Senior Director of Development

Department: Costello College of Business

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

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Donald G. Costello College of Business at George Mason University is one of the largest business schools in Virginia, and is located near Washington, D.C., in Arlington and Fairfax, and at George Mason’s global campus in Incheon, South Korea. The College’s AACSB-accredited business and accounting curricula prepare undergraduate and graduate students from the U.S. and across the globe for career success in business and government. Its research-based faculty and focus on multi-disciplinary academic programs, inclusive entrepreneurship, modular education, experiential learning, and corporate partner engagement are transforming the landscape of business education and workforce development. Learn more at business.gmu.edu.

The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations division is a comprehensive development and alumni relations enterprise with a staff complement of approximately 125 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 Senior Director of Development is the College's chief fundraising officer, overseeing all development programs, efforts, and strategies to drive philanthropic support in alignment with College and University goals. As a member of the senior leadership team, the role collaborates with the Dean, Associate Deans, area chairs, advisory boards, faculty, and senior staff to define and execute fundraising priorities. The Senior Director also partners with Central Advancement and College colleagues to advance giving through annual campaigns, alumni engagement, corporate and foundation relations, and major, principal, and planned giving.

The Senior Director of Development reports to the Associate Dean for Outreach and Strategic Engagement at the Business College with a dotted reporting line to Central Advancement. This role emphasizes networking, relationship-building, and a commitment to tracking key metrics. The Senior Director will focus on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects ($25,000+) and principal gift prospects ($1M+) and create and activate a donor pipeline that supports the College and University goals.

Responsibilities:

Maintains Personal Portfolio and Supports Comprehensive Fundraising Program:

• Oversees the College’s full donor portfolio to optimize philanthropic revenue;
• Manages a portfolio of 50-60 major and principal gift prospects and donors, focusing on securing gifts and pledges of $25,000+;
• Engages prospects to drive movement and maximize portfolio potential;
• Coordinates fundraising activities, tracks progress, drafts proposals, and manages cultivation and stewardship efforts;
• Tracks, meets or exceeds all Central Advancement metrics and expectations;
• Contributes to the execution of a comprehensive fundraising program, leveraging Central Advancement resources;
• Develops and implements strategies for major and principal gifts in collaboration with Central Advancement and Alumni Relations;
• Engages faculty, staff, alumni, and volunteers to assist in identifying, cultivating, securing, and stewarding major, principal, and planned gifts;
• Leads direct solicitation efforts and prepares key stakeholders (Dean, Associate Dean, faculty, advisory board members, etc.) for their involvement in solicitations;
• Travels as needed for donor outreach and cultivation;
• Collaborates with units and peers across campus to support fundraising goals and the University's mission;
• Innovates donor engagement strategies to enhance the donor experience and academic contributions;
• Works with staff to boost alumni involvement and exceed fundraising targets;
• Communicates and implements advancement and alumni relations priorities with volunteer boards and affinity groups;
• Ensures the Advancement team has the support and tools necessary to successfully execute their roles and professionally engage in all aspects of donor engagement;
• Coordinates fundraising with other departments and utilizes services as appropriate;
• Ensures consistent and adequate communication between the College 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.

Supervision of Staff:

• Responsible for setting goals for performance and deadlines in ways that comply with the University’s plans and vision and communicates them to subordinates;
• Organizes workflow and ensures that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks;
• Monitors employee productivity and provides constructive feedback and coaching;
• Receives complaints and resolves problems;
• Maintains timekeeping and personnel records;
• Passes on information from upper management to employees and vice versa;
• Prepares and submits performance evaluations;
• In conjunction with the Associate Dean for Outreach and Strategic Engagement, decides on rewards and promotions based on performance;
• Hires and trains new employees; and
• Ensures adherence to legal and University policies and procedures and undertaking disciplinary actions if the need arises.

Other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Extensive experience in major gifts fundraising (generally 10 or more years);
• Demonstrated record of successful major gift solicitations and experience designing and executing donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies;
• Experience interacting with a wide variety of constituents, such as donors, prospects, trustees, faculty, and staff;
• Demonstrated experience with personnel management;
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting continuous deadlines;
• Experience with documenting appropriate information in a donor management database system;
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communications skills;
• Demonstrated writing and editing skills in preparing proposals and drafting related correspondence;
• Excellent research skills;
• Ability to take a creative approach to involve and solicit major donor prospects and possess the ability to motivate;
• Display good judgement and confidentiality;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite;
• Possess the understanding and ability to articulate the accomplishments and goals of a complex organization;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, with regional and domestic travel; and
• Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle Use Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/. The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver’s licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidates selected with employment contingent upon a favorable review.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Experience in higher education related fundraising;
• Successful experience in planning, coordinating, and conducting major capital or comprehensive campaign efforts;
• Familiarity with CRM fundraising software; and
• Ability to demonstrate sound judgment necessary for interacting with donors, prospects, trustees, faculty, and staff.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Senior Director of Development at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references, one of which must be a current supervisor with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

Posting Open Date:  February 25, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  March 24, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes