Director of Advancement & Foundation Operations

Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing

3d•Remote

About The Position

This role is responsible for driving the mission forward by building a stronger, more connected global nursing community through philanthropic engagement. The Director of Advancement & Foundation Operations will lead initiatives in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, employing a strategic, relationship-based approach. The position requires strong storytelling abilities, executive presence, and the capacity to inspire investment through compelling articulation of the Foundation’s mission, impact, and opportunities. The leader will build authentic relationships, represent the organization professionally, and connect with a wide variety of donors. Performance-driven, the role involves setting measurable goals, tracking progress, and delivering results, with a proactive and intentional fundraising approach focused on expanding and diversifying donor pipelines. The Director will also be instrumental in reimagining and evolving the Foundation’s operating model, leading a small, high-performing team, and collaborating within an organizational structure where final decision-making authority may reside elsewhere. A strong cultural and interpersonal fit for a collaborative Executive Leadership Team and Directors Advisory Council is essential, characterized by a relationship-oriented style, constructive engagement with peers, and contribution to a leadership culture of trust, transparency, and shared purpose. The role requires willingness and ability to travel approximately every four to six weeks for donor engagements, organizational events, and in-person leadership gatherings.

Requirements

Experienced development professional viewed by peers and partners as a fundraising leader.
Proven success in leading initiatives in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Strategic, relationship-based approach to philanthropic engagement.
Excellent storyteller with strong executive presence.
Ability to compellingly articulate the Foundation’s mission, impact, and opportunities to donors, board members, and senior leaders.
Ability to pitch and close.
Warm, personable leader who builds authentic relationships and represents the organization with professionalism.
Interpersonal range to connect genuinely with a wide variety of donors.
Performance-driven with the ability to set measurable goals, track progress, and deliver results.
Proactive and intentional fundraising approach.
Demonstrated success in expanding and diversifying donor pipelines.
Open to reimagining and evolving the Foundation’s operating model.
Ability to lead a small, high-performing team of approximately three to four staff through growth and change.
Comfortable operating within an organizational structure where final decision-making authority for Foundation-related matters may reside elsewhere.
Strong cultural and interpersonal fit for a collaborative Executive Leadership Team and Directors Advisory Council.
Relationship-oriented leadership style.
Engages constructively with peers across the organization.
Contributes to a leadership culture defined by trust, transparency, and shared purpose.
Willing and able to travel approximately every four to six weeks for donor engagements, organizational events, and in-person leadership gatherings.

Nice To Haves

CFRE certification is preferred.
Candidates not yet certified must be willing to obtain it within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

Reviewing the status of active donor relationships and cultivation activities.
Managing the major gift pipeline and ensuring follow-up.
Engaging directly with donors through discovery calls, stewardship meetings, and pitch presentations.
Collaborating with communications on donor-facing messaging.
Coordinating with the Global Events team on engagement opportunities.
Connecting with organizational leadership on strategic priorities and philanthropic positioning.
Leading and coaching staff, removing obstacles, and reviewing progress toward fundraising goals.
Identifying prospective donors, reviewing giving trends, and analyzing cultivation and stewardship strategies.
Developing new campaign concepts and evolving the team’s structure and operating model.
Preparing for board presentations.
Traveling for donor visits and organizational events.