LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University has announced the hiring of
Matt Mastrianni as Associate Director of Major Gifts for Athletics. Mastrianni will be responsible for fundraising for athletics as part of the Major Gifts office. He will also work with the Athletic Director's office and with coaches to promote alumni interest in and support for Rider's Division I Athletics program.
"We are excited to add Matt to our team at this critical time as we continue to enhance our Division I Athletics Facilities as well as embark on other strategic initiatives to continue to improve our overall competitiveness, enhance the student-athlete experience, and raise the University profile through athletics," said Rider Athletic Director
Don Harnum. "Matt's background as a Division I student-athlete combined with his successful experiences in athletic development will be extremely beneficial."
Mastrianni comes to Rider following more than four years at The College of New Jersey, where he also served as Major Gifts Officer. In his role at TCNJ, Mastrianni served as the primary liaison to the Department of Athletics and School of Nursing, Health and Exercise Science (NHES). Mastrianni and his team surpassed The Campaign for TCNJ's $40 million goal, closing at over $47 million raised to bring success to TCNJ's first comprehensive fundraising campaign. Mastrianni also successfully solicited the largest individual donation in TCNJ Athletics' history, with $100,000 going in support of the women's soccer program.
"I am thrilled to join the team here at Rider during this exciting time for the University," said Mastrianni. "There is a tremendous sense of optimism on campus, and I look forward to working with alumni and friends of Rider Athletics to enhance our facilities, increase support for our teams, and put our student-athletes in the best position for success."
Prior to his work at TCNJ, Mastrianni served for nearly six years at the Rutgers University Foundation, first as Prospect Research Analyst before being elevated to Associate Director of Reunion Campaigns. He helped the foundation identify, qualify, cultivate and solicit a portfolio of 150 prospects to exceed its fundraising goal. Mastrianni also connected alumni passions with areas of need at Rutgers to maximize the overall gift and engagement and successfully closed gifts as large as $25,000 with numerous five-year pledges.
A 2007 graduate of Wagner College, Mastrianni also earned his master's degree from the Staten Island, N.Y., institution while working as a graduate assistant in the school's advancement office. It was there that Mastrianni earned his first postgraduate experience in advancement, becoming involved with Wagner's annual fund and capital campaign. He also coordinated and tracked donor contributions, made cold calls, assisted in events and researched potential donors.
No stranger to the athletic field himself, Mastrianni was a four-year member and two-year captain of Wagner's baseball team, twice earning All-Northeast Conference honors.
To reach Matthew Mastrianni, his office phone number is 609-896-5291 and his email address is
mmastrianni@rider.edu.
