Associate Director of Development (Major Gifts Officer)

Department: Col of Humanities and Soc Science

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 mission of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences' Office of Development is to raise private philanthropic funds in support of students, faculty, departments, programs, and centers within the College. We also explicitly support the efforts of the advancement offices of other colleges and the university as a whole. This is accomplished by building relationships with alumni, friends, parents and students and by soliciting donations, major gifts, planned gifts, and corporate and foundation support. Alumni relations are cultivated and maintained through outreach efforts.

About the Position:

The Associate Director of Development/Major Gift Officer’s primary responsibilities include working closely with the Senior Director of Development, Dean, Department 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 is a position that is heavily focused on networking and building relationships and is 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.

Responsibilities:

Maintain Personal Portfolio and Supports Comprehensive Fundraising Program

• Supports successful execution of a comprehensive fundraising program that appropriately partners with and leverages resources from the central advancement team to accomplish objectives;
• 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);
• Meets or exceeds all metrics and expectations set by Central Advancement;
• 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;
• Develops strategies and implementation of major and principal gifts for the School, in concert with central Advancement and Alumni Relations;
• 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;
• 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;
• Finds new and creative ways to engage donors that will enrich the donor experience and add value to the academic life of the University;
• Seeks the assistance of a wide range of people in identifying prospects who might make major gifts in the future;
• Assists with planning and implementation of school efforts to raise individual, corporate and foundation funds;
• 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;