George Mason University
Associate Vice President of Development (Schools/Colleges)
George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States, 22032
About the Department
Department:
Advancement and Alumni Relations 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 University Advancement
division: A comprehensive development and alumni relations enterprise with a staff complement of approximately 125 FTE. Functional units 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. The division’s mission is to build lifelong relationships with George Mason University’s alumni and constituents, aligning philanthropic interests with university priorities. Values guiding the work and culture are respect, service, integrity, collaboration, transparency, and creativity. About the Position
Supports the Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations (VP) in identifying and implementing strategies to secure significant philanthropic support for George Mason University. The Associate Vice President (Assoc VP) oversees professional fundraising staff and co-manages the school/college development staff with the Deans. This position reports directly to the Vice President for Advancement & Alumni Relations and is a member of the senior management team. The Assoc VP works closely with the University President, Provost, VP, and academic and administrative leadership to translate University priorities into compelling proposals and fundraising initiatives. The role provides leadership to develop and sustain relationships with key partners and contributes to implementing a strategic vision for a high-impact philanthropy program. The position may require non-routine hours and travel as necessary. Responsibilities
Leadership and Coaching Manages George Mason University’s philanthropy program, including recruitment, orientation, mentoring and fundraising activities. Provides leadership and staff oversight for fundraising professionals. Facilitates development with colleagues, faculty, Deans, unit directors, volunteers, administration and staff to identify and solicit support for strategic university and academic-unit priorities. In collaboration with the VP and Deans, develops and implements plans, monitors progress toward goals, increases fundraising effectiveness and strives for greater levels of philanthropy within a collaborative team environment. Develops and maintains strong, positive rapport with unit leadership to ensure optimum participation in fundraising and effective reporting systems. Works with direct reports and their teams on strategic planning to establish college/unit and individual performance goals and metrics. Manages a team of fundraising professionals and maintains a personal portfolio of prospects with multidisciplinary interests in a high-performance, metrics-based environment. Trains, coaches and mentors team members in best fundraising and operational practices. Fosters a culture of collaboration and communication with academic leaders, units and central fundraising services. Ensures adoption and effective use of strategic tools and resources such as contact reports, prospect management, research, and the CRM database. Serves as a strategic partner to Advancement Operations in recruiting, retaining, developing, and engaging development team members. Revenue Responsibility Builds, develops and manages a small portfolio of prospects/donors focusing on major and principal gifts. Identifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards donors to secure gifts/grants for university priorities and initiatives. Establishes long-term relationships on behalf of George Mason University. Collaborates with administration, faculty, development officers, academic programs, research centers and institutes to enhance relationships and increase philanthropic support. Maximizes support of key university priorities across all academic units. Identifies and cultivates prospect leads in industry to support academic programs and presidential priorities for six- to seven-figure gifts. Provides stewardship to existing donors and secures renewed support. Collaborates with Advancement and Alumni Relations colleagues to build multidimensional strategic relationships to drive overall support. Builds and nurtures relationships with alumni, parents, friends, volunteers and team members. Partners with colleagues and direct reports to elevate gift strategies across all prospects. Strategic Planning / Collaboration and Communication Works with internal and external partners to promote and solicit funding from viable prospects. Demonstrates collaborative approach with exceptional oral and written communication skills. Clearly articulates fundraising goals within the context of the Advancement mission, goals and objectives. Conducts research and maintains knowledge of University policies and priorities. Participates in structured sessions with Deans and VPs to coordinate prospect identification, engagement, strategy building, proposal development, solicitation and follow-up. Leads collaborative efforts to develop coordinated strategies for shared prospects. Facilitates action plans and monitors implementation of strategies. Creates events and activities for cultivation, stewardship, and solicitations of principal gifts. Sets organizational priorities to strengthen the donor pipeline and raise fundraising capacity to meet goals and drive long-term results. Leads and oversees development performance metrics and analytics to measure fundraising effectiveness. Stays informed of industry standards and best practices and implements changes to remain competitive. Coordinates relationships with businesses, industry leaders, national organizations, and other entities to forge partnerships and opportunities. Advises senior management on opportunities for support. Reporting and Analysis / Stewardship and Donor Management Provides thoughtful stewardship including impact statements and measures of accountability. Maintains accurate internal records of donor relationships in the donor/prospect database. Writes and submits proposals directly or via staff. Participates in regular Development meetings to share activity updates. Collaborates with Development staff to share best practices and opportunities and inform strategy. Develops and coordinates tasks related to prospect research and proposal development, including tracking cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation activity. Enters all development activity in the database in a timely and accurate manner. Oversees site visits for donors/prospects with development officers, faculty and university partners. Arranges visits with University leadership as needed. Develops and coordinates required reports for industry partners and uses donor data for reporting and analysis. Utilizes donor database for reporting/analysis to measure progress against department goals. Required Qualifications
