Director of Development

Title: Director of Development

VP Area: Advancement & Alumni Relations - UMW

Department: Advancement

Campus Location: Main Campus

Advertised Range: $85,000 - $88,000

Job Summary/Basic Functions

The University of Mary Washington, one of the nation's top 10 public liberal arts and sciences universities in the vibrant and historic city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, seeks a motivated self-starter to join our dynamic Advancement team as Director of Development. The Director of Development is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and principal gift prospects of $25K+ for the purposes of garnering support for University initiatives. Working closely with colleagues in Advancement and Alumni Engagement, and across the University, the Director of Development is responsible for building and managing a portfolio of 100-150 prospects capable of making endowed, current-use, or planned gifts of $25K or more, with an emphasis on developing long-term relationships that lead to sustained philanthropic support. The Director will be responsible for meeting annual metrics for prospects visited, proposals presented, and dollars raised. This position requires extensive travel to visit with alumni, donors, and prospects, as well as regular interaction with members of the broader University community.

The State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act requires specific officers and employees of the Commonwealth of Virginia to file written disclosure statements, Statement of Economic Interests (SOEI), of their financial interests annually. This position has been designated as a covered position and the selected candidate will be required to file the SOEI disclosure by the first day of employment.


Required KSAs/Competencies/Qualifications

• Motivated, proactive, positive self-starter with the ability to function both autonomously and as a team member to meet established fundraising goals
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills with the ability to communicate in a friendly and effective manner with diverse populations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills to prioritize prospect potential and solicitation readiness, with the ability to align donor interests with University priorities
• Demonstrated understanding of fundraising best practices for major gifts and planned giving
• High degree of integrity and professionalism, with the ability to handle confidential information in a discreet and courteous manner
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently, including overnight travel
• Proficiency with fundraising databases/CRMs, data analytics tools, and Microsoft software
• Excellent organizational, multi-tasking, and time management skills
• Strong commitment to the University's public liberal arts and sciences mission and appreciation for the role of philanthropy in its success

Required Experience:

• At least five years of fundraising experience in an education or nonprofit setting
• Experience managing a portfolio of major gift prospects and securing five- and six-figure gifts
• Proven track record of effectively managing donor relationships through the cycle of qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship

Additional Considerations:

• Proven track record of meeting visit and revenue goals in previous positions
• Experience securing five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts in a higher education setting
• 3+ years managing a fundraising portfolio of major gift prospects in a higher education setting
• Experience managing volunteers in a fundraising capacity
• Experience preparing campus partners and senior leaders to support fundraising efforts
• Experience securing planned gifts
• Experience with capital and/or comprehensive fundraising campaigns, especially in higher education
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position. To be considered for this position a state application must be received through the online employment system at Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications or resumes will not be accepted.

Excluding currentUMW employees, selected candidate(s) must successfully pass a criminal history background check. Employment verification will be conducted to include current/previous supervisory employment reference checks.


Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions. For more information, please visit


The University of Mary Washington adheres to the principle of equal opportunity. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, parental status (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors in recruiting, admitting, enrolling students or hiring and promoting faculty and staff members. Complaints of discrimination should be directed to the EEO officer of the University.

UMW Values Veterans: UMW is a proud member of the Commonwealth of Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program, authorized under the Code of Virginia (§2.2-2001.2). We are committed to recruiting, hiring, and retaining qualified Veterans and their spouses. Veterans who are hired into state positions may be eligible for additional leave accruals based on their total years of service in the military, National Guard or Reserve. For more information please visit:

In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process (AHP). To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly Certificate of Disability or COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.


Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer