Associate Director of Development (Major Gifts Officer)
Company: George Mason University
Location: Arlington
Posted on: November 20, 2023
Job Description:
Associate Director of Development (Major Gifts Officer)
10000087
Arlington
Administrative or Professional Faculty
Opening on: Oct 30 2023
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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
Keywords: George Mason University, Arlington , Associate Director of Development (Major Gifts Officer), Executive , Arlington, Virginia
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