Aidan Hartman joined the VAF in May 2026 as associate director of major gifts, where he is responsible for securing philanthropic support in alignment with the strategic priorities of Virginia Athletics.
Prior to his arrival in Charlottesville, Aidan spent two years at the United States Air Force Academy as director of development. In this role, he managed a portfolio of donors and prospects across the Southeast region - cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts in support of the Academy’s 27 intercollegiate programs. He also played a significant role in generating revenue through the sale of football premium seating in the newly constructed East Club at Falcon Stadium.
Before his time at the Academy, Hartman served as an athletics development graduate assistant at Illinois State University, where he managed special projects, day-to-day operations and hospitality initiatives while contributing to campaign strategy. During his time at Illinois State, he also served as a graduate school senator within the Student Government Association, representing the interests of more than 2,300 graduate students across six colleges and 41 academic programs.
Hartman began his career in development at the University of Kansas as an intern with the Williams Education Fund. He previously served as an equipment manager for the football program for two seasons, supporting day-to-day and logistical operations of a Division I program.
The Wichita, Kansas, native earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kansas in 2022 and his master’s degree in sport management and jinesiology from Illinois State in 2024. He is the eldest son of Wink and Hope, and has three siblings: Riley, Jordan, and Quinn.