Major Gifts Officer

About the American Enterprise Institute

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) is a public policy think tank dedicated to defending human dignity, expanding human potential, and building a freer and safer world. The work of our scholars and staff advances ideas rooted in our belief in democracy, free enterprise, American strength and global leadership, solidarity with those at the periphery of our society, and a pluralistic, entrepreneurial culture.

About the Role

The American Enterprise Institute seeks an experienced, entrepreneurial, and goal-oriented individual who is interested in public policy to grow and manage a portfolio of major-gift donors and prospects. Responsibilities include identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding 50-plus donor households contributing more than $25,000 annually to AEI. Responsibilities may also include building AEI donor communities in assigned geographic areas. This job requires high-level interpersonal skills. This is an excellent position for someone who enjoys building relationships and having a direct impact on an organization committed to strengthening the free enterprise system and building a freer and safer world.

The successful candidate will be creative and knowledgeable about best practices in philanthropy and interested in developing and executing tailored strategies for each donor and prospect—including by integrating conversations about planning legacy gifts into ongoing cultivation and stewardship. Good conversation and listening skills and a knowledge of policy topics that interest donors are necessary to succeed in this role. A natural curiosity and the ability to fit into the organization’s academic, collegial culture are essential.

AEI’s Development department is team oriented, fast-paced, and mission driven. Reporting to the senior director of individual giving, the major gifts officer will be an essential member of the team, responsible for more than $3 million in annual revenue. Major gift officers must demonstrate an ability to prioritize activities and execute them quickly. Strong writing and oral communication skills and an energetic and entrepreneurial spirit are essential. A deep understanding of AEI’s mission and an interest in public policy are also required. Eight or more years of relevant or transferable experience are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Nurture and cultivate long-term partnerships and relationships with current and prospective major donors, including trustees.
• Be a reliable collaborator and thought partner with the executive office.
• Expand the portfolio of donors to be cultivated personally by AEI’s senior management.
• Build and manage a portfolio of donors by developing and implementing strategic steps to move prospects through the major-gift cycle of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Use various giving methods, such as current, deferred, and noncash giving.
• Develop an annual plan of work, including specific fundraising, prospect-development, and programmatic goals, with an emphasis on meeting established standards and metrics.
• Travel (40 percent or more of the time) to meet with donors and prospects, sometimes organizing events to involve and cultivate them.
• Track and report all major-gift activities.
• Help the Development department support AEI’s mission by engaging with colleagues, sharing experiences and ideas, and demonstrating a collegial and can-do approach.
• Collaborate frequently with scholars and researchers to stay abreast of current issues and work that may interest donors. Build relationships to better understand scholars’ research and match it to donors’ interests.
• Synthesize complex research into clear opportunities for donor investment. (Success with securing donors’ support for ideas and long-term research is essential.)
• Collaborate across AEI to coordinate fundraising initiatives and event planning.
• Work with AEI scholars and staff to identify funding needs across the Institute to formulate proposals and steward gifts.
• Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of AEI’s work.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions at AEI

• The employee is regularly expected to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard. This job requires close-up vision for computer work.
• The employee must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.
• The employee must be able to work in a confined area.
• Moderate noise (e.g., from computers, phones, printers, and light traffic) is expected.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities associated with this position.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree
• Eight or more years of relevant experience in fundraising, marketing, sales, public relations, financial advisement, or a related field, preferably with an emphasis on soliciting and cultivating close relationships with individuals
• An eagerness to delve into AEI’s research and a demonstrated, comprehensive understanding of public policy issues and current events that interest donors
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
• The ability to independently prioritize tasks, sometimes in consultation with senior leadership
• Flexibility and adaptability

Benefits

AEI offers generous benefits, including 18 days of paid leave (15 days of paid annual leave and 3 personal/floating holidays); 12 days of paid sick leave; paid family leave; medical and dental coverage, in addition to a health savings account; medical and dependent care FSA; a tuition assistance program of up to $5,200; life and disability insurance at no cost to employees; and a 403b retirement plan with a 12% contribution from AEI, among other benefits. For more information, you can see a full summary of our benefits at https://www.aei.org/jobs/benefits/.

Compensation is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: scope and responsibilities of the position; a candidate's full-time, applicable work experience; key skills and qualifications; as well as internal and external market considerations. The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $100,000 - $180,000. Salary is just one component of AEI’s total compensation package for employees.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

• Cover letter including:
  • An introductory paragraph(s) describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to AEI’s mission and how you came to those beliefs
  • Salary requirements
• Resume
• A writing sample related to development, such as a donor solicitation letter or other relevant communications you’ve authored

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/

Questions can be directed to Savannah Rupp, Project Manager at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: Savannah@talentmarket.org.

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.