Deputy Director of Development, Fundraising Operations
About The Position
The Deputy Director of Development is the number two person in the development department and reports to the Chief Development Officer (CDO). The role serves as a senior fundraiser and donor-relations lead, steps in for the CDO when needed, and manages the development team and the systems, processes, and communications that support the department. It works closely with senior leadership, department presidents, program directors, Finance, and other business operations teams. The position is based at CSIS’s Washington, D.C. headquarters and is expected to be in the office five days per week. The Deputy supports the CDO’s vision and revenue mobilization strategy, serves as an internal liaison with business operations partners, and partners with strategic engagement teams, including the Hess Center and Executive Education, to mobilize resources and secure partners. The role supports prospect identification and cultivation, especially among corporations and professional foundations, and oversees center-wide fundraising processes, including revenue allocation, prospect research, gift processing, and stewardship. The position also oversees fundraising training for program leads and the quality and consistency of development systems, templates, workflows, and documentation. It manages Salesforce and other systems, identifies opportunities to improve and standardize processes, supervises and develops development operations staff, oversees the operations budget, and coordinates internal program transfers, staff reimbursements, timesheets, and expense reports.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Extensive experience managing, coaching, and mentoring early-career staff and setting objectives and performance standards.
- Proven track record of frontline donor prospecting.
- Goal-oriented, with excellent people skills and diplomacy.
- Experience in systems management and fundraising processes.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to oversee processes and deliver outcomes.
- Intellectual curiosity and a broad understanding of international policy issues or CSIS program areas.
- Demonstrated ability to work successfully in a nonprofit setting that prioritizes new donor discovery and engagement.
- Experience working in a large, multi-issue organization and coordinating with multiple stakeholders.
- Proven experience working with data and CRM systems such as Salesforce.
- Experience leveraging an organizational brand for charity or business development.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
- Ability to work in an open-minded, culturally sensitive, impartial manner without partisan bias.
- Enthusiastic, imaginative, creative, and energetic approach with a can-do attitude.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree.
Responsibilities
- Step in for the Chief Development Officer when needed, including during travel.
- Serve as an internal center-wide liaison on behalf of the CDO with business operations partners, including Finance, Department Chiefs of Staff, and Vice Presidents.
- Advance the revenue mobilization vision and strategy articulated by the CDO.
- Partner with strategic engagement teams, specifically the Hess Center and Executive Education, to mobilize resources and secure new partners.
- Support prospect identification and cultivation of corporations and professional foundations.
- Oversee the internal revenue allocation process, engage with scholars and programs, and work with the Deputy Director for Corporate Relations, Major Gift Officers, and department leadership on allocation recommendations.
- Communicate final allocations to Finance promptly with all required documentation, and track and resolve follow-up questions or discrepancies.
- Maintain prospect identification and research tools, including new AI systems for prospecting and profile development.
- Oversee prospect and donor research, including capacity assessments, funding histories, alignment analysis, and internal briefings, and ensure research is accurate, timely, and integrated into Salesforce.
- Manage end-to-end gift processing, including timely entry, proper coding, acknowledgment generation, coordination with Finance, quality control, and discrepancy resolution.
- Oversee stewardship touchpoints such as thank-you letters, donor updates, and impact reporting, and lead donor listings in the annual report and online.
- Oversee and deliver regular fundraising training courses for program leads, maintain training materials, and provide follow-up support.
- Ensure consistency and quality control across team systems, templates, workflows, and documentation.
- Manage Salesforce and other systems to ensure accuracy, consistency, and accessibility for the development team.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and standardize workflows.
- Manage, mentor, coach, and guide development operations staff, including goal setting, workflow coordination, and professional development.
- Oversee the development operations budget, including planning, tracking, and regular reporting.
- Manage and streamline internal program transfers and staff reimbursements.
- Approve team timesheets, expense reports, and other operational requests requiring supervisory review.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
