Associate Director of Development (Major Gifts Officer)

Opening on: Oct 30 2023






















Add to favorites

Favorited



View favorites





Department: Antonin Scalia Law School
Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Telework Friendly: Yes
Location: Arlington
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience
Criminal Background Check: Yes




About the Department:
The Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University is a Top 30 ranked law school strategically located in Arlington, VA, just two miles from downtown Washington, D.C. The Development and Alumni Relations office within Scalia Law aligns itself directly with the school's mission and vision as well as that of the GMU's Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations to heighten alumni engagement and philanthropic giving to Scalia Law.

The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations 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.




About the Position:
The Associate Director of Development/Major Gift Officer's primary responsibilities include working closely with the Associate Dean of External Affairs, Dean, Area Chairs, volunteer/advisory Boards, Faculty, and Senior staff members to develop fundraising priorities and strategies. The position also partners with central Advancement, Advancement colleagues, and School colleagues to advance philanthropic giving to key priorities through ongoing annual fundraising, alumni engagement, corporate and foundation relations, and major, principle, and planned giving.

This position is heavily focused on networking and building relationships and committed to the tracking of measures and metrics to build a pipeline of donors to support the aspirations of the dean, faculty, and students of the School and the university as a whole. This position requires working a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, as well as travelling independently as needed.




Responsibilities:

• 
  
• Maintains Personal Portfolio and supports Comprehensive Fundraising Program;
  
• Carries and maintains a portfolio of 90 to 100 prospects that are being 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 help 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;
  
• Displays good judgment and confidentiality;
  
• Assists in overseeing the School's portfolio of donors and potential donors both individually and through the 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 disqualify individuals from their portfolio based on an unwillingness to connect, lack of affinity, or philanthropic interest in another aspect of Mason;
  
• Works with staff to engage all alumni to advance the percentage of active involvement and increase alumni donations; and meet or exceed fundraising goals;
  
• Regularly updates supervisors as to any fundraising and relationship-building activities taking place in the School;
  
• Strategizes about which major gifts would have the greatest value to and impact on the School and prioritizes said gifts. Works with donors to try to interest them in gifts that have the greatest value to and impact on the School. Understands that certain gifts will transform the school more than others, and takes responsibility for pursuing and capturing more valuable gifts;
  
• Displays good judgment and confidentiality; and
  
• Although this position does not have responsibility for cultivating and getting gifts of under $5,000, the position helps, proactively and in any way possible, team members in the School who are responsible for securing these annual and leadership annual gifts;
  
• Coordination with Central Advancement;
  
• Coordinates fundraising with other departments and utilizes services as appropriate;
  
• Ensures consistent and adequate communication between School/Unit and Central Advancement; and
  
• Works closely with Central Advancement services including, but not limited to, Planned Giving, Annual Giving, Parents and Family Philanthropy, University Priorities, Alumni Relations, Communications, Systems, Operations, Donor Relations, Gifts and Records, etc.; and
  
• Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties in this job classification.
  
  
  
  
  
  Required Qualifications:
  
  • 
    
  • Master's degree in related field;
    
  • Demonstrated experience designing and executing donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies;
    
  • Successful professional advancement and/or fundraising-related experience (generally 5+ years);
    
  • A creative approach to involve and solicit major donor prospects and possess the ability to motivate;
    
  • Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting continuous deadlines;
    
  • Experience documenting appropriate information in a donor management database system;
    
  • Excellent research, writing, and interpersonal communication skills; and
    
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.
    
    
    
    
    
    Preferred Qualifications:
    
    • 
      
    • Terminal degree in a related field;
      
    • Experience in major gifts fundraising, preferably in higher education;
      
    • Familiarity with CRM fundraising software;
      
    • Demonstrate sound judgment necessary for interacting with donors, prospects, trustees, faculty and staff; and
      
    • Possess understanding and ability to articulate the accomplishments and goals of a complex organization.
      
      
      
      
      
      Instructions to Applicants:
      For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Associate Director of Development (Major Gifts Officer) at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and provide a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.
      
      
      
      
      Posting Open Date: October 30, 2023
      For Full Consideration, Apply by: November 13, 2023
      Open Until Filled?: Yes