Erin Wissing Named Deputy Executive Director of Virginia Athletics Foundation
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia Athletics Foundation announced today (Sept. 4) Erin Wissing as Virginia Athletics Foundation’s (VAF) new deputy executive director.
“I am really excited that Erin has agreed to join the VAF team in this executive leadership capacity,” said VAF Executive Director and Deputy Athletics Director Kevin Miller. “Erin is a highly regarded fundraiser, leader and is passionate about building meaningful relationships with donors. She will be a tremendous co-pilot as we work together with our staff and donors to put the necessary resources in place as we lead our 75+ year organization through this unprecedented and existential time in college athletics history.”
Wissing joins the VAF after spending the past seven years at Furman where she played a key role in the vision and oversight of athletics fundraising, leading all aspects of philanthropy for Furman Athletics. Wissing has been instrumental in modernizing the fundraising model for Furman Athletics, launching the Furman Athletics Fund and growing philanthropy for athletics from under $4 million annually to over $19 million annually in a span of six years. Key priorities that Wissing has helped advance through philanthropy include renovations to the men’s and women’s basketball facilities, a new indoor training facility and renovated clubhouse for men’s and women’s golf, and significant growth of the athletics scholarship endowment.
She also serves on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD).
“I was immediately drawn to Erin’s infectious personality and can’t wait for her to start working with the VAF staff and donors,” stated VAF Board of Trustees President Rachel W. Sheridan. “Given her wealth of fundraising and leadership experiences coupled with her family’s deep roots in the Charlottesville community, she is a perfect fit for the role.”
Wissing will assist the Executive Director in overseeing, planning, and executing the vision and mission of the Virginia Athletics Foundation including, but not limited to, strategies revolving around fundraising, marketing and communications, events, stewardship, gift processing, fiscal affairs, personnel matters, strategic planning and goal setting, and helping the Executive Director lead the organization to best support VAF’s values and fundraising objectives.
Wissing will work directly with the VAF board of trustees and help translate strategy into actionable goals for performance and growth at VAF. She will create, develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with key internal and external constituents for the betterment of the Virginia Athletics Foundation.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Kevin Miller, the VAF Board, and Carla Williams for the opportunity to join the team,” said Wissing. “My love and admiration for this institution is longstanding, and I have always believed in the unparalleled academic and athletic excellence that Virginia represents. It is a true privilege to steward the future of Virginia Athletics and expand its impact through the VAF. I am humbled by the confidence placed in me and look forward to our meaningful work together.”
Prior to her role at Furman, Wissing was at Kennesaw State where she served in multiple leadership and strategic planning capacities spanning a wide range of the athletics spectrum, including fundraising, communications, corporate sales, development, graphic design, ticketing, and video. She played a central role in the establishment of the Owls Fund, the university’s first annual fund for athletics, growing the donor base to over 1,200 and donations from $15,000 to over $1.08 million over five years.
In addition to directing all efforts in the athletics development office, including major gifts, capital projects, and the annual fund, she was instrumental in the establishment of the university’s FCS football program, the planning and implementation of the priority seating program for football, and establishment of the Varsity Club to re-engage former student-athletes. She also participated in the head coach hiring process for several sports and served on numerous committees.
A 2010 cum laude graduate of Wake Forest with a B.A. degree in communications, Wissing began her professional career as Deacon Club intern before accepting a position as assistant director of athletic development at Wake Forest in August of 2010. Less than two years later she moved on to Kennesaw State as director of athletics development.
As an undergraduate she served internships with ISP Sports (now IMG College) in Winston-Salem, N.C., Octagon, Inc., in McLean, Va., Fox Sports Network in Los Angeles, Calif., and WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, Va.
She and her husband, Geoff, have a son, Ford, and two daughters, Davie and Scottie.
About the Virginia Athletics Foundation
Virginia Athletics Foundation (VAF) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Through its fundraising efforts, VAF supports the athletics program at the University of Virginia by providing student-athletes the opportunity to achieve academic and athletic excellence. VAF and its 10,000+ donors support athletic scholarships, sport-specific operational costs, awards, and facilities. Over the last five years, the foundation has averaged $66M annually in total gifts. The VAF includes a staff of 24 full-time employees.