Associate Director of Development, Law School Affinity and Reunion Giving

Established in 1865, The George Washington University Law School is the oldest in Washington, DC. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools. The law school is located on the GW campus in the downtown neighborhood familiarly known as Foggy Bottom.
The George Washington University Law School Development and Alumni Relations Department (DAR) is responsible for leading the school’s alumni and fundraising efforts and seeks to promote a culture of philanthropy throughout the university community, including alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, corporations, foundations and other friends. Our goal is to advance GW’s mission of excellence in education, research, and scholarship. School-based development staff works in close collaboration with development staff across the DAR division to create and execute sustainable development programs that will broaden GW’s base of philanthropic support. The Law DAR office establishes the overarching fundraising strategy for the Law School and incorporates best practices in development, insuring both consistency and high-quality standards in all university and School-based fundraising efforts.
This experienced position serves as a liaison between the school or unit development team and his/her portfolio of alumni and friends to plan and implement reunion and affinity-related fundraising activities. This role partners with deans, faculty, and school-based development staff to meet fundraising goals, execute events, and build affinity in support of philanthropic priorities.
This position will devise and execute a strategy to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts in a portfolio of approximately 100-120 prospects to secure gifts ranging from annual fund donor participation gifts of $5,000 to major gifts of $500,000+ from prospects. The incumbent will conduct an average of 12-15 prospect visits monthly for qualifying, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Working closely with prospect research and development and alumni relations colleagues in identifying, cultivating, and tracking gift prospects is an expected job duty. This role plays a critical role in developing meaningful connections with alumni of the school while developing strategies to move them across the donor continuum to result in stronger engagement.

The position will also coordinate with the law school’s Alumni Relations team to plan and execute the events, communications, invitations, etc., for our annual Law Reunions Weekend. The incumbent will also recruit and train a network of volunteers for various positions for the reunion class committees.
This position will devise and execute a strategy to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit donations, and steward donors as part of the affinity fundraising programs for GW Law. Affinity could be with a particular academic program, professional career path, or ethnic, religious, or sexual orientation association.
Additional responsibilities include developing or assisting with the creation of letters of support, concept papers, and proposals on behalf of the school as well as maintaining proper documentation of fundraising activities in the database (Advance) including strategies, correspondence, visits, proposals, and solicitations.
The preferred candidate will develop a strong knowledge and understanding of the academic and research programs taking place throughout law school. Also, he/she will explore best practices to maximize alumni/donor giving capabilities by keeping abreast of local, regional, and national trends related to institutional fundraising.

Job Responsibilities:

• Serves as a liaison between the school or unit development team and his/her portfolio of alumni and friends to plan and implement reunion and affinity-related fundraising activities.

• Partners with deans, faculty, and school-based development staff to meet fundraising goals, execute events and build affinity in support of philanthropic priorities.

• Coordinate with the law school’s Alumni Relations team to plan and execute the events, communications, invitations, etc., for our annual Law Reunions Weekend.

• Recruit and train a network of volunteers for various positions for the reunion class committees.

• Will devise and execute a strategy to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit donations, and steward donors as part of the affinity fundraising programs for GW Law. Affinity could be with a particular academic program, professional career path, or ethnic, religious, or sexual orientation association.

• Develop or assist with the creation of letters of support, concept papers, and proposals on behalf of the school as well as maintaining proper documentation of fundraising activities in the database (Advance), including strategies, correspondence, visits, proposals, and solicitations.

• Develop a strong knowledge and understanding of the academic and research programs taking place throughout law school. Explore best practices to maximize alumni/donor giving capabilities by keeping abreast of local, regional, and national trends related to institutional fundraising.

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