Master’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Extensive (typically ten or more years) development experience in higher education. Proven leadership and management experience of Advancement and Alumni Relations professionals within a complex organization. Significant managerial experience (typically seven years) of fundraisers in large, complex institutions. Experience in crafting high-level gift agreements across disciplines. Broad practical and substantive expertise across related disciplines. Experience with fundraising databases and prospecting tools (e.g., Advance, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce). Understanding of advancement and philanthropy practices and experience mentoring front-line directors. Proven track record of soliciting and closing gifts, including six- and seven-figure gifts, preferably at a university. Leadership skills to inspire staff and volunteers to exceed goals. Ability to develop a strong community presence and execute fundraising strategies. Ability to identify and implement strategic fundraising solicitation strategies. Ability to manage time and workload in a deadline-driven environment. Proficiency in using data and analytics to inform donor strategy. Excellent computer skills including database management and CRM proficiency. High integrity and collaborative work style across organizations. Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software. Advanced project management and budget skills. Self-starter with drive, persuasiveness, and results orientation. Superior writing, verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. Flexibility, adaptability, and strong work ethic with ability to handle multiple priorities. Ability to work within a team framework and manage teams and projects. Instructions to Applicants
George Mason University has retained Opus Partners to support this recruitment. Kenna Boyd, Partner, and Abigail Maynard, Managing Associate, are leading the search. Inquiries and nominations should be sent in writing to Abigail Maynard at the email address provided (abigail.maynard@opuspartners.net). To apply, visit the Mason GMU jobs site. Required materials include a resume and cover letter. For best consideration, apply by October 22, 2025. The search process will maintain candidate confidentiality. George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law. Posting Open Date:
September 22, 2025 For Full Consideration, Apply by:
October 22, 2025 Open Until Filled:
Yes
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Department:
Advancement and Alumni Relations 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 University Advancement
division: A comprehensive development and alumni relations enterprise with a staff complement of approximately 125 FTE. Functional units 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. The division’s mission is to build lifelong relationships with George Mason University’s alumni and constituents, aligning philanthropic interests with university priorities. Values guiding the work and culture are respect, service, integrity, collaboration, transparency, and creativity. About the Position
Supports the Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations (VP) in identifying and implementing strategies to secure significant philanthropic support for George Mason University. The Associate Vice President (Assoc VP) oversees professional fundraising staff and co-manages the school/college development staff with the Deans. This position reports directly to the Vice President for Advancement & Alumni Relations and is a member of the senior management team. The Assoc VP works closely with the University President, Provost, VP, and academic and administrative leadership to translate University priorities into compelling proposals and fundraising initiatives. The role provides leadership to develop and sustain relationships with key partners and contributes to implementing a strategic vision for a high-impact philanthropy program. The position may require non-routine hours and travel as necessary. Responsibilities
Leadership and Coaching Manages George Mason University’s philanthropy program, including recruitment, orientation, mentoring and fundraising activities. Provides leadership and staff oversight for fundraising professionals. Facilitates development with colleagues, faculty, Deans, unit directors, volunteers, administration and staff to identify and solicit support for strategic university and academic-unit priorities. In collaboration with the VP and Deans, develops and implements plans, monitors progress toward goals, increases fundraising effectiveness and strives for greater levels of philanthropy within a collaborative team environment. Develops and maintains strong, positive rapport with unit leadership to ensure optimum participation in fundraising and effective reporting systems. Works with direct reports and their teams on strategic planning to establish college/unit and individual performance goals and metrics. Manages a team of fundraising professionals and maintains a personal portfolio of prospects with multidisciplinary interests in a high-performance, metrics-based environment. Trains, coaches and mentors team members in best fundraising and operational practices. Fosters a culture of collaboration and communication with academic leaders, units and central fundraising services. Ensures adoption and effective use of strategic tools and resources such as contact reports, prospect management, research, and the CRM database. Serves as