Associate Director of Development, Athletics

Posting Details

I. JOB OVERVIEW

Job Description Summary:

The University Advancement (UA) Division is seeking an Associate Director of Development, Athletics. UA is responsible for leading 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. Our goal is to advance GWs mission of excellence in education, research, scholarship, and patient care.  

The Athletics Fundraising Team is designed to build strong relationships between fans and alumni, former student-athletes, and GW families and the university, facilitating upwards of $2M annually in support of the athletics department attainment goal. The Athletics Fundraising Team is focused on raising funds to support athletics priorities from the constituency of GW alumni, families, fans, and former student-athletes advancing the unit attainment. 

Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, this position will engage with a portfolio of approximately 90-120 prospects in order to secure gifts ranging from $50,000 to $500,000+ from prospects. The Associate Director of Development will work closely with prospect research and development/alumni relations colleagues in identifying, cultivating, and tracking major gift prospects. 

This position will also establish effective working relationships with fellow school/unit fundraisers, deans, department heads, faculty and administrative staff of the university to accomplish fundraising goals. 

The Associate Director of Development plays a critical role in developing meaningful connections with alumni, parents, and friends of the athletic department while developing strategies to move them across the donor continuum which will result in stronger engagement and philanthropic support (outright and planned gifts). This is accomplished through engagement both one-on-one with a portfolio of approximately 90-120 prospects, and through execution of volunteer management that drives prospect identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. This team member will serve as an honest broker of donor interests and fundraising opportunities and model a collaborative approach to fundraising at all times while working with urgency and independence. This experienced position serves as a liaison between the school or unit development team and his/her portfolio of alumni, parents and friends of the university in order to plan and implement fundraising activities. This role partners with the athletic director, coaches ,deans, faculty, central and school based development staff to meet fundraising goals, execute events, and build affinity in support of philanthropic priorities. 

This position will work to devise and execute a strategy to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts in a portfolio of approximately 90-120 prospects in order to secure gifts ranging from $50,000 to $500,000+ from prospects in an assigned region. This position will conduct an average of 12-15 prospect visits monthly and will document these discovery/cultivation/stewardship interactions. This will entail collaborating closely with fellow school/unit fundraisers, deans, department heads, faculty and administrative staff of the university to accomplish fundraising goals, in addition to working closely with prospect research and development/alumni relations colleagues in identifying, cultivating, and tracking major gift prospects. This role plays a critical role in developing meaningful connections with alumni, parents, and friends of the school while developing strategies to move them across the donor continuum to result in stronger engagement and philanthropic support (outright and planned gifts).  Additional responsibilities include preparation of briefing packets for university leadership, developing or assisting with the creation of letters of support, concept papers, proposals and reports for funders on behalf of its individual school/unit and faculty, as well as maintaining proper documentation of fundraising activities in the database (Advance) including strategies, correspondence, visits, proposals, and solicitations. 

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Posting Details

I. JOB OVERVIEW

Job Description Summary:

The University Advancement (UA) Division is seeking an Associate Director of Development, Athletics. UA is responsible for leading 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. Our goal is to advance GWs mission of excellence in education, research, scholarship, and patient care.  

The Athletics Fundraising Team is designed to build strong relationships between fans and alumni, former student-athletes, and GW families and the university, facilitating upwards of $2M annually in support of the athletics department attainment goal. The Athletics Fundraising Team is focused on raising funds to support athletics priorities from the constituency of GW alumni, families, fans, and former student-athletes advancing the unit attainment. 

Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, this position will engage with a portfolio of approximately 90-120 prospects in order to secure gifts ranging from $50,000 to $500,000+ from prospects. The Associate Director of Development will work closely with prospect research and development/alumni relations colleagues in identifying, cultivating, and tracking major gift prospects. 

This position will also establish effective working relationships with fellow school/unit fundraisers, deans, department heads, faculty and administrative staff of the university to accomplish fundraising goals. 

