Creates and implements a comprehensive fiscal-year plan to
identify, acquire, cultivate, solicit, renew, upgrade, engage, and
steward Athletics donors;
Establishes annual revenue, participation, acquisition,
retention, renewal, upgrade, and donor-engagement goals and
monitors progress throughout the fiscal year;
Develops short- and long-term strategies to increase
unrestricted support for Athletics and restricted support for
individual sport programs and Athletics priorities;
Directs the annual fundraising, marketing, communications,
solicitation, donor-engagement, and stewardship strategy for the
Patriot Club;
Develops and manages an annual communications and solicitation
calendar coordinating appeals, renewals, donor benefits,
stewardship, sport-specific outreach, and special initiatives;
Leads segmented fundraising and engagement strategies for
former student-athletes, alumni, season-ticket holders, young
alumni, volunteers, giving society members, fans, and other
Athletics constituencies;
Directs the strategy and implementation of Patriot Club
membership benefits, priority seating and parking programs,
priority points, basketball season-ticket giving requirements, and
other donor benefits;
Leads Athletics major giving society acquisition, renewal,
upgrade, recognition, engagement, and stewardship strategies;
Oversees sport-specific giving initiatives, former
student-athlete campaigns, affinity-based fundraising, crowdfunding
campaigns, game-day giving opportunities, and targeted special
projects;
Leads the overall Patriot Club donor experience and establishes
service standards for questions related to gifts, pledges, pledge
balances, priority points, seating, parking, benefits, and
membership;
Handles complex or sensitive donor-service matters and ensures
accurate, timely coordination with Athletics Ticketing, Central
Advancement, and other appropriate partners;
Provides leadership, direction, assignments, and performance
expectations to annual fund staff, interns, and volunteers;
Collaborates with Athletics Communications, Marketing,
Ticketing, coaches, and Central Advancement to ensure annual fund
messaging and activities are coordinated and aligned with Athletics
and University priorities;
Evaluates annual fund performance and adjusts strategies based
on donor behavior, fundraising results, program data, institutional
priorities, and industry best practices;
Provides regular reports and recommendations to Athletics
Development leadership regarding program performance, donor trends,
emerging opportunities, and areas requiring additional focus;
and
Ensures compliance with University policies and applicable NCAA
and Atlantic 10 rules and regulations.
Leadership Annual Giving Portfolio and Major-Gift Pipeline:
- Maintains a strategic portfolio of approximately 30-50
leadership annual giving prospects and donors, with an emphasis on
individuals capable of making annual gifts of $5,000 or more;
- Develops and implements individualized strategies for the
identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, renewal,
upgrade, and stewardship of assigned prospects;
- Personally solicits leadership annual gifts in support of the
Patriot Club, unrestricted Athletics priorities, sport-specific
funds, and designated special initiatives;
- Conducts meaningful donor visits and interactions designed to
assess philanthropic capacity, inclination, interests, and
readiness for increased engagement;
- Develops a robust pipeline of annual donors capable of
progressing toward major-gift consideration and meets established
visit, solicitation, revenue, and pipeline goals;
- Identifies and refers prospective major-gift donors to the
appropriate Athletics Major Gifts officer;
- Partners with Athletics Major Gifts officers to coordinate
prospect discovery, outreach, cultivation strategies, and seamless
donor handoffs;
- Coordinates donor strategies with Development officers assigned
to regions, colleges, schools, and other campus units when
appropriate;
- Facilitates appropriate interaction between donors and
prospective donors and Mason Athletics coaches, student-athletes,
administrators, and University leadership;
- Maintains timely and accurate documentation of donor activity,
strategies, solicitations, opportunities, and relevant information
in the University’s advancement database; and
- Displays good judgment and confidentiality when handling donor
information, prospect strategies, financial information, and
sensitive constituent matters.
