Director, Athletics Annual Fund

Director, Athletics Annual Fund

Req #  10000974

About the Department:

George Mason University Intercollegiate Athletics serves 500
student-athletes in 22 NCAA Division I sports. We are a proud
member of the Atlantic 10 Conference with 17 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 three
priorities are to educate, compete, and engage.

Educate: Prioritize academic achievement and
recruit student-athletes who can be successful academically,
strengthen ICA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and provide
consistent education for coaches and sport administrators.

Compete: Position teams to consistently compete
for conference success and recruit student-athletes who possess the
ability to excel athletically from a conference and national
perspective.

Engage: Prioritize the experience and personal
well-being of student-athletes, develop and renovate athletics
facilities, generate resources necessary to support the
student-athlete experience, and foster and inspire partnerships
within the department, University, and the community.

About the Position:

The Director of the Annual Fund (“Director”) provides overall
strategy, leadership, and direction for George Mason University
Intercollegiate Athletics annual giving program, the Patriot Club.
The Director implements, directs, and coordinates the day-to-day
operations of this comprehensive annual fund program, and provides
leadership to the annual fund team. The Director oversees the
strategy and implementation of all Patriot Club activities, to
include priority seating/parking benefits as well as special
interest groups such as sport specific giving, former
student-athlete campaigns and others as identified. Primary
responsibilities include creating mass campaigns and targeted
efforts to grow Patriot Club engagement. In addition, the Director
maintains a portfolio of 30-50 leadership annual giving prospects.
The Director reports to the Senior Associate Athletics Director for
Development/Director of Development and ensures that goals and
objectives are met with strict adherence to NCAA and Atlantic 10
rules and regulations.

Responsibilities:

• Direction and Management of the Annual Fund/Patriot Club:
  • Leads and manages the annual fund team;
  • Develops the annual fund plan with specific goals and
    performance metrics;
  • Directs the comprehensive strategy and implementation of all
    annual fund activities and communications to include:
    • Patriot Club member benefits;
    • Priority seating/parking benefits/basketball season ticket
      renewals;
    • Special interest groups such as sport specific giving, former
      student-athlete campaigns and others as identified;
  • Collaborates with Athletics Communications and Marketing to
    develop and execute Annual Fund/Patriot Club communications;
    and
  • Works closely with the major gifts team to ensure alignment and
    movement of annual fund donors into the major gift pipeline.
• Maintain Personal Leadership Annual Fund Portfolio:
  • Develops and implements successful strategies for the
    identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors
    and prospects at annual giving levels;
  • Maintains a diverse portfolio of 30-50 leadership annual fund
    suspects, prospects, and donors;
  • Develops and cultivates new prospective donor relationships and
    strives to expand the annual fund donor base;
  • Manages the major donor pipeline, identifying annual donors to
    move to the major gifts team; and
  • Consistently documents donor activity in the donor
    database
• Coordination with Central Advancement:
  • Coordinates fundraising with other departments and utilizes
    services as appropriate;
  • Ensures consistent and adequate communication between
    School/Unit and Central Advancement; and
  • Works closely with Central Advancement services, specifically
    Central Advancements Annual Fund team, when initiating annual fund
    appeals that should align with Central Advancement’s efforts. In
    addition, as necessary, including, but not limited to, Planned
    Giving, Parents and Family Philanthropy, University Priorities,
    Alumni Relations, Communications, Systems, Operations, Donor
    Relations, Gifts and Records, etc.
• Other Duties as Assigned:
  • Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are
    reasonably within the scope of the duties in this job
    description.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field with considerable applicable
  experience in athletics, development, annual giving, sales,
  managing alumni/constituent affairs, special events, and/or
  volunteer management; or any equivalent combination of education
  and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skill, and
  abilities have been achieved;
• Experience using a CRM software system, Microsoft Office and
  other content creation platforms (i.e. Adobe Photoshop, Canva,
  ThankView, etc.);
• Demonstrated success in staff leadership, with demonstrated
  ability to lead and motivate colleagues, staff and volunteers;
• Demonstrated strategic approach to fundraising skills;
• Highly organized and strong work ethic skills;
• Excellent ability to communicate orally and in writing;
• Strong knowledge of the role Annual Giving plays in the
  development of the major gifts pipeline;
• Skilled in developing deep, productive relationships with a
  diverse group of individuals;
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and
  meet deadlines with high degree of initiative, creativity, energy,
  and accountability;
• Demonstrated ability and track record of soliciting and
  acquiring annual commitments up to and including $25,000 gifts;
  and
• Ability to travel and attend evening and weekend activities as
  needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five or more years of experience working in Athletics
  development/advancement in a university or college setting;
• Demonstrated competence using Salesforce as a donor
  database;
• Specific experience leading and managing an annual giving
  program;
• Strong knowledge and grasp of athletics fundraising at the
  University level;
• Demonstrated ability to manage an annual giving program during
  a major gifts campaign and supervising a diverse team;
• Exceptional leadership qualities – has demonstrated ability to
  motivate and inspire staff to achieve their full potential;
  and
• Driven by a passion and knowledge for George Mason
  Athletics.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for
Director, Athletics Annual Fund at
https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and
submit the online application to include three professional
references with contact information, and provide a resume.

Mason Ad Statement

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in
Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135
countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in
Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning
locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason’s diversity is a
campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is
meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at
our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative
action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its
community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or
veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.