Director of Development (Remote)

Institute for Humane Studies•Arlington, VA

5d•$130,000 - $145,000•Remote

About The Position

The Director of Development leads the Institute for Humane Studies’ major-gifts fundraising and individual-donor relationship strategy, with primary accountability for growing philanthropic revenue across the frontline gift pipeline. Reporting to the Managing Director of Development and Communications, the Director leads the frontline gift-officer team, sets portfolio priorities, and establishes cultivation, solicitation, and moves-management practices. The position also personally manages a select portfolio of the organization’s highest-priority donors. The role focuses on fundraising strategy and revenue growth, major-gifts portfolio leadership, fundraiser development, and cross-functional donor engagement, while the Director of Development Operations owns operational infrastructure. IHS operates remotely. The role includes required organization-wide in-office weeks in Arlington, Virginia, as well as regular travel for programmatic convenings and donor and partner events. Total travel is up to approximately 15% of the year, including in-office weeks. The full-time schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The salary range is $130,000–$145,000, commensurate with experience, with eligibility for annual performance-based incentive compensation. IHS offers health and dental insurance, health savings accounts, long-term disability and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement savings program, a parking permit, and 12 annual tuition credit hours at George Mason University. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States; visa sponsorship is unavailable.

Requirements

At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in major-gifts or individual-giving fundraising.
Documented record of closing six-figure commitments.
Demonstrated success leading and developing frontline fundraising staff.
Experience setting fundraising strategy and managing a multi-stage donor pipeline across cultivation and solicitation.
Strong judgment engaging donors across diverse professional and ideological backgrounds.
Proficiency with CRM systems.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Authorization to work for any employer in the United States; the employer cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

Nice To Haves

Seven-figure fundraising exposure.
Salesforce experience.
Experience fundraising within a think tank, university, or policy-oriented nonprofit.
Experience building or scaling a major-gifts program.
Substantive knowledge of and appreciation for the classical liberal intellectual tradition, with the ability to engage donors on policy, economics, and related ideas central to the IHS donor community.
Experience with moves management across multiple giving tiers.

Responsibilities

Lead IHS’s major-gifts fundraising strategy and portfolio-level revenue planning for the individual-giving pipeline, setting portfolio priorities, solicitation strategy, and cultivation approach in coordination with the Managing Director of Development and Communications.
Own the frontline gift pipeline across qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, establishing moves-management standards and portfolio expectations for gift officers.
Translate institutional fundraising goals into portfolio-level plans and directional benchmarks for the major-gifts team.
Personally manage a select portfolio of high-priority donors and prospects, leading the full gift cycle for principal- and major-gift commitments.
Direct prospect assignment, portfolio segmentation, and solicitation strategy across the gift-officer team, partnering with the Senior Major Gifts Officer and Major Gifts Officer(s).
Oversee relationship handoffs across prospecting, mid-level, and major-gift portfolios to maintain a coherent donor journey.
Lead, coach, and develop the major-gifts team, setting priorities, expectations, and portfolio goals.
Review and approve solicitation strategies, gift proposals, and portfolio plans for frontline fundraisers.
Coordinate with Development Operations, Communications & Marketing, Programs, and Executive leadership to align donor messaging, engagement strategy, and solicitation materials.
Represent IHS in high-value donor meetings, cultivation gatherings, and institutional engagement, including donor-facing travel.
Partner with the Director of Development Operations to ensure pipeline reporting, data integrity, and operational infrastructure support frontline fundraising.
Directly supervise one to two direct reports and oversee major-gifts portfolio management, solicitation strategy, and donor stewardship across the gift-officer team.
Review and approve key decisions in portfolio strategy, solicitation planning, and prospect assignment as appropriate.

Benefits

Health insurance; IHS pays 100% of the individual health insurance premium.
Dental insurance; IHS pays 100% of the individual dental insurance premium.
Health savings accounts.
Long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance.
403(b) retirement savings program.
Parking permit.
12 free tuition credit hours annually at George Mason University.
Annual performance-based incentive compensation eligibility.
Flexible, professional, open office environment and opportunity for professional growth.