Director of Development, Hylton Performing Arts Center

Director of Development, Hylton Performing Arts Center

Req # 10000178

About the Department:

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) is dedicated to advancing the study, creation, performance, and exhibition of the arts, acting on the strong belief in their transformative influence on individuals and societies. The College honors the values of great traditions in the arts while actively engaging in the creation of new works and ideas. This distinctive fusion of the academic and the professional, the campus and the community, the past and the present, defines the college as it engages new art forms, communities, and ways of working to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.

The Hylton Performing Arts Center (HPAC) stimulates and transforms the cultural and economic vitality of our region by presenting diverse performances and programs of high quality and artistic excellence to inspire, educate, enrich, and enhance the community. The Hylton Center’s vision is to nurture artistic excellence and engagement, as we strive to be the creative commons of this dynamic region, inspiring the community to express its voice by participating in the Center’s work as artists, audiences, and lifelong learners.

The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations division is a comprehensive development and alumni relations enterprise with a staff complement of approximately 125 FTE. Functional units within Advancement include development/fundraising, alumni relations, stewardship and donor relations, 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 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. Respect, service, integrity, collaboration, diversity, transparency, and creativity are the values that guide our work and culture

About the Position:

The Director of Development is the lead fundraising officer for the Hylton Performing Arts Center and a member of the leadership team for the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The position’s primary responsibilities include working closely with the Dean/Executive Director of the Hylton Center, program directors, volunteer/advisory boards and committees, faculty in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and HPAC/CVPA senior staff members to develop fundraising priorities and strategies. The position also partners with central Advancement, Advancement colleagues, and School colleagues to advance philanthropic giving to key priorities through ongoing annual fundraising, alumni engagement, corporate and foundation relations, and major, principle, and planned giving.

Under a dual reporting relationship to the Dean of CVPA/HPAC Executive Director and the Associate Vice President of Development (Central and Units), the Director of Development manages development activity for the Hylton Center by undertaking the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects with the potential of making major gifts, those of at least $25,000, and principal gifts, those of $1 million or more to the priorities of the Hylton Center.

The Director oversees the Hylton Center’s comprehensive campaign activities as well as annual fund program, and ensures the alignment of the Center’s campaign with any future comprehensive campaign on the part of the university. This is a position that is heavily focused on networking and building relationships and committed to the tracking of measures and metrics to build a pipeline of donors to support the aspirations of the Dean/Executive Director, program directors, and volunteers/patrons of the Hylton Center and the university as a whole.

This position is expected to travel independently and work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities:

• Carries and maintains a portfolio of 75 to 90 prospects that are being moved through the donor engagement process culminating in, Major or Principal gifts (as defined by George Mason’s Advancement team);
• Actively engages each prospect in their portfolio to ensure prospect movement and portfolio penetration annually;
• Minimum of 50% portfolio penetration working toward 75% portfolio penetration;
• Submits 2-4 “Asks” per month for a total of a minimum of 24 per year;
• Meets or exceeds all metrics and expectations set by Central Advancement;
• Displays good judgment and confidentiality;
• Supports successful execution of a comprehensive fundraising program that appropriately partners with and leverages resources from the Central Advancement team to accomplish objectives;
• Develops strategies and implementation of major and principal gifts for the Hylton Center, in concert with Central Advancement and Alumni Relations;
• As appropriate, the Director is personally responsible for the direct solicitation of gifts and for preparing the Dean, members of Hylton Center advisory board, members of the Hylton Center’s advancement team, program directors, staff, and other members of the Center and/or University to make solicitations;
• Coordinates the efforts of those who can assist in fundraising; tracks contacts, asks, and funds raised; drafts proposals and pledge agreements for potential donors; and proposes and coordinates appropriate cultivation and stewardship activities;
• Travels as necessary for donor outreach and cultivation;
• Works with offices across campus to coordinate related activities that further the University’s mission and achieve fundraising goals;
• Finds new and creative ways to engage donors that will enrich the donor experience and add value to the creative life of the University and region;
• Works with staff to engage all alumni (esp. regional alumni) to advance the percentage of active involvement and increase alumni donations;
• Oversees the Hylton Center’s portfolio of donors and potential donors both individually and through the management of the team to maximize unit revenue from philanthropic giving;
• Communicates and executes the advancement and alumni relations agenda with the Hylton Center’s volunteer boards;
• Assists with planning and implementation of school efforts to raise individual, corporate and foundation funds;
• Conducts discovery visits with prospective donors as identified by Central Advancement Research and will also hand-off or disqualify individuals from their portfolio based on an unwillingness to connect, lack of affinity, or philanthropic interest in another aspect of Mason;
• Regularly updates supervisors as to any fundraising and relationship-building activities taking place in the Hylton Center;
• Supervision of staff; and
• Other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field and demonstrated successful professional advancement and/or fundraising-related experience, preferably in higher education; or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skill and abilities have been achieved;
• Demonstrated professional advancement and/or fundraising-related experience with a record of successful major gift solicitations and experience designing and executing donor identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies;
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting continuous deadlines;
• Demonstrated experience with personnel management;
• Familiarity with and experience working in the arts sector;
• Excellent research, writing and interpersonal communication skills;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and experience with documenting appropriate information in a donor management database system;
• A creative approach to involve and solicit major donor prospects and possess the ability to motivate; and
• Must posess a valid driver’s license or reliable independent means of travel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Significant experience in major gifts fundraising, preferably in higher education and/or the arts (generally seven or more years);
• Familiarity with CRM fundraising software;
• Demonstrate sound judgment necessary for interacting with donors, prospects, trustees, faculty and staff; and
• Understanding of and the ability to articulate the accomplishments and goals of a complex organization.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Director of Development, Hylton Performing Arts Center at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and provide a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

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.