Job Description

I. JOB OVERVIEW

The Division of University Advancement (UA) is seeking an Associate Director of Principal Gifts Operations. 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, patients and other friends. Our goal is to advance GWU's mission of excellence in education, research, scholarship, and patient care.

As GW embarks on its most ambitious campaign yet, the Principal Gifts are GW's most significant individual philanthropy. Supporting the campaign priorities of the university, such gifts are increasingly highly complex, cross?campus opportunities. This position leads, orchestrates, and ensures collaboration and communication around prospects, leads, and donors to help secure and elevate fundraising at the highest levels. Engaging principally rated constituents and executing large solicitations requires a cohesive, well?timed approach, and the Associate Director leads discussions and information sharing with relevant stakeholders to advance donor?centric strategies.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Principal and Legacy Gifts, incumbent manages macro and micro views of principal gift opportunities, from coordinating cross?divisional collaboration to supporting executive?level interactions.

Job Duties:

• With a macro (many constituents) and micro (one constituent) view and ability to toggle between the two, manages the principal proposal and prospect pipelines, including leading strategy meetings, identification of priority constituents for discussion and agenda creation, documentation collection and dissemination, post?meeting notes and action items distribution and monitoring, and actions in CRM.
• Partners across departments to develop and share reports on principal gifts prospects and pipeline to showcase successes and spark collaboration, including progress on principal gifts strategies and solicitations, bespoke stewardship of principal gift donors, and efficacy in closing principal gifts; obtain up?to?date, actionable research and to track the timely development and execution of stewardship plans for principal gift donors and prospects.
• As the subject matter expert, partners with the Associate Vice President and the Office of the Vice President to prioritize markets for leadership travel based on principal gifts strategies and solicitations. Coordinates with colleagues across the division to ensure readiness of principal gift prospects, leads, and donors in identified markets for leadership meetings.
• Recommends and prioritizes principal gift prospects, leads, and donors for visits and curated events with university leadership based on proactive reviews of principally rated constituents and proposals as well as collaborative discussions across the division. Engages directly with some constituents and their proxies, typically unassigned leads, to secure leadership meetings.
• Develops briefing materials in advance of leadership meetings with highest level donors, prospects, and leads, particularly with unassigned leads; reviews all briefings on principally rated constituents prior to delivery to leadership.
• With a deep understanding of high?end donors and their approaches to philanthropy, collaboratively crafts increasingly complex strategies and orchestrates execution with advancement, academic, and administrative leadership, requiring intellectual curiosity to gain significant knowledge of the university's priorities and areas for support.
• Supports the Associate Vice President in the management of her portfolio, with a specific emphasis on engagement and execution of strategies.

Performs other 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 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience working in higher education, other non?profit environments, communications, and/or marketing; thorough understanding of top donor motivations and strategic moves management.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills, particularly in working with university leadership and highest?capacity constituents with diplomacy. Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion while working with highly sensitive information.
• Proven ability to influence progress toward action through strong working relationships and collaboration.
• Experience working independently, learning quickly, and being self?motivated while contributing to the efforts and success of a team.
• Organization and project management experience, leveraging systems and processes, with ability to manage dynamic and competing priorities.
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail, impeccable recall, sound judgement, and proactive problem solving while also remaining cognizant of the big picture and overall strategic purpose.
• Proficient computer skills. Experience working with Microsoft Office and Google suite of products.
• Demonstrated writing and editorial experience.

Hiring Range: $72,235.20 - $99,250.68

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

II. JOB DETAILS

Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department: University Advancement

Family: Dev & Alumni Relations

Sub?Family: Principal Gifts

Stream: Individual Contributor

Level: Level 2

Full?Time/Part?Time: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (daytime hours), 8:30am-5pm

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: S013945

Job Open Date: 12/10/2025

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.

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