Director, Central Initiatives

George Washington University; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 107,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Job summary

George Washington University in Washington, DC seeks a Director, Central Initiatives to lead a team of gift officers and oversee major gifts for student-life initiatives outside academics and athletics.

Reporting to the Executive Director for Central Development, you will drive fundraising strategy, manage staff, and cultivate a portfolio of alumni, parents, and friends to meet ambitious goals.

Qualifications

• Experience engaging, soliciting and stewarding major/principal gifts.
• Experience leading development efforts in higher education is preferred.
• Demonstrated managerial proficiency and strategic goal setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Major Gift Officers and staff, coaching and evaluating performance.
• Develop and implement Central Initiatives fundraising strategy and pipeline.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal donors.
• Collaborate with campus partners and leadership to align funding needs.

Skills

Major gifts experience

Donor stewardship

Team leadership

Strategic fundraising

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree + 6 years

Master's degree or higher +4 years

Tools

Donor management systems

CRM technology

Job description

Job Overview

The Division of University Advancement (UA) is seeking a Director, Central Initiatives (DoC) for the George Washington University Central Initiatives team, encompassing all aspects of a student's university life outside of academics and 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, and other friends. Our goal is to advance GW's mission of excellence in education, research, and scholarship.

Reporting to the Executive Director for Central Development, the Director, Central Initiatives will be part of a team of gift officers that drives attainment in support of the student experience outside of academics and athletics. As set by university leadership, fundraising priorities could include student scholarships and fellowships, capital projects, division of student affairs, career services, and other aspects of student life. The Director of Central Initiatives will execute the strategy for Central Initiatives development work and will directly supervise fundraising staff while leading through example as a front-line gift officer.

This position is responsible for managing development team members, including one or more Major Gift Officers of various levels, and provides leadership through advising, collaborating, and partnering with leadership to achieve team fundraising goals and objectives. This role will execute a sustainable development program that broadens the base of philanthropic support of its assigned portfolio. Typical responsibilities include participating in the day-to-day operations of a major gift team, providing direction, coaching, and professional development opportunities for direct reports. In addition to staff management responsibilities, this position will manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects composed of alumni, parents, family members, and friends, and is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of these prospects, and regular prospect visits. Additional responsibilities include providing direct support to leadership, volunteers, and faculty as needed, including but not limited to producing and sharing briefing materials, attending UA events, staffing donor visits, and drafting proposals and correspondence.

The Director creates an environment that fosters sustainable development work under her/his supervision based upon best practices and standard performance metrics. This team member and supervisor will serve as an honest broker of donor interests and fundraising opportunities for a variety of areas across campus and model a collaborative approach to fundraising at all times.

Responsibilities

• Manages a pool of 100-125 prospects to meet an individual attainment goal of $1M+ and to achieve individual metrics at the Director level.
• Manages, trains, and motivates direct report(s) to achieve individual goals. Coaches staff on prospect strategy. Conducts annual performance appraisals, identifying successes and areas for growth, and recommends professional development opportunities.
• Implements Central Initiatives fundraising strategy to build and document a pipeline and achieve attainment goals through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
• Represents UA by liaising with campus leaders in each area of the student experience to prioritize funding needs and utilize subject matter experts in donor work.
• Partners with school and unit development teams to implement effective joint solicitation strategies. Advises partner offices to execute collaborations including UA Marketing & Communications, Annual Giving, Alumni Relations, and Student Affairs.

Performs other work-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 6 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master's degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 4 years of relevant professional experience. 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Specific experience engaging, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gifts. Ability to engage diverse stakeholders, strengthening their commitment to the organization and garnering their philanthropic support is desired.
• Experience leading development efforts, preferably in higher education, in which the candidate demonstrated success achieving fundraising results is preferred.
• Demonstrated managerial proficiency through experience and/or education.
• Strategy implementation skills that include the ability to execute and monitor short-and long-term goals for engagement, donor acquisition, and retention.
• Six years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master's degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus four years of relevant professional experience, working with prospects for central fundraising allocations is desired.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of alumni and parent giving.
• Familiarity with donor management systems and a high degree of comfort with using technology to communicate, track, and share information is preferred.
• Understanding of how to navigate and function within a large, complex institutional environment.

Hiring Range

$107,149.62 - $155,306.76

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.

Job Details

• Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.
• College/School/Department: University Advancement
• Family: Dev & Alumni Relations
• Sub-Family: Major Gifts
• Stream: Management
• Level: Level 2
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Hours Per Week: 40
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (day time hours) Occasional evenings/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: S014478
• Job Open Date: 09/22/2026
• Background Screening: Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

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.