Director of Development University Priorities

Department: Advancement and Alumni Relations

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary starting low $130k; commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

The University Advancement division is a comprehensive development and alumni relations enterprise with a staff complement of approximately 135 FTE. Functional units within Advancement include development/fundraising, alumni relations, stewardship and donor relations, advancement communications, special events, gift processing, research, prospect management, gift planning, corporate and foundation relations, information systems and management, and infrastructure services.

Advancement's mission is to build strong, lifelong relationships with George Mason University's alumni and constituents, while matching their philanthropic interests with the university aspirations and priorities. The division is committed to serving the needs of the university, our alumni, and the greater community by providing access to quality education and lifelong learning. Respect, service, integrity, collaboration, diversity, transparency, and creativity are the values that guide our work and culture.

The Director of Development for University Priorities is responsible for identifying and implementing strategies for success in securing significant philanthropic support for university priorities. This position cultivates meaningful relationships with potential and current Major Gift ($25,000+) level donors to the university. Manages a portfolio of donors and prospective donors and is responsible for facilitating all phases of the gift cycle, including initiating contact, cultivating and moving potential donors to solicitation and closure, creating solicitations, writing proposals, and stewarding donors.

The Director of Development works collaboratively with key volunteers, school leadership and faculty, Advancement staff, and other school representatives to cultivate and solicit donors for university priorities.

• Carries and maintains a portfolio of 75 to 100 prospects that are moved through the donor engagement process culminating in MAJOR or PRINCIPAL gifts (as defined by George Mason's Advancement team);
• Actively engages each prospect in their portfolio to ensure prospect movement and portfolio penetration annually;
• Minimum of 50% portfolio penetration working toward 75% portfolio penetration;
• Submits 2-4 "Asks" per month for a total of a minimum of 24 per year;
• Meets or exceeds all metrics and expectations set by Central Advancement;
• Supports successful execution of a comprehensive fundraising program that appropriately partners with and leverages resources from the Central Advancement team to accomplish objectives;
• Develops strategies and implementation of major and principal gifts for the school, in concert with Central Advancement and Alumni Relations;
• As appropriate, is personally responsible for the direct solicitation of gifts and for preparing the Dean, members of school advisory boards, members of the school's Advancement team, faculty, staff, and other members of the school and/or university to make solicitations;
• Coordinates the efforts of those who can assist in fundraising; tracks contacts, asks, and funds raised; drafts proposals and pledge agreements for potential donors; and proposes and coordinates appropriate cultivation and stewardship activities;
• Travels as necessary for donor outreach and cultivation;
• Works with offices across campus to coordinate related activities that further the university's mission and achieve fundraising goals;
• Finds new and creative ways to engage donors that will enrich the donor experience and add value to the academic life of the university;
• Works with staff to engage all alumni to advance the percentage of active involvement and increase alumni donations;
• Engages a wide range of colleagues, alumni, donors, prior faculty and staff, and individuals who might be able to assist in pursuing/winning major gifts;
• Seeks the assistance of a wide range of people in identifying prospects who might make major gifts in the future;
• Assists in overseeing the school's portfolio of donors and potential donors, both individually and through management of the team to maximize unit revenue from philanthropic giving;
• Communicates and executes the advancement and alumni relations agenda with the school's volunteer boards and alumni affinity groups;
• Assists with planning and implementation of school efforts to raise individual, corporate, and foundation funds;
• Conducts discovery visits with prospective donors as identified by Central Advancement Research and will also hand-off or…