Central Advancement, Campus Partnerships, and Volunteer
Engagement:
- Coordinates and collaborates closely with Athletics Major Gifts
officers, Central Advancement Development officers, regional
fundraisers, colleges, schools, and other campus units;
- Facilitates communication and coordination when donors have
multiple University interests or relationships;
- Serves as the primary Athletics liaison to Central
Advancement’s Annual Giving team;
- Works closely with Alumni Relations, Parents and Family
Philanthropy, Donor Relations, Communications, Prospect Management,
Systems, Operations, Gifts and Records, Planned Giving, and
University Priorities;
- Participates in regular meetings with Athletics Development and
Central Advancement staff to coordinate strategies, review results,
and discuss donor opportunities;
- Develops collaborative fundraising and engagement strategies
that align Athletics priorities with broader University
initiatives;
- Establishes and works with volunteer committees, giving society
leaders, former student-athlete groups, and other volunteer
constituencies when appropriate;
- Provides volunteers with clear expectations, engagement
opportunities, fundraising priorities, and resources necessary to
support annual fund goals;
- Collaborates with coaches and Athletics administrators to
facilitate appropriate donor engagement and support sport-specific
fundraising priorities; and
- Represents the Patriot Club and the Athletics Development
program at donor, alumni, community, Athletics, and University
events.
Parent and Family Giving Strategy:
- Leads the development and implementation of a comprehensive
parent and family giving strategy for Mason Athletics;
- Establishes annual goals for parent participation, donor
acquisition, retention, upgrades, leadership annual giving, and
major-gift pipeline development;
- Coordinates parent-giving strategies with coaches, sport
administrators, Athletics Development staff, and Central
Advancement’s Parents and Family Philanthropy team;
- Develops segmented strategies for current parents, incoming
families, former parents, and families with significant
philanthropic capacity;
- Identifies appropriate giving opportunities including
unrestricted Athletics support, sport-specific funds, special
projects, and leadership annual giving initiatives;
- Coordinates the identification, qualification, assignment,
cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of parent
prospects;
- Assigns appropriate parent prospects to the Assistant Director,
Athletics Major Gifts officers, or other development colleagues
based on capacity, affinity, and philanthropic interests;
- Leads cultivation and solicitation strategies for high-capacity
parents and families, and develops opportunities for meaningful
interaction with coaches, student-athletes, Athletics
administrators, and University leadership; and
- Reviews parent-giving results and adjusts strategies to
increase engagement and philanthropic participation.
Other Duties as Assigned:
- Performs other duties as required or assigned by the Senior
Associate Athletic Director for Development that are reasonably
within the scope of the position;
- Supports additional Athletics development, donor engagement,
fundraising, and departmental priorities as directed;
- Represents Mason Athletics at meetings, events, and other
activities as requested; and
- Handles special projects and emerging priorities requiring
director-level leadership, discretion, and collaboration.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor'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, skills, 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.);
- Strong knowledge of the role Annual Giving plays in development
of the major gifts pipeline;
- 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;
- 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 a high degree of initiative, creativity,
energy, and accountability;
- Excellent ability to communicate orally and in writing;
- Demonstrated ability and track record of soliciting and
acquiring annual commitments up to and including $25,000
gifts;
- Ability to travel and attend evening and weekend activities as
needed; and
- Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor
vehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements for
operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle Use
Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/
. The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the
driver’s licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all
candidates selected with employment contingent upon a favorable
review.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Masters degree in related field;
- Specific experience leading and managing an annual giving
program;
- Strong knowledge and grasp of athletics fundraising at the
University level;
- Demonstrated competence using Salesforce as a donor
database;
- Demonstrated ability to manage an annual giving program during
a major gifts campaign and supervising a diverse team;
- Exceptional leadership qualities demonstrating the 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 the
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 for review.
Posting Open Date: August 18, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: September 1, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Mason Ad Statement
George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research
university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous
world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest
and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering
degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,
along with certificates and credentials.
George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for
students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We
believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing
our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and
we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of
origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.
Equity Statement
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.
Campus Safety Information
Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at
http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/
