Senior Director of Development University Priorities

Overview

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 commensurate with education and experience
Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The University Priorities/Corporate and Foundation Relations (UP/CFR) team is a central unit within University Advancement and Alumni Relations at George Mason University. The team is responsible for cultivating, managing, and stewarding relationships with corporations, foundations, and other external partners to secure philanthropic support that advances Mason's most pressing institutional priorities. The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations division is a comprehensive development and alumni relations enterprise with a staff complement of approximately 125 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, transparency, and creativity are the values that guide our work and culture.

About the Position:

The Senior Director of Development for University Priorities serves as a senior fundraising leader within the University Priorities/Corporate and Foundation Relations (UP/CFR) team, part of University Advancement and Alumni Relations. This position is responsible for driving philanthropic investment in high-visibility, cross-disciplinary initiatives that advance Mason's strategic vision and elevate the university's regional and national impact. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for University Priorities and Corporate and Foundation Relations, the Senior Director of University Priorities provides leadership in fundraising strategy, team coordination, and partnership engagement across the university.

The role emphasizes the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and principal gift prospects, with a particular focus on university-wide initiatives such as Fuse at Mason Square, the Military, Veterans & Families Initiative, and the Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP).

Maintains Personal Portfolio and Supports Comprehensive Fundraising Program

• Manages an active portfolio of 50 - 60 major and principal gift prospects (individuals, corporations, and foundations) with the capacity to make gifts of $100,000+ (as defined by George Mason's Advancement team).
• Conducts ongoing qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of portfolio prospects to advance them through the donor cycle.
• Maintains minimum of 50% Portfolio Penetration working toward 75% Portfolio Penetration.
• Develops and implements customized cultivation strategies and solicitations that align donor interests with university priorities.
• Makes a minimum of 24 major gift solicitations ("asks") annually, with a focus on securing gifts of $100,000 and above.
• Partners with faculty leaders, deans, and senior administrators to develop compelling proposals and engagement opportunities for high-value prospects.
• Maintains accurate and timely prospect strategies, contact reports, and pipeline updates in the university's advancement CRM.
• 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.
• Travels, independently, 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.
• Seeks the assistance of a wide range of stakeholders in identifying prospects who might make major gifts in the future.
• Assists in overseeing the University Priority team's portfolio of donors and potential donors both individually and through the management of the team to maximize unit revenue from philanthropic giving.
• Conducts discovery visits with prospective…