Working Title: Director of Major Gifts - Duke Club

State Role Title: Administrative and Professional Faculty

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

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Intercollegiate Athletics

Department: 300025 - Duke Club

Pay Band: N/A

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $65,000 - $68,000 

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 09/11/2026

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
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. 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:

James Madison University, a Division I member of the NCAA and Sun Belt Conference, the Duke Club is seeking a Director of Major Gifts to work within a highly competitive program. This is a full-time position with a comprehensive benefits package.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsible for athletic fundraising across Major Gifts, the Annual Fund, Capital Campaigns/Stadium expansion project, and Endowments while contributing to the department's overall strategic revenue initiatives. Play a lead role in developing comprehensive fundraising and revenue strategies, identifying philanthropic opportunities that align with institutional priorities, and providing expertise in structuring complex gift proposals. Assist with development of a major giving society. Collaborate with the Associate AD for Development and other key stakeholders to execute solicitation strategies and, as appropriate, personally lead major gift solicitations. Cultivate, solicit, and close current and deferred gift commitments of $50,000 or more within timelines that best support the interests of each prospect and the fundraising objectives of JMU Athletics. Develop and actively manage a portfolio of approximately 75 major gift prospects and donors with the capacity to make current and/or planned gifts of $50,000 or more, while advancing strategic revenue priorities through philanthropic partnerships, premium seating opportunities, naming opportunities, and other revenue-generating initiatives.

Responsible for managing a portfolio of assigned major gift prospects by developing and executing intentional, comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies. In collaboration with the Associate AD for Development, create individualized engagement plans that leverage the full breadth of James Madison University's resources to build meaningful relationships, align donor interests with institutional priorities, and inspire transformational philanthropic investment. Partner with leadership across Philanthropy and Engagement, senior academic and administrative leaders, colleagues throughout the university, and key volunteers to deliver a coordinated, donor-centered experience that strengthens long-term engagement and advances the university's philanthropic priorities.

Prioritize top-75 Duke Club MG prospects and maintain on-going strategies with each; Partnering with offices within and external to Athletics and University Advancement to identify individuals with the capacity to give $50K+, seeing that steps are taken to qualify a MG prospect for JMU, and that determining which donors and prospects should constitute the MG Prospect Pool.

Work in collaboration with the Associate AD for Development, develops and implements strategies for leadership annual and major gift fundraising to generate private contributions supporting the top priorities of JMU Athletics, including student-athlete support, unrestricted needs and capital projects


Make direct, face-to-face solicitations, and assist staff with their qualifying, cultivating, solicitation and stewarding (e.g. provide portfolio development support, help with donor communications)


Ability to work cross-functionally with various internal and external constituents. Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines


Partners with the Director of Internal Operations and Events to develop and execute stewardship strategies for leadership annual fund and major gift donors. Supports the planning and implementation of comprehensive donor relations initiatives designed to cultivate long-term donor loyalty through recognition societies, engagement opportunities, and meaningful stewardship. Ensures timely and appropriate donor recognition while demonstrating accountability, gratitude, and responsiveness to all donor constituencies, including individuals, corporations, foundations, planned giving donors, alumni, parents, and friends.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• 2+ years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, development, advancement, or a related field, preferably within higher education, athletics, healthcare, or another complex nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors, including experience securing gifts of $50,000 or more.
• Proven ability to manage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors and develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Demonstrated success meeting or exceeding annual fundraising and major gift revenue goals.
• Experience developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including face-to-face solicitations, proposals, donor visits, stewardship, and moves management.
• Strong understanding of prospect research, wealth screening, portfolio management, and donor analytics.
• Experience working collaboratively with senior institutional leaders, coaches, administrators, volunteers, and other development professionals to advance philanthropic priorities.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate a compelling case for support to a wide range of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain long-term relationships with donors, alumni, parents, and other constituents.
• Experience using a CRM/database system such as Salesforce, Paciolian or similar fundraising technology.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and operate effectively in a fast-paced, goal-oriented environment.
• Strong strategic thinking, organizational skills, attention to detail, and demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly, work evenings and weekends, and participate in donor and institutional events as needed.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and goals of the institution and a demonstrated understanding of the role philanthropy plays in advancing student success and institutional excellence.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree preferred

Additional Posting Information:

Conditions 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: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. 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.