University of Minnesota Athletics
Staff Directory
Jamar Thompson
- Title:
- Associate Vice President of Philanthropy
- Email:
Jamar Thompson serves as the Associate Vice President of Philanthropy with a focus on securing support for Gopher Athletics. Thompson joined the University of Minnesota athletic department in August 2024 as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development. He oversees the day-to-day operations of the Golden Gopher Fund, which is the fundraising arm for Gopher Athletics, and serves as the sport administrator for the men's and women's golf programs.
Thompson joined Minnesota from Northern Iowa where he worked from 2016-24 in various roles including the Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs where he led the external team of fundraising, marketing, communications, ticketing, and revenue generation. He was instrumental in managing the department's comprehensive fundraising strategies, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, sports-specific initiatives, endowed scholarships, and capital projects.
Under Thompson's leadership, Northern Iowa launched a $50 million capital campaign for UNI-Dome renovations along with campaigns focused on a new wrestling training facility, basketball and volleyball practice facility, football team meeting room, and outdoor track replacement. Thompson secured principal gifts, executed marketing strategies, engaged key donors and volunteers along with developing the project scope.
Thompson's tenure at Northern Iowa was marked by several record-breaking achievements including record fundraising years for the Panther Scholarship Club in 2022 and 2023, record special event fundraising and highly successful day of giving campaigns.
Prior to his time at Northern Iowa, Thompson was the Affiliate Development Director for the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa from 2012-16. In this role, he was responsible for development activities for 24 affiliates throughout 20 counties in Iowa and managed a team of development staff. Thompson raised $12 million and set annual records for gifts received during his tenure.
Thompson currently serves on the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) Executive Committee.
The Andover, Minn., native earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from Northern Iowa in 2010 and his master's degree from Northern Iowa in communication studies. At Northern Iowa, Thompson was a member of the football team and served as a team captain. As a student-athlete, he was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honoree, helping lead his team to three conference titles and three trips to the FCS playoffs.Â
Thompson joined Minnesota from Northern Iowa where he worked from 2016-24 in various roles including the Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs where he led the external team of fundraising, marketing, communications, ticketing, and revenue generation. He was instrumental in managing the department's comprehensive fundraising strategies, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, sports-specific initiatives, endowed scholarships, and capital projects.
Under Thompson's leadership, Northern Iowa launched a $50 million capital campaign for UNI-Dome renovations along with campaigns focused on a new wrestling training facility, basketball and volleyball practice facility, football team meeting room, and outdoor track replacement. Thompson secured principal gifts, executed marketing strategies, engaged key donors and volunteers along with developing the project scope.
Thompson's tenure at Northern Iowa was marked by several record-breaking achievements including record fundraising years for the Panther Scholarship Club in 2022 and 2023, record special event fundraising and highly successful day of giving campaigns.
Prior to his time at Northern Iowa, Thompson was the Affiliate Development Director for the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa from 2012-16. In this role, he was responsible for development activities for 24 affiliates throughout 20 counties in Iowa and managed a team of development staff. Thompson raised $12 million and set annual records for gifts received during his tenure.
Thompson currently serves on the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) Executive Committee.
The Andover, Minn., native earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from Northern Iowa in 2010 and his master's degree from Northern Iowa in communication studies. At Northern Iowa, Thompson was a member of the football team and served as a team captain. As a student-athlete, he was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honoree, helping lead his team to three conference titles and three trips to the FCS playoffs.Â
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