Director of Development Honors College

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Director of Development – Honors College
The **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. Honors College and Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations is seeking a Director of Development. Dual reporting to the Dean of the Honors College and the Associate Vice President of Development for Schools and Colleges, the Director of Development serves as the lead fundraising officer for the Honors College, as a member of the Dean’s leadership team, and also serves as part of the University Priorities team, focusing on overlapping priorities.
**MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.
About the Honors College:
Mason’s Honors College was created in 2009 to attract highly motivated and capable students from every background and in every area of study, to provide those students with opportunities to be challenged and support to succeed, and by way of their experiences and achievements to enhance Mason’s reputation for undergraduate excellence. The Honors College commitment to reflect the disciplinary, cultural, and socio-economic diversity of the university makes its mission unique among Honors Colleges.
About the Department:
The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations is responsible for all aspects of fundraising for **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. which includes the successful discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of all donors. Advancement’s mission is to build strong, lifelong relationships with **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***.’s alumni and constituents, while matching their philanthropic interests with the university aspirations and priorities.
About the Position:
The Director of Development serves as the lead fundraising officer for the Honors College and a member of the Dean’s leadership team. This position also serves as part of the University Priorities team, focusing on overlapping priorities, for example: Pre-College, Career Development, and ARIE. (70% Honors, 30% University Priorities).
Primary responsibilities include working closely with the Dean of the Honors College, volunteer/advisory Boards, and Senior Staff members to develop fundraising priorities and strategies; to manage and coordinate alumni, parents, corporate relations; and to ensure these activities are an intrinsic part of the annual fundraising and advancement plan for the Honors College.
The Director of Development will also spend a portion of their time dedicated to University Priorities and will plan and implement a variety of strategies to raise funds from major donors and secure significant philanthropic support for University priorities.
For both the Honors College and University Priorities, this position will be responsible for facilitating all phases of the gift cycle, including initiating contact, cultivating and moving potential donors to solicitation and closure, creating solicitations, writing proposals, and stewarding donors. The position works collaboratively with key volunteers, school leadership and faculty, Advancement staff and other school representatives to cultivate and solicit donors for university priorities.
Responsibilities:
Dual reporting relationship to the Dean of the Honors College and the AVP of Development – Schools and Colleges;
Collaborates with the Dean and AVP to create and successfully execute a comprehensive fundraising program;
Drives Advancement agenda with the school’s volunteer board and alumni affinity groups;
Identifies and cultivates major gift prospects including developing ways to find new prospects and following up on inquiries regarding significant gifts to the Honors College and the University;
Personally solicits assigned donor portfolio through face-to-face visits, including preparation of personalized materials;
Proactively identifies, develops, and delivers engagement opportunities to donors to ensure the maximization of their financial and non-financial support;
Researches, develops, and writes funding proposals, appeal letters, and reports as required;
Is accountable for meeting or exceeding established monthly fundraising goals and metrics;
Solicits and secures 6 and 7 figure major gifts from assigned donors;
As appropriate, s/he will be personally responsible for the direct solicitation of gifts and for preparing the Dean, members of Honors College advisory boards, department chairs, and other members of the College and/or University to make solicitations;
Works with prospects to educate them on Honor’s & University Priorities and soliciting and closing outright and planned gifts;
Effectively manages approximately 125 prospects through personal visits, correspondence, electronic and telephone communication;
Is accountable for cultivating relationships of individual and organizational fundraising with focus on retention, recapture, and growth;
Builds trusting relationships with advancement colleagues as well as University Leadership, directors, prospects, donors and volunteers;
Becomes immersed in the key strategies and initiatives of **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. & the Honors College;
Plans and implements school efforts to raise individual, corporate and foundation funds; coordinates the efforts of those who can assist in fundraising; tracks contacts and funds raised; drafts proposals, and pledge agreements for potential donors; and proposes and coordinates appropriate cultivation and stewardship activities;
Leads and manages the affairs of the advancement department within the Honors College including budgeting, and program direction; and
Travels as necessary for donor outreach and cultivation.
Required Qualifications
Possess a Master’s degree, or bachelor’s degree and equivalent work experience;
The ideal candidate must be entrepreneurial, goal oriented, collegial and collaborative;
A demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion in higher education;
A demonstrated record of successful major gift solicitations and experience designing and executing donor identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies;
High level of creativity, initiative, and motivation;
Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality with respect to prospects and donors;
Proficient in Microsoft Office – Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint;
Excellent oral and written communication skills;
Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting continuous deadlines;
A creative approach to involve and solicit major donor prospects and possess the ability to motivate;
Experience with documenting appropriate information in a donor management database system; and
Must have a reliable source of transportation.
Preferred Qualifications:
A minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of prior fundraising experience in successfully cultivating and securing major gifts of $25,000 or more; and
Possess understanding and the ability to articulate, the accomplishments and goals of a complex organization; demonstrate sound judgment necessary for interacting with donors, prospects, trustees, faculty and staff.
Special Instructions to Applicants
For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number FA24FZ
at ****; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.
**MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. 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.
**MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***.

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