Associate Athletics Director for Development and Major Gifts

Department: Intercollegiate Athletics

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: On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

George Mason Athletics unites communities by developing champions with a mission to inspire and transform lives through the power of sports. Mason Athletics serves 500 student-athletes in 22 NCAA Division I sports. We are a proud member of the Atlantic 10 Conference with over 20 Conference Championships, NCAA Championships in Women’s Soccer and Men’s Indoor Track, an NCAA Final Four appearance with Men’s Basketball, and over 30 individual National Champions. We are student-focused, education-centered, and committed to providing transformational experiences for our student-athletes and staff. Our five priorities are Student-Athlete Experience, Competition, Resources, Storytelling & Engagement, and Championship Culture.

About the Position:

The Associate Athletics Director for Development and Major Gifts serves as the senior development officer for Intercollegiate Athletics and is responsible for strategic oversight, planning, and execution of all fundraising initiatives aimed at supporting athletics priorities. Reporting to the Sr. Deputy Athletics Director for Revenue Generation and Fundraising and working closely with the Associate Vice President for Advancement, this position directs major and principal gifts efforts, annual giving, capital campaigns, and donor engagement strategies. The position plays a central leadership role in cultivating a culture of philanthropy within the department and externally among alumni, parents, friends, and corporate partners, while actively managing a major gift portfolio. The role also provides direct supervision to development staff and collaborates closely with university advancement partners to maximize philanthropic outcomes.

This position requires evening and weekend work, and travels regionally or nationally as needed to cultivate donor relationships.

Responsibilities:

Major and Principal Gift Fundraising

• Manages a personal portfolio of 75–100 prospects, focusing on individuals with the capacity to make gifts of $25,000 or more and solicit major and principal contributions in alignment with the athletics case for support, targeting key fundraising priorities including capital projects, programmatic support, current-use funds, endowments, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiatives;
• Develops and executes tailored cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for major donors and prospective donors;
• Partners with university advancement colleagues and athletics leadership to identify, align, and elevate philanthropic opportunities that match donor interests with departmental priorities;
• Collaborates with central advancement on principal gift strategies to ensure alignment with broader institutional and campaign priorities; and
• Develops and implements new donor recognition societies and strengthen existing ones—including the Green Coat Society and Legacy Giving Society—to deepen engagement and encourage long-term philanthropic support. 

Oversight of Athletics Annual Giving Program

• Provides strategic direction and oversight for the athletics annual giving program, including the Patriot Club, team-specific fundraising, and donor benefits;
• Leads planning and execution of campaigns to achieve annual fund revenue goals of $1.5–$3 million;
• Supports creative donor engagement efforts and ensure effective stewardship and recognition programs; and
• Collaborates with athletics department leadership to integrate annual fundraising initiatives into broader revenue-generating strategies, including marketing, ticketing, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) programs. 

Strategic Leadership and Campaign Planning

• Serves as a member of the athletics department’s senior leadership team, offering strategic input on fundraising integration into departmental strategic priorities and goals;
• Coordinates with university advancement to lead or support comprehensive campaign planning and implementation of a case for support for the athletics department; and
• Utilizes data and analytics to inform strategy, measure success, and manage pipeline development. 

Staff Supervision and Development

• Supervises and mentors development staff, including gift officers, annual fund personnel, and administrative staff;
• Sets clear performance expectations, conducts evaluations, provides coaching, and fosters professional growth; and
• Aligns team structure and priorities with overall advancement strategy and department needs. 

External Engagement and Donor Relations

• Represents the athletics department at on- and off-campus events, actively cultivating relationships with alumni, donors, and other key stakeholders;
• Collaborates with coaches, athletics staff, and university leadership to design and execute strategic engagement opportunities that strengthen donor affinity and support;
• Ensures timely and thorough follow-up with prospects and donors, including the preparation of contact reports, solicitation proposals, and stewardship communications; and
• Leads and oversees the activities of the Patriot Club Advisory Board (PCAB) to enhance constituent engagement and generate additional philanthropic support for athletics initiatives. 

Performs other related duties as assigned by the Associate Vice President for Advancement, Sr. Deputy Athletics Director for Revenue Generation and Fundraising, and/or the Vice President/Director of Athletics 

• Contributes to the overall strategic leadership of the department and participate in university-wide initiatives and projects as requested. 

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field such as fundraising, sales, business, communications, or sport management;
• Substantial progressive experience in major gift fundraising and/or business development/sales, preferably within higher education, intercollegiate athletics, or a complex nonprofit organization (typically five or more years);
• Demonstrated success managing a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, including securing gifts of $25,000 or more;
• Experience leading annual fund programs, with responsibility for meeting revenue goals and managing donor benefits and engagement initiatives;
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic business terminology, financial matters, and the ethical, legal, and tax-related issues regarding the solicitation, transfer, and management of charitable gifts;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proposal development and donor correspondence;
• Strong leadership and personnel management skills, including experience supervising and mentoring staff, setting expectations, and conducting performance evaluations;
• Proven ability to develop and execute donor strategies, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship;
• Ability to collaborate effectively with senior leadership, coaches, faculty, and advancement colleagues in a team-oriented, cross-functional environment;
• Ability to work independently and take initiative, manage competing priorities, coordinate diverse and multiple projects, and meet tight deadlines;
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and integrity in managing sensitive donor information and relationships; and
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using donor management/CRM systems for contact reporting and prospect tracking.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with comprehensive campaign planning and execution, including the creation of cases for support and gift society management;
• Prior experience working with athletics fundraising advisory boards or donor councils;
• Demonstrated success in building or expanding giving societies, alumni engagement programs, or donor stewardship initiatives;
• Knowledge of intercollegiate athletics operations and culture, including NCAA compliance and programmatic priorities;
• Familiarity with NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) landscape and its integration into donor and revenue strategies; and
• Familiarity with university advancement structures and systems, particularly in a large, public research institution;

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Associate Athletics Director for Development and Major Gifts at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: August 26, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  September 9, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes