Senior Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship

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 Department :

The George Mason University Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations is a comprehensive development and alumni relations enterprise with a staff complement of approximately 135 FTE. Functional units within Advancement include development / fundraising, alumni relations, donor relations and stewardship, 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.

About the Position :

As an integral part of Central Advancement, the Senior Director is responsible for ensuring that Mason has a comprehensive, best-practice donor relations and strategic stewardship program that supports the cultivation, recognition, and stewardship of Mason's donors - at all levels - and fosters their lifetime engagement in the University.

This position is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of a high performing, comprehensive University-wide donor relations and strategic stewardship program that is designed to increase donor satisfaction and drive fundraising growth; creates and maintains a positive and professional relationship between the university and its donors, alumni, and constituents; collaborates with various advancement units to determine effective gift stewardship strategies; and elevates the overall philanthropic experience to support donor cultivation and retention.

This position also oversees all aspects of gift acknowledgements, gift acceptance, endowment reporting and compliance, impact reporting, giving societies, naming opportunities, scholarship stewardship, and custom principal and major gift stewardship plans. The Senior Director collaborates closely with George Mason University Foundation accounting personnel, as well as University leadership to maintain donor relations standards and donor-centric programming across all areas of Mason. The Senior Director oversees a team of staff members in the Donor Relations and Stewardship team.

Responsibilities : Vision and Strategy

• Working with supervisor, develops the strategic direction to improve the donor experience, increases donor retention, and promotes giving to Mason;
• Conceptualizes, oversees and / or executes initiatives that reach major and principal gift prospects and help elevate Mason's reputation among potential and current donors;
• Collects and utilizes qualitative and quantitative inputs from a wide range of leaders across campus to inform and develop highly customized stewardship plans for principal and major gift donors, lifetime and planned giving societies, and annual fund donors;
• Oversees the development of strategy for strategic recognition and stewardship events, and programs for key donors and giving societies;
• Collaborates with Advancement events teams to successfully execute the vision and strategy for recognition and stewardship events;
• Builds and oversees a donor relations and strategic stewardship community of practice consisting of Central Advancement team members and other fundraising practitioners throughout the University; and
• Communicates a vision for the community of practice that aligns with and affirms the overarching goals of Central Advancement.

Program Management

Donor Experience

Supervision of Staff; Leadership and Coaching

Other duties as assigned within the scope of the role

Required Qualifications :

Preferred Qualifications :

Instructions to Applicants :

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Senior Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship at Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references (one must be a current supervisor) with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter / Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date : August 11, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by : August 25, 2025

Open Until Filled : Yes