Assistant Director of Annual Giving, Next Generation Philanthropy

About the Department:

The University Advancement division 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.

About the Position:

With oversight from the Director, the Assistant Director of Annual Giving, Next Generation Philanthropy coordinates a year-round acquisition, cultivation, and engagement program focusing on recent graduates and parent and family philanthropy. This position is responsible for the oversight of the Engagement Center, and works closely with development teams to develop the pipeline of annual giving donors.

Responsibilities:

Support Comprehensive Fundraising Program

• Cultivates, solicits, and stewards recent graduate and parent and family donors through all annual giving channels;
• Manages recent graduate and parent and family annual giving appeals, segmentation, and solicitation strategies;
• Develops data-driven strategies and supports pipeline development by identifying and qualifying top recent graduate and parent and family prospects;
• Reports on yearly goals and pipeline growth;
• Assists the transfer of recent graduate and parent and family data from the university to university advancement;
• Collaborates with University Life and the Office of Parent and Families to build a seamless experience for recent graduate and parent and family donors; and
• Creates specific Giving Day campaigns for recent graduates and parents and families.

Engagement Center Oversight and Supervision

• Develops strategies for the Engagement Center in alignment with other annual giving initiatives;
• Supervises the Engagement Center Supervisor;
• Continues to transition the Engagement Center into a hub of innovation and service to university advancement through calling and texting initiatives around events, portfolio management, stewardship, care calls, etc.;
• Monitors fundraising KPIs such as conversion rates, average gift size, revenue per contact, and donor retention;
• Identifies operational gaps and implements corrective action plans;
• Oversees workforce planning, scheduling efficiency, and resource allocation;
• Collaborates with HR, IT, Training, and other departments to enhance the Engagement Center performance;
• Oversees texting communication that the Engagement Center Supervisor is managing;
• Ensures CRM data integrity;
• In collaboration with Advancement Finance, manages budget related to Engagement Center operations; and
• In the absence of the Engagement Center Supervisor, manages the day to day operations of the Engagement Center, including, but not limited to, setting schedules for calling, managing hiring, and maintaining employee files.

Coordination with Central Advancement Teams and External Vendors

• Partners with the Advancement team and university colleagues to promote and manage a pipeline of prospects and donors;
• Manages the relationship between George Mason University and Give Campus as it relates to the Engagement Center usage; and
• Partners with Development and Marketing teams to execute multi-channel fundraising campaigns.

Performs other related duties as assigned and within the scope of the role.

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated successful professional advancement/alumni relations and/or fundraising-related experience, preferably in higher education;
• Experience managing an engagement, or call center, including hiring, developing schedules, and maintaining employment records;
• Knowledge of fundraising practices in annual giving;
• Working knowledge of Salesforce;
• Knowledge of PhoneIQ software or similar software;
• Knowledge of GiveCampus or similar software;
• Proficient in the use of computers and related software, such as Microsoft Office, and the ability to learn new software quickly;
• Excellent written communication, and research and organizational skills;
• Ability to work effectively with others both in the department and to external colleagues;
• Ability to work in autonomous capacity as well as part of a collaborative team environment;
• Ability to provide effective follow-up and follow-through regarding individual and team performance; and
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field;
• Knowledge of Salesforce, Affinaquest or similar; and
• Skill in effective team management.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Assistant Director of Annual Giving, Next Generation Philanthropy at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume for review.

Posting Open Date:  April 6, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  April 20, 2026

Open Until Filled:  Yes