Advancement Officer, Annual Fund

URBAN LAND INSTITUTE•Washington, DC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

ULI Foundation’s Advancement Officer, Annual Fund plays a key role in cultivating philanthropic support for ULI’s mission through the design and execution of a strong annual giving program. Working across an organization-wide portfolio and in close collaboration with Advancement Officers, Major Gifts this role is responsible for the strategic implementation of the Foundation’s annual fund program, including but not limited to segmentation, prospect identification, and stewardship. The Annual Fund Officer is responsible for leading ULI’s comprehensive Annual Fund strategy, spanning a diverse range of funding priorities and organizational initiatives. Operating across the full ULI enterprise, this role partners with District Councils, Centers/Initiatives, and member networks to align fundraising strategy with institutional priorities while driving consistent, high-quality execution. This individual serves as the single point of accountability for Annual Fund strategy, performance, and results, while also building the infrastructure, tools, and practices that strengthen annual giving across the organization.

Requirements

5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising or development
Demonstrated success of implementing and executing an annual fund program
Strong communication, relationship management, and project coordination skills
Experience working with volunteer leaders and donor committees
Familiarity with CRM/database systems and donor pipeline management

Nice To Haves

Background in nonprofit, membership association, or real estate-related sector
Experience developing fundraising campaigns across multiple platforms
Knowledge of foundation and corporate philanthropic processes
Prior involvement with volunteer fundraising networks

Responsibilities

Own and lead the strategy, execution, and performance of the ULI Annual Fund
Establish, forecast, and deliver on annual participation and revenue targets, with full accountability for results
Direct and optimize a multi-channel Annual Fund campaign, leveraging segmentation, testing, and data insights to drive growth
Identify and implement new approaches to expand and evolve the Annual Fund, including digital strategies and donor experience improvements
Serve as liaison to the Annual Fund Working Group and support volunteer leadership engagement
Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, including leadership-level relationships and high-capacity annual giving
Develop and execute personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to increase donor engagement and long-term support
Lead donor pipeline development, including acquisition, retention, reactivation, and upgrade strategies
Partner with Major Gift Advancement Officers to identify and qualify new prospects and support pipeline movement
Engage ULI volunteers and leaders in peer-to-peer fundraising, inlcuding but not limited to members of Product Councils and relationship-building efforts
Partner across District Councils, Centers/Initiatives, and internal teams to align Annual Fund efforts with organizational priorities
Establish and scale best practices for Annual Fund fundraising across the organization, including tools, templates, and training
Provide leadership and guidance to colleagues to ensure consistent, high-quality execution of Annual Fund strategies
Monitor and report on performance, including monthly reporting tied to participation goals and internal benchmarks
Maintain accurate and timely donor records, interactions, and moves management data within ULI’s CRM system
Use data analysis and reporting to inform strategy, optimize performance, and guide decision-making
Collaborate with stewardship and communications teams to deliver donor recognition and engagement
Perform other duties as assigned by the President