What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Director, Donor Relations position at The George Washington University?
Posting Details
I. Job Overview
Job Description Summary:
The George Washington University Division of University Advancement (UA) is seeking an Associate Director, Donor Relations. The Donor Relations team provides a comprehensive, donor-focused program that enriches a donor’s engagement with the university and motivates the involvement and investment of others.
University Advancement 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, grateful patients, and other friends. Our goal is to advance GW’s mission of excellence in education, research, scholarship, and patient care.
This position manages stewardship reports, donor communications, and activities for donors at all levels. This position develops stewardship content for reports, reviews and edits drafts of donor correspondence, and drafts reports on the status of major initiatives for distribution to donor constituencies, including alumni, families, patients, and friends of the university. This role develops content for donor profiles, video content creation, and stories of impact stemming from donor philanthropy. This position creates procedures to increase efficiency and assure the quality and consistency of stewardship deliverables. The Associate Director will primarily focus on financial aid stewardship and its related communications and protocols. Additional project management responsibilities may include organizing and overseeing stewardship events, including dedications, celebrations, and installation ceremonies.
Additional Duties:
Minimum Qualifications:
Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. 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.
Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
GW Staff Approach to Pay
How is pay for new employees determined at GW?
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.
II. JOB DETAILS
Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.
College/School/Department: University Advancement
Family Dev & Alumni Relations
Sub-Family Donor Relations
Stream Individual Contributor
Level Level 2
Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
Hours Per Week: 40 hours
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm, some evenings/weekends. Occasional travel regional and national.
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: S014147
Job Open Date: 04/23/2026
Job Close Date:
If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:
Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.
EEO Statement:
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.
I. Job Overview
Job Description Summary:
The George Washington University Division of University Advancement (UA) is seeking an Associate Director, Donor Relations. The Donor Relations team provides a comprehensive, donor-focused program that enriches a donor’s engagement with the university and motivates the involvement and investment of others.
University Advancement 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, grateful patients, and other friends. Our goal is to advance GW’s mission of excellence in education, research, scholarship, and patient care.
This position manages stewardship reports, donor communications, and activities for donors at all levels. This position develops stewardship content for reports, reviews and edits drafts of donor correspondence, and drafts reports on the status of major initiatives for distribution to donor constituencies, including alumni, families, patients, and friends of the university. This role develops content for donor profiles, video content creation, and stories of impact stemming from donor philanthropy. This position creates procedures to increase efficiency and assure the quality and consistency of stewardship deliverables. The Associate Director will primarily focus on financial aid stewardship and its related communications and protocols. Additional project management responsibilities may include organizing and overseeing stewardship events, including dedications, celebrations, and installation ceremonies.
Additional Duties:
- Responsible for developing cultivation and stewardship opportunities that include impact of gift reporting (endowed, current use, and capital funds), donor recognition and celebration events, gift acknowledgments, donor correspondence, communications (digital and print), and other opportunities for donor engagement.
- Provides central oversight for the stewardship of financial aid funds across the campus, ensuring consistency and transparency are maintained to foster donor retention and satisfaction. This includes the management of our scholarship administration tool, GWay (Blackbaud Award Management), developing and administering the requisite protocols and procedures to support it, and communications with our campus partners in the schools and units.
- Collaborates with a variety of university stakeholders (AVPs, deans, faculty, financial aid, finance directors, and program directors) to ensure accurate information is collected and prepared for distribution to donors and university departments.
- Works closely with the Director of Donor Relations and the Director of Donor Fund Compliance to audit and monitor donor fund expenditures and compliance with donor intent.
Minimum Qualifications:
Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. 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.
Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior experience working in donor relations or stewardship or with annual, major, or leadership donors is preferable. Ability to exercise a high degree of sensitivity in dealing with confidential donor information.
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills are essential for this position.
- Excellent editing, writing, and proofing skills.
- Advanced technical skills and computer literacy – specifically, proficiency with donor database systems, Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office software, and Google Suite are required. Experience with Blackbaud Award Management or similar system a plus.
- Experience building collaborative relationships with diverse constituencies and strong partnerships in a team environment is preferred.
- Proven skills and ability to manage complex projects from start to finish, including overlapping projects, with a demonstrated focus on meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Solid customer service/donor-first orientation desired.
GW Staff Approach to Pay
How is pay for new employees determined at GW?
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.
II. JOB DETAILS
Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.
College/School/Department: University Advancement
Family Dev & Alumni Relations
Sub-Family Donor Relations
Stream Individual Contributor
Level Level 2
Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
Hours Per Week: 40 hours
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm, some evenings/weekends. Occasional travel regional and national.
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: S014147
Job Open Date: 04/23/2026
Job Close Date:
If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:
Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.
EEO Statement:
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.
Salary : $72,235 - $99,251