Senior Director of Development for University Priorities

Senior Director Of Development For University Priorities

The Senior Director Of Development For University Priorities Serves As A Senior Fundraising Leader Within The University Priorities / Corporate And Foundation Relations (UP / CFR) Team, Part Of University Advancement And Alumni Relations. This Position Is Responsible For Driving Philanthropic Investment In High-Visibility, Cross-Disciplinary Initiatives That Advance Mason's Strategic Vision And Elevate The University's Regional And National Impact. Reporting To The Associate Vice President For University Priorities And Corporate And Foundation Relations, The Senior Director Of University Priorities Provides Leadership In Fundraising Strategy, Team Coordination, And Partnership Engagement Across The University. The Role Emphasizes The Identification, Cultivation, Solicitation, And Stewardship Of Major And Principal Gift Prospects, With A Particular Focus On University-Wide Initiatives Such As Fuse At Mason Square, The Military, Veterans & Families Initiative, And The Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP).

Responsibilities :

Maintains Personal Portfolio And Supports Comprehensive Fundraising Program

• Manages an active portfolio of 50 - 60 major and principal gift prospects (individuals, corporations, and foundations) with the capacity to make gifts of $100,000+ (as defined by George Mason's Advancement team);
• Conducts ongoing qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of portfolio prospects to advance them through the donor cycle;
• Maintains minimum of 50% Portfolio Penetration working toward 75% Portfolio Penetration;
• Develops and implements customized cultivation strategies and solicitations that align donor interests with university priorities;
• Makes a minimum of 24 major gift solicitations ("asks") annually, with a focus on securing gifts of $100,000 and above;
• Partners with faculty leaders, deans, and senior administrators to develop compelling proposals and engagement opportunities for high-value prospects;
• Maintains accurate and timely prospect strategies, contact reports, and pipeline updates in the university's advancement CRM;
• Meets or exceeds all metrics and expectations set by Central Advancement;
• Supports successful execution of a comprehensive fundraising program that appropriately partners with and leverages resources from the central advancement team to accomplish objectives;
• Travels, independently, as necessary for donor outreach and cultivation;
• Works with offices across campus to coordinate related activities that further the university's mission and achieve fundraising goals;
• Finds new and creative ways to engage donors that will enrich the donor experience and add value to the academic life of the university;
• Works with staff to engage all alumni to advance the percentage of active involvement and increase alumni donations;
• Seeks the assistance of a wide range of stakeholders in identifying prospects who might make major gifts in the future;
• Assists in overseeing the University Priority team's portfolio of donors and potential donors both individually and through the management of the team to maximize unit revenue from philanthropic giving;
• Conducts discovery visits with prospective donors as identified by Central Advancement Research and will also hand-off or disqualify individuals from their portfolio based on an unwillingness to connect, lack of affinity, or philanthropic interest in another aspect of Mason; and
• Regularly updates supervisors as to any fundraising and relationship-building activities taking place.

Collaboration With Central Advancement & Schools / Colleges / Units

Supervision Of Staff

Other Duties As Assigned

Required Qualifications :

Preferred Qualifications :

Instructions To Applicants :

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Senior Director Of Development For University Priorities 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 / Letter Of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date : October 10, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply By : October 24, 2025

Open Until Filled : Yes