a strategic partner to Advancement Operations in recruiting, retaining, developing, and engaging development team members. Revenue Responsibility Builds, develops and manages a small portfolio of prospects/donors focusing on major and principal gifts. Identifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards donors to secure gifts/grants for university priorities and initiatives. Establishes long-term relationships on behalf of George Mason University. Collaborates with administration, faculty, development officers, academic programs, research centers and institutes to enhance relationships and increase philanthropic support. Maximizes support of key university priorities across all academic units. Identifies and cultivates prospect leads in industry to support academic programs and presidential priorities for six- to seven-figure gifts. Provides stewardship to existing donors and secures renewed support. Collaborates with Advancement and Alumni Relations colleagues to build multidimensional strategic relationships to drive overall support. Builds and nurtures relationships with alumni, parents, friends, volunteers and team members. Partners with colleagues and direct reports to elevate gift strategies across all prospects. Strategic Planning / Collaboration and Communication Works with internal and external partners to promote and solicit funding from viable prospects. Demonstrates collaborative approach with exceptional oral and written communication skills. Clearly articulates fundraising goals within the context of the Advancement mission, goals and objectives. Conducts research and maintains knowledge of University policies and priorities. Participates in structured sessions with Deans and VPs to coordinate prospect identification, engagement, strategy building, proposal development, solicitation and follow-up. Leads collaborative efforts to develop coordinated strategies for shared prospects. Facilitates action plans and monitors implementation of strategies. Creates events and activities for cultivation, stewardship, and solicitations of principal gifts. Sets organizational priorities to strengthen the donor pipeline and raise fundraising capacity to meet goals and drive long-term results. Leads and oversees development performance metrics and analytics to measure fundraising effectiveness. Stays informed of industry standards and best practices and implements changes to remain competitive. Coordinates relationships with businesses, industry leaders, national organizations, and other entities to forge partnerships and opportunities. Advises senior management on opportunities for support. Reporting and Analysis / Stewardship and Donor Management Provides thoughtful stewardship including impact statements and measures of accountability. Maintains accurate internal records of donor relationships in the donor/prospect database. Writes and submits proposals directly or via staff. Participates in regular Development meetings to share activity updates. Collaborates with Development staff to share best practices and opportunities and inform strategy. Develops and coordinates tasks related to prospect research and proposal development, including tracking cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation activity. Enters all development activity in the database in a timely and accurate manner. Oversees site visits for donors/prospects with development officers, faculty and university partners. Arranges visits with University leadership as needed. Develops and coordinates required reports for industry partners and uses donor data for reporting and analysis. Utilizes donor database for reporting/analysis to measure progress against department goals. Required Qualifications
Master’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Extensive (typically ten or more years) development experience in higher education. Proven leadership and management experience of Advancement and Alumni Relations professionals within a complex organization. Significant managerial experience (typically seven years) of fundraisers in large, complex institutions. Experience in crafting high-level gift agreements across disciplines. Broad practical and substantive expertise across related disciplines. Experience with fundraising databases and prospecting tools (e.g., Advance, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce). Understanding of advancement and philanthropy practices and experience mentoring front-line directors. Proven track record of soliciting and closing gifts, including six- and seven-figure gifts, preferably at a university. Leadership skills to inspire staff and volunteers to exceed goals. Ability to develop a strong community presence and execute fundraising strategies. Ability to identify and implement strategic fundraising solicitation strategies. Ability to manage time and workload in a deadline-driven environment. Proficiency in using data and analytics to inform donor strategy. Excellent computer skills including database management and CRM proficiency. High integrity and collaborative work style across organizations. Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software. Advanced project management and budget skills. Self-starter with drive, persuasiveness, and results orientation. Superior writing, verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. Flexibility, adaptability, and strong work ethic with ability to handle multiple priorities. Ability to work within a team framework and manage teams and projects. Instructions to Applicants
George Mason University has retained Opus Partners to support this recruitment. Kenna Boyd, Partner, and Abigail Maynard, Managing Associate, are leading the search. Inquiries and nominations should be sent in writing to Abigail Maynard at the email address provided (abigail.maynard@opuspartners.net). To apply, visit the Mason GMU jobs site. Required materials include a resume and cover letter. For best consideration, apply by October 22, 2025. The search process will maintain candidate confidentiality. George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law. Posting Open Date:
September 22, 2025 For Full Consideration, Apply by:
October 22, 2025 Open Until Filled:
Yes
#J-18808-Ljbffr