Who We Are:

Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information: 

The Assistant Director of Affinity Programs plans and implements strategic efforts to raise the visibility of and constituent commitment to private philanthropy at JMU. Affinity programs include awareness and fundraising campaigns for defined target audiences. This role requires close working relationships with colleagues in the Office of Annual Giving and others in the Division of University Advancement, particularly Alumni Relations and Family Engagement, as well as other campus partners and external vendors.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Assist the Director of Annual Giving in establishing annual program goals, as well as making comprehensive plans for engaging alumni during their reunion years, current students and their families, and JMU faculty and staff members. (Engagement includes connecting with constituents, developing relationships, making targeted appeals, and stewarding donors.)
• Help develop and activate other affinity programs with a particular focus on peer-to-peer fundraising.
• For JMU’s spring Giving Day, support the ambassador program and work with colleagues and campus partners to ensure smooth operations during this annual 24-hour fundraising event.
• Establish and maintain meaningful metrics to evaluate program success.
• Ensure projects and programs under the purview of this position are produced on time and within budget constraints.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree
• Fundraising or marketing experience in a nonprofit environment.
• Strong planning and organization skills with demonstrated success in completing complex plans on time and within budget.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High comfort level with initiating and nurturing one-to-one relationships with colleagues and constituents.
• Willingness to occasionally work flexible hours, including some evenings.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Knowledge of annual giving practices, trends, opportunities, and challenges
• Experience in a higher education setting

EEO Statement: 

James Madison University is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.