Director of Annual Giving

Posted on 03/30/2023

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

The George Mason University Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, invites qualified candidates to apply for a full-time Director of Annual Giving position. The University Advancement division is a comprehensive development and alumni relations enterprise with a staff complement of approximately 135 full-time employees. 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’s 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 Office of Annual Giving at George Mason University is responsible for encouraging and increasing a broad base of ongoing annual support from alumni, parents, friends, faculty/staff, and students. From this base of support, Mason is able to fund innovative programs for students, provide up-to-date technology, and recruit esteemed faculty that otherwise would not be available through state and local funding.

George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.
 
This position also offers:
  • Potential for flexible telework and hybrid telework scheduling
  • Competitive salary
  • Outstanding benefits including:
    • Health and life insurance, multiple industry-leading retirement plans available including state VRS Hybrid Retirement Plan, accrued paid days off per year, paid holidays, paid winter break, paid sick leave, professional development, tuition reimbursement at GMU, and employee assistance programs.

About the Position: 

Working with the Director of Development, Annual Giving Strategic Initiatives, this position leads the university’s efforts to increase annual individual giving from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends, and students. The Director of Annual Giving assists with the execution of a strategic plan for the Office of Annual Giving to meet yearly financial and participation goals.

Duties Include: 

  • Synthesizes information and develops key findings that will drive strategic decisions in annual giving across the organization;
  • Presents written, graphic, and oral reports to colleagues on results of projects;
  • Creates visually pleasing and easy to read reports that drive strategy within the unit and provide informatics of annual giving results and recommendations;
  • Manages both of George Mason’s major annual campaigns (Season of Giving and Mason Vision Day);
  • Manages the Annual Giving program throughout the units, schools, and colleges;
  • Cultivates partnerships with other departments across campus;
  • Ensures an optimal online giving experience for donors and optimal service to the development units;
  • Manages a stewardship program for annual donors;
  • Oversees ongoing strategic initiatives for annual giving, including optimizing partnerships with gift officers, building the University’s crowdsourcing program, determining how to best involve volunteers, and utilizing engagement scores and predictive indices;
  • Consults with analytics experts, colleagues, and consultants, attends seminars and training courses to acquire body of knowledge and best practices in prospect management and data analysis;
  • Contributes to evaluation of analysis tools and makes recommendations to Director of Development;
  • Effectively manages, develops, and motivates Annual Giving staff of professionals;
  • Must be able to travel, and occasional work on evenings and/or weekends may be required; and
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications: 

  • Significant experience (typically 5+ years) in managing annual giving programs integrating the full strategic complement of solicitation channels;
  • A significant background in all forms of direct marketing—especially direct mail and e-direct—including knowledge of direct marketing strategy, creative development, production, and program metrics which consist of creating dashboards and reporting;
  • A thorough and current knowledge of and a commitment to currency in overall fundraising principles and best practices in annual giving including social and digital media;
  • Familiarity and comfort with complex data and donor management software platforms;
  • Understanding of new and emerging fundraising techniques and technologies;
  • Organizational management and leadership including supervisory experience;
  • Ability to work collaboratively with multiple teams and volunteers;
  • Ability to think critically, strategically and creatively about the development and growth of the Annual Giving program;
  • An accomplished presenter, demonstrated self-starter, and an innovative/creative thinker; and
  • Demonstrate extensive skills, vision, flexibility, and the drive to exceed yearly goals.

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Experience with relational database environments, database query tools, gathering user requirements, data quality control, and problem resolution; and
  • Experience in a call center/engagement center, preferably in a University setting.

George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report “Up and Coming” spot for national universities and is recognized for its global appeal and excellence in higher education.

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason’s diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

To apply for this job please visit jobs.gmu.edu.