2019 NACDA and Affiliates Annual Convention

Matt Donovan
Senior Associate AD for Development
University of Indianapolis


Matt Donovan enters his 24th year as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and 29th overall at UIndy. He is recognized by his peers as a dedicated and visionary leader in his field, and was named the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) Fundraiser of the Year for the College Division in 2016. Donovan joined the athletic department in 1999 to build financial support for Greyhound Athletics by spearheading the development and growth of the Greyhound Club. Under Donovan’s leadership, the Greyhound Club produced more than $6.5 million in annual gifts since its inception. In addition to the development of the Greyhound Club, Donovan initiated numerous other successful ventures, such as a comprehensive partnership program that has netted over $2.1 million in sponsorship dollars. He also created a planned giving society that secured future commitments totaling over $350,000 for the university. Donovan was also an integral leader in one of the University's most extensive and comprehensive fundraising campaigns. The campaign, entitled Champions Challenge, raised over half a million dollars in the 2014-15 fiscal year, more than doubling the initial set goal. Prior to joining the athletics department, Donovan had an extensive background in fund-raising. He served as Project Director for “The Campaign for Penn” in 1993-94 at the University of Pennsylvania. He was Associate Project Director for the Purdue University Phone-a-thon from 1991-93. He worked from 1994-99 as the UIndy Director for Annual Giving, building a fifteen percent increase over the five years. The Western Illinois University graduate, from Peoria, Ill., is a past president (2008-2009) of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors.

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