Development Officers (Three Positions)

James Madison University; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

James Madison University is seeking Development Officers to lead private gift solicitation and donor engagement. You will design fundraising plans, cultivate major and planned gifts, and manage a portfolio of prospects in partnership with academic leaders and development staff.

The role emphasizes collaboration across colleges, stewardship activities, and meeting performance metrics to advance scholarship, faculty support, and capital initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement an annual fundraising plan based on university objectives and with senior leadership.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit major/planned gift prospects.
• Manage a portfolio of ~100 active prospects and liaise with college programs.
• Maintain activity levels and performance metrics as required.
• Collaborate with offices across Philanthropy & Engagement to identify gift opportunities.
• Design and implement donor recognition and stewardship activities and events.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Prospect management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

General Information

Three Development Officer positions are available in the Office of Strategic Gifts at James Madison University. The office is responsible for developing and managing programs that solicit private gifts to support the university’s faculty, students, and programs.

The purpose of these positions is to solicit private gifts that support scholarship, faculty support, capital projects, and endowment requirements. The staff must work closely with faculty, academic administrators, and other university officers to understand the academic and co‑curricular program goals of the college/program.

The Development Officers will liaise with the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, and the College of Integrated Science and Engineering.

Duties and Responsibilities

Gift Cultivation and Solicitation (80%)

• Design and implement an annual fundraising plan based on university objectives, in cooperation with academic leaders, the Senior Director of Strategic Gifts, and the Associate Vice President for Development.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit individuals and families who have the potential to donate major gifts and/or planned gifts.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of approximately 100 active major/planned‑gift prospects, with responsibility for liaison with specific college or university programs.
• Maintain mandatory levels of activity in line with performance expectations, measured by mutually agreed metrics.
• Collaborate with the Offices of Annual Giving, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Principal Giving, Constituent Engagement, and Athletics to identify gift opportunities.

Alumni Activities, Public Relations, and Stewardship (20%)

• Design and implement recognition, stewardship activities, and special events for donors and prospects in partnership with other offices of Philanthropy & Engagement.
• Assist other offices within Philanthropy & Engagement as required to advance shared goals.
• Assume additional responsibilities as delegated by the Senior Director of Strategic Gifts or the Associate Vice President for Development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree mandatory; master’s degree preferred.
• Mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mand