc (UTFI) invites applications and nominations to fill the position of Development Fellow for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Reporting to the Associate Director of Annual Giving, the Development Fellow will allow the division to grow young professionals who are seeking to gain knowledge, experience, and understanding of the University Advancement discipline while building their professional network and gaining the skills to work in this profession long- term.
The purpose of this position is to advance the fundraising outcomes of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This role will learn and master the process of cultivating and soliciting leadership annual gifts from alumni and friends of the University, with a specific emphasis on upgrading and renewing donors contributing gifts/pledges in the range of $500 - $9,999 per year.
The Development Fellow will work collaboratively with colleagues in advancement to refine and execute leadership annual giving outreach and stewardship that increases philanthropic support and accelerate the pipeline of major giving prospects. Extensive training investments will be part of the Development Fellow’s first year experience in their position with an emphasis on exposure to leadership annual gifts and major gift mentoring.
Responsibilities
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Annual Giving Strategy: Collaborate with Associate Director of Annual Giving, Leadership Annual Giving Outreach & the Associate Vice Chancellor of Annual Giving to set annual goals and objectives for leadership giving.
Donor Cultivation: Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, alumni, and friends of the University. Engage donors through personalized outreach and serve as a knowledgeable resource for donors about the university’s strategic funding opportunities. Utilize necessary databases to document all meaningful outreach and contact with donors. Organically develop a personalized portfolio in parallel with learning and executing this role’s responsibilities.
Solicitation and Stewardship: Actively solicit gifts from donors with past annual giving of $250 to $49,999. Provide creative and timely stewardship to donors, ensuring they are acknowledged, recognized, and informed about the impact of their contributions. Work closely with donors to facilitate one-time and multi-year commitments at the leadership gift level, while providing major gift and planned giving referrals to advancement colleagues when appropriate and necessary.
Qualifications
Required Education and Experience
The candidate who fills the Development Fellow position is required to have:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain donor relationships
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to meet fundraising goals
- Proficiency in CRM databases and related platforms
A valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record is required due to travel responsibilities of the position. UTFI reserves the right to consider all appropriate circumstances. In general, any significant driving offense less than 12 months old will eliminate the application from consideration for the position.
Preferred Education and Experience
In addition to meeting the required qualifications, the preferred candidate will have:
- Master’s degree
- 2+ years of fundraising or related experience in annual giving, major gifts, communications, marketing, or sales
Application Process: Priority will be given to applications received on or before August 26, 2025 via our DASH application system. Applications must include a completed candidate profile, cover letter, and resume. Candidates selected to move forward in the evaluation process will be asked to provide contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without explicit permission of the candidate.
When determining minimum qualifications, only information entered into the candidate profile can be considered. Please ensure your candidate profile is completed in its entirety as it relates to qualifying education/work experience.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.
Questions about the search may be directed to hr@utfi.org.
Target Start Date: October 2025
Benefits: The Foundation’s greatest asset is our team. Foundation employees are eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits that includes:
- Generous paid leave, accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days
- Flexible work arrangements, offering a hybrid schedule to most team members
- Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses
- Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
- Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods
_________
The Foundation: The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that serves as the preferred channel for private contributions benefiting students and faculty within the UT System. With a vision of being one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, UTFI is committed to enhancing the educational landscape across the University of Tennessee campuses.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been advancing knowledge and enriching lives since its founding in 1794. Tennessee’s flagship public research university, UT Knoxville is a diverse community whose shared commitment to discovery, creativity, and education combines with a tradition of service and engagement to carry the Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. UT’s campus—home to more than 36,000 students and 9,000 faculty and staff members—is part of the vibrant city of Knoxville, located on the Tennessee River with the Great Smoky Mountains nearby.
The UT System: The University of Tennessee System is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and the Health Science Center at Memphis; the Institute of Agriculture; and the Institute for Public Service.
The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.
Job Info
- Job Identification 4541
- Job Category Admin Support
- Posting Date 12/08/2025, 15:51
- Job Schedule Full time
- Locations 1525 University Ave, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US
EEO/AA STATEMENT / NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.
Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), ADEA (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the (EEO). Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the EEO office.
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