Advancement Programs Specialist The George Mason University, Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations is seeking an Advancement Programs Specialist. Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship, the Advancement Programs Specialist works with the Advancement and Alumni Relations team to implement donor relations and stewardship activities and programs that foster longstanding and successful relationships between George Mason University and its donors.George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.About the Department:The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations is responsible for all aspects of fundraising for George Mason University which includes the successful discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of all donors. 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's 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 Advancement Programs Specialist plays a critical role within the Office of Donor Relations and Advancement Communications, working to maintain and enhance the university's relationships with donors through documentation, acknowledgment, recognition, and reporting.The Advancement Programs Specialist provides assistance to other team members in Donor Relations and Advancement Communications as well as all appropriate staff in Advancement and Alumni Relations and the Office of Student Financial Aid. As part of the Office of Donor Relations and Advancement Communications, the Advancement Programs Specialist serves as a point of contact for internal and external stakeholders to provide information and assistance in regard to giving and philanthropy at Mason. S/he is also responsible for helping to convey the impact and importance of philanthropy to the broader university community. Responsibilities: Prepares and distributes Presidential and Vice-Presidential acknowledgment letters in consultation with the Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship handling meeting preparation and follow-up; Coordinates with directors of development and unit representatives regarding donor correspondence, to ensure appropriate gift acknowledgment; Updates correspondence templates on a quarterly basis or as needed; Documents and updates acknowledgment letter policies and procedures as needed;Manages and implements Monthly Pledge Reminder Program, collaborating with directors of development, the Assistant Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship and the Associate Vice President, Advancement Relations to prepare and distribute accurate monthly pledge reminders to donors who have outstanding pledges;Researches and prepares notification cards for all gifts made in honor or in memory of individuals or organizations; Researches and prepares letters for condolence for university donors and volunteers in collaboration with Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship; Documents and updates tribute notification and condolence policies and procedures as needed;Ensures accuracy of donor records in CRM;Scans and uploads various donor-related documents including, but not limited to; donor/gift stories, acknowledgment letters, tribute cards, endowment reports, gift agreements, scholarship recipient thank you letters, etc.;Assists Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship in creating yearlong event/communication calendar and update as needed;Writes, edits, produces, and distributes annual faculty/staff donor payroll deduction receipts and acknowledgment letters;Distributes student recipient thank you letters in conjunction with the Assistant Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship and Office of Student Financial Aid;Helps identify scholarship recipients for potential speaking and communications opportunities;Helps facilitate virtual and in-person scholarship recipient and donor meetings in collaboration with Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship;Assists Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship with creation, implementation, and scheduled reporting related to recognition societies;Collaborates with Director of Donor Relations to develop, design, and produce virtual and in-person events, and manage pre-event and post-event activities as needed;Provides CRM event training as needed to Advancement and Alumni Relations colleagues;Assists with production and distribution of annual endowment reports;Works with Assistant Director of Donor Relations to maintain and provide ongoing updates to stewardship module of the Blackbaud Award Management platform;Generates reports to answer donor inquiries, solve problems, research funds, and resolve gift accounting issues in a timely manner; andUndertakes donor relations and stewardship special projects as needed.Required Qualifications:Bachelor's degree required or the equivalent level of training and experience;Must be a highly organized, independent thinker, capable of prioritizing daily, weekly, and monthly tasks and completing them with minimal direction;Must possess excellent customer service skills;A willingness to learn particularly related to the field of Advancement;Comfortable with the use of technology, and have knowledge of office procedures and equipment including experience using Microsoft Office applications;Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, follow through on projects and be proactive and solution-oriented;Must possess excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills as well as a desire to understand and articulate George Mason University's identity, mission, and priorities to internal and external audiences;Must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to organize and manage multiple tasks;Prepared to utilize creativity, sound judgment, and strategic thinking to execute these activities;Requires high levels of professionalism, collegiality, and discretion in working with confidential donor information;Prepared for regular contact by written correspondence, by phone, and in-person with donors and colleagues across the university and must be able to provide the highest level of responsiveness and client service;Must be an experienced team player who is comfortable working in a collaborative environment and will be expected to build and maintain strong working relationships with all members of the Advancement and Alumni Relations staff, the Office of Student Financial Aid, and other relevant university program personnel; andAbility to attend evening and weekend activities.Preferred Qualifications:Degree in English, Journalism or Communications preferred;Experience in higher education or non-profit or association membership/constituent relations is preferred; andPrevious use of Affiniquest, Salesforce, Orbis, or other CRM, and strong research skills related to fundraising are preferred.

For full consideration, applicants must apply at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

"Great Careers Begin at Mason! George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report "Up and Coming" spot for national universities and is recognized for its global appeal and excellence in higher education. Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason's diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create. If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/! George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition."

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.