The Associate Director of Development plays a critical role in developing meaningful connections with alumni, parents, and friends of the athletic department while developing strategies to move them across the donor continuum which will result in stronger engagement and philanthropic support (outright and planned gifts). This is accomplished through engagement both one-on-one with a portfolio of approximately 90-120 prospects, and through execution of volunteer management that drives prospect identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. This team member will serve as an honest broker of donor interests and fundraising opportunities and model a collaborative approach to fundraising at all times while working with urgency and independence. This experienced position serves as a liaison between the school or unit development team and his/her portfolio of alumni, parents and friends of the university in order to plan and implement fundraising activities. This role partners with the athletic director, coaches ,deans, faculty, central and school based development staff to meet fundraising goals, execute events, and build affinity in support of philanthropic priorities. 

This position will work to devise and execute a strategy to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts in a portfolio of approximately 90-120 prospects in order to secure gifts ranging from $50,000 to $500,000+ from prospects in an assigned region. This position will conduct an average of 12-15 prospect visits monthly and will document these discovery/cultivation/stewardship interactions. This will entail collaborating closely with fellow school/unit fundraisers, deans, department heads, faculty and administrative staff of the university to accomplish fundraising goals, in addition to working closely with prospect research and development/alumni relations colleagues in identifying, cultivating, and tracking major gift prospects. This role plays a critical role in developing meaningful connections with alumni, parents, and friends of the school while developing strategies to move them across the donor continuum to result in stronger engagement and philanthropic support (outright and planned gifts).  Additional responsibilities include preparation of briefing packets for university leadership, developing or assisting with the creation of letters of support, concept papers, proposals and reports for funders on behalf of its individual school/unit and faculty, as well as maintaining proper documentation of fundraising activities in the database (Advance) including strategies, correspondence, visits, proposals, and solicitations. 

Additional Duties: 

• Develop and implement strategies to move major and principal gift prospects through the donor continuum with urgency each fiscal year, securing gifts to meet annual personal attainment goals. 
• Travels to meet with prospects and donors to conduct fundraising work and to grow a diverse donor base. 
• Work with the athletics marketing and communications team to help ensure the engagement of fans with philanthropic support of athletics as a whole. 
• Build and maintain relationships with appropriate coaches and administrators across the department to understand and effectively communicate funding priorities. 
• Operates with independence and initiative while collaborating with team members to share best practices. 
• Maintains proper documentation of fundraising activities in the database (Advance) including strategies, correspondence, visits, proposals, and solicitations.   

Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Willingness to make cold calls to secure face-to-face visits with prospects and  leverage those meetings to translate into philanthropic support. 
• Ability to travel regularly and to work many weekends and evenings. 
• Previous higher education fundraising experience including major gift fundraising desired. 
• Previous athletics fundraising experience desired. 
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of parent, planned giving and alumni giving.
• Demonstrated ability to speak and write persuasively about higher education.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective communication with high level internal and external audiences.
• Ability to work well with diverse constituencies and to lead/train volunteers.
• A strong record of collaborating with a team to achieve common goals.
• Strong organizational, database management and project management skills combined with a strong attention to details.
• Utilization of sound judgement and experience in handling confidential information.
• Creativity combined with tenacity and a can-do spirit which reflects the athletic values of determination, commitment and respect.

Hiring Range

$80,927.47 - $111,231.23

GW Staff Approach to Pay

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

Healthcare Benefits

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

II. JOB DETAILS

| Campus Location: | Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C. | | College/School/Department: | University Advancement | | Family | Dev & Alumni Relations | | Sub-Family | Major Gifts | | Stream | Individual Contributor | | Level | Level 2 | | Full-Time/Part-Time: | Full-Time | | Hours Per Week: | 40 | | Work Schedule: | Monday- Friday, 8:30am-5pm, Many evenings and weekends | | Will this job require the employee to work on site? | Yes | | Employee Onsite Status | Hybrid | | Telework: | Yes | | Required Background Check: | Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search | | Special Instructions to Applicants: |
Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status | | Internal Applicants Only? | No | | Posting Number: | S013944 | | Job Open Date: | 12/10/2025 | | Job Close Date: | | | If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until: | | | Background Screening | Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire. | | EEO Statement: |

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

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Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * Do you currently work at GW?

   • yes
   • no

2. * For current GW employees, have you completed your Introductory Employment Period (IEP)?  (As a reminder, employees in their IEP are not eligible to apply for other internal university staff and research positions until the IEP is complete.)

   • Yes, IEP complete
   • No, still in IEP
   • N/a - not a current GW employee

3. * What is your expected salary range?

(Open Ended Question)

Documents needed to Apply

Required Documents 1. Resume 2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents

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