Leadership Annual Gift Officer

About the role

The Leadership Annual Gift Officer (LAG Officer) represents James Madison University (JMU) with professionalism and warmth, reinforcing a culture of philanthropy and donor-centered engagement. This position focuses on midlevel philanthropists, particularly those with an interest in supporting student life at JMU, while serving as an important bridge between annual giving strategies and major gift qualification.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 100–125 prospective LAG donors to cultivate and solicit them.
• Champion key 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 them, and make 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.
• Collaborate on and promote university-wide, affinity-based fundraising efforts that include leadership-level annual gifts (e.g. Women for Madison’s Amethyst Circle, Family Engagement’s Parents 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.
• Initiate gift agreements and help develop case statements.
• Communicate Student Affairs' philanthropic priorities and translate the division's mission and impact into compelling donor engagement strategies.
• Serve Student Affairs as a liaison to Philanthropy & Engagement offices, as well as a strategist in developing SA fundraising efforts led by the Office of Annual Giving and discovering prospects to be managed by the Office of Strategic Gifts.
• Participate, as appropriate, in Student Affairs board and leadership meetings and related engagement opportunities, including coordination with Student Affairs for on-campus and student-focused philanthropy activities (e.g. Giving Day).
• Work with Annual Giving, Donor Relations, and Student Affairs partners to ensure midlevel donors are thanked, recognized, and informed of their impact through coordinated stewardship efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s 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 maintaining attention to detail and follow-through.
• Comfort engaging with donors in one-to-one and small-group settings.
• Demonstrated connection or expressed interest in student life and Student Affairs initiatives.

Additional Posting Information

• JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area.
• For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.