Associate Director, Athletics Engagement & Annual Giving

The Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) is seeking an Associate Director of Development, Athletics Engagement & Annual Giving for the George Washington University. DAR is responsible for directing and managing the university’s alumni and fundraising efforts and seeks to promote a culture of philanthropy throughout the university community, including alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, corporations and foundations, patients and other friends.

Duties:

• Works very closely with staff in DAR Athletics and the larger GW Athletics Department to drive annual giving strategy, messaging, and collaboration that maximizes results and resources. Maintains regular and ongoing meetings, communications, and partnerships among various GW Athletic staff across reporting structures and teams and prepares and communicates annual giving results regularly through reports and documentation.
• Leads efforts by annual giving marketing staff to develop and execute omni-channel solicitation campaigns to increase annual giving dollars and donors to athletic priorities including team-specific fundraising drives and special initiatives such as the Buff & Blue Fund Challenge or season ticket holder drives.
• Completes 50+ face-to-face visits annually with an emphasis on qualifying prospects and soliciting leadership annual gifts of $1,000+ and engaging key volunteers. By assessing capacity and inclination to give, qualifies and hands off major gift prospects to major gift officers, with an emphasis on building a base of donors and prospects for GW Athletic Development staff.
• Researches and identifies prospects for solicitation; tracks and manages athletic interests for annual giving and alumni relations, and works to expand GW’s identified audience for athletics engagement and annual giving.

Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate has experience is energetic and eager to connect with donors and prospects with strong interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to have purposeful conversations to qualify and engage prospects is preferred, and an excitement for engaging constituents in athletics.
• Additional skills include attention detail, strong written and oral communication abilities, and experience managing a varied portfolio of simultaneous projects.
• Experience working in athletics or athletics fundraising is desired. Ideal candidates will have experience in direct marketing and athletics.
• The ideal candidate is organized, eager to play an important role in collaborating and maximizing athletic engagement and annual giving activities, and a personal drive to hit annual metrics and goals.