Leadership Annual Gift Officer

Working Title: Leadership Annual Gift Officer

State Role Title:Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Type:Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Constituent Engagement and Sustained Giving

Department: 100246 - Office of Annual GivingC465

Pay Band:

Pay Rate:Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $72000 - $75000

Is this a JMU only positionNo

Is this a grant-funded positionNo

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated positionNo

Beginning Review Date:07/25/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginias beautiful Shenandoah Valley the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington D.C. and Richmond VA.

JMU is a selective public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21000 undergraduate and 1800 graduate students with over 1000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts science and technology and professional disciplines at the undergraduate masters and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

Working with bothPhilanthropy & Engagement and Student Affairs in a collaborative cross-divisional position this Leadership Annual Gift Officer (LAG Officer) represents JMU with professionalism and warmth reinforcing a culture of philanthropy and donor-centered engagement.

The LAG Officer plays a critical role in strengthening the universitys philanthropic pipeline by building meaningful sustained relationships with donors making leadership-level annual gifts (generallybut not exclusively$1000$10000). This position focuses on these midlevel philanthropists particularly those with an interest in supporting student life at JMUwhile serving as an importantbridge between annual giving strategies and major gift qualification. The LAG Officer works primarily onsite at JMU.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Donor Engagement and Fundraising

• Managea portfolio of100125prospective LAG donors to cultivate and solicit them.
• Championkey Student Affairs funds and university priorities through both personalized donor conversations and targeted solicitations.
• Connect prospective donors in the portfolio with relevant JMU and Student Affairs leaders invite them to events that will appeal to themandmake direct appeals/asks.(Most contact is digital and virtual with select travel and some on-campus engagement.)
• Secure leadership-level annual gifts and contribute to donor retention and upgrade strategies for thoughtful progression toward larger and more complex gifts; qualify donors for introduction to colleagues in Strategic Gifts.
• Encourage leadership-level annual donors to issue challenges for GivingDay andoversee collaboration between Annual Giving andStrategic Gifts on challenges for Giving Day including but not limited to those relating to Student Affairs.
• Collaborate on and promote university-wideaffinity-based fundraising effortsthat includeleadership-level annual gifts( for Madisons Amethyst CircleFamily EngagementsParents and Families Leadership Society).
• Collaborate with Philanthropy & Engagement colleagues particularly those in Annual Giving and Student Affairs partners to develop an annual work plan and a multi-year strategy aligned with solicitation and stewardship calendars. Where appropriate initiate gift agreements and help develop case statements.
• Communicate Student Affairs philanthropic priorities and translate the divisions mission and impact into compelling donor engagement strategies.

Public Relations and DonorStewardship

• Serve Student Affairs as aliaisonto Philanthropy & Engagement offices as well as a strategist in developingSAfundraising efforts led by the Office of Annual Givinganddiscovering prospectsto be managed by the Office of Strategic Gifts. The LAGO will be an essential member of relationship management teams.
• Participate asappropriate in Student Affairs board and leadership meetings and related engagement opportunities including coordination with Student Affairs for on-campus and student-focused philanthropy activities ( Day).
• Work with Annual Giving Donor Relationsand Student Affairs partners to ensuremidleveldonors are thanked recognized and informed of their impact through coordinated stewardship efforts.
  
  

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelors degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising donor engagement sales relationship management or a related field with transferrable skills
• Strong interpersonal communication and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintainingattention to detail and follow-through
• Comfort engaging with donors in one-to-one and small-group settings
• Demonstrated connection or expressed interest instudent life and Student Affairs initiatives

Preferred:

• Experience in higher education advancement annual giving or midlevel fundraising
• Familiarity with donor databases CRM systems and data-informed fundraising strategies

Additional Posting Information:

JMUs Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information please visit of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age color disability gender identity or expression genetic information national origin parental status political affiliation race religion sex sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access inclusion and diversity for all students faculty staff constituents and programs believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: .

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at or You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office located at 752 Ott Street Harrisonburg VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.