Donor Relations Associate Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Department: Advancement and Alumni Relations
Classification: Administrative Faculty
Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Location: Fairfax, VA
Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible
Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship
Salary: Starting at $90,000, commensurate with education and experience
Criminal Background Check: Yes
About the Department:
The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations is a comprehensive development and alumni relations enterprise with approximately 135 full-time employees. Functional areas within Advancement include fundraising and development, alumni relations, donor relations and stewardship, advancement communications, special events, gift processing, prospect research and 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 aligning their philanthropic interests with the university's aspirations and priorities. The division is committed to serving the university, its alumni, and the broader community by supporting access to quality education and lifelong learning. Respect, service, integrity, collaboration, diversity, transparency, and creativity are the values that guide the division's work and culture.
About the Position:
Reporting to the Senior Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship (DRS), the Associate Director of Stewardship and Reporting plays a key role in the management and implementation of the university's comprehensive donor relations and gift stewardship program, specifically as it relates to ensuring the adoption of industry best practices and consistency in stewardship, reporting, and recognition efforts and initiatives centrally and throughout the university.
Working collaboratively with leadership and fellow colleagues in Advancement and Alumni Relations, the George Mason University Foundation (GMUF), and other university schools and units, the Associate Director oversees key donor communication and reporting processes, including gift acknowledgments, tribute gift notifications, endowment reporting, scholarship compliance and reporting, impact reporting, and stewardship of targeted donor segments. This position also manages and implements the strategic vision and plan for the university's donor recognition societies and uses metrics and analytics to evaluate program effectiveness, strengthen donor engagement, and support a coordinated, high-quality donor experience.
The Associate Director of Stewardship and Reporting also supervises the Donor Relations and Stewardship Coordinator.
Responsibilities
Fund Compliance and Reporting:

• Collaborate with the Office of Student Financial Aid, GMUF, and colleagues in the schools and units to ensure philanthropically supported endowed and current use funds are awarded annually per the donors' documented intentions and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations;
• Collaborate with the Office of Student Financial Aid and colleagues in the schools and units to ensure award beneficiary stories/information are captured annually for the purpose of impact reporting;
• Manage and oversee the annual endowment reporting process; and
• Manage and implement a general impact reporting process.

Gift Stewardship:

• Manage and implement gift stewardship programs, including:
  • The central gift acknowledgment process, including workflow, standards, language, and quality control;
  • The tribute gift notification process, including workflow, standards, language, and quality control; and
  • Stewardship of targeted donor segments, including faculty/staff, first-time donors, scholarship donors, etc.

Stewardship Communication:

• In partnership with the Advancement Communications team, manage and implement projects and initiatives related to the stewardship communication plan, including timelines, content needs, data requirements, review processes, and production workflows; and
• Ensure reports and communications are accurate, donor-centered, and aligned with university stewardship standards.

Donor Recognition Societies:

• Manage implementation of strategic plans and projects related to the university's donor recognition societies, including communications, timelines, and related stewardship and touchpoints; and
• Ensure recognition practices are consistent, accurate, and aligned with donor relations strategy.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Continuity of Stewardship:

• Work closely with DRS colleagues, frontline fundraisers, unit advancement teams, and campus partners to ensure philanthropic donors receive a consistent level of stewardship and donor relations regardless of who or what their philanthropy supports;
• Work with the Senior Director of DRS and DRS colleagues to share knowledge and updates on tasks, projects, and responsibilities to ensure and protect the continuity of central donor relations and stewardship efforts; and
• As needed, provide support for other critical DRS projects including, but not limited to, major and principal gift stewardship, donor events, and engagement activities.

Supervision of Staff:

• Clearly communicate deadlines and performance expectations to ensure employees understand their duties and responsibilities;
• Develop performance goals collaboratively with direct reports;
• Monitor employee productivity and provide constructive feedback and coaching;
• Maintain timekeeping and personnel records;
• Approve timesheets and leave requests;
• Prepare and submit annual performance evaluations;
• Determine rewards and promotions based on performance;
• Ensure adherence to legal and university policies and procedures and undertake disciplinary actions if the need arises;
• Manage and approve work schedules and workload; and
• Recruit, hire, and train new personnel when needed.

Other Related Duties as Assigned:

• Participate in professional development opportunities related to donor relations, stewardship, project management, and higher education advancement; and
• Perform additional duties and special projects in support of Advancement priorities and departmental goals.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's/advanced degree or training and work experience at a level that equates to an advanced degree;
• Demonstrated experience (generally 5-7 years) in donor relations, stewardship, advancement services, development, higher education advancement, or nonprofit fundraising;
• Experience managing donor stewardship and recognition programs, including gift acknowledgments, donor communications, and stewardship reporting;
• Experience ensuring compliance with donor intent, endowed funds, scholarships, or restricted gift administration;
• Experience managing multiple complex projects with competing priorities while consistently meeting deadlines;
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders, including development staff, financial aid, communications, finance, and academic units;
• Experience developing and implementing operational workflows, policies, and quality assurance processes;
• Experience preparing donor-facing reports, impact reports, or stewardship communications;
• Supervisory experience, including employee coaching, performance management, hiring, and staff development;
• Experience using donor databases or constituent relationship management (CRM) systems (e.g., Blackbaud CRM, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, Advance, or similar) and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word and Excel;
• Knowledge of donor relations and stewardship principles;
• Knowledge of philanthropic fund administration;
• Knowledge of scholarship administration;
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders;
• Strong written communication skills to develop donor-centered stewardship reports, acknowledgments, and correspondence;
• Strong attention to detail;
• Database management and reporting skills using advancement CRM systems and Microsoft Office applications (particularly Excel);
• Supervisory skills; and
• Ability to interpret donor agreements and ensure compliance with documented donor intent.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with campaign stewardship, major gift stewardship, and principal gift donor engagement;
• Experience managing donor events, recognition societies, or donor engagement programs;
• Experience in higher education advancement;
• Skill in Salesforce; and
• Skill in MicroStrategy.

Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Associate Director of Stewardship and Reporting at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter, resume, and writing sample related to donor relations and stewardship..
Posting Open Date: July 24, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: August 17, 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.
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