Development Officer or Senior Development Officer, Institutional Giving

Description

Freedom House monitors, strengthens, and defends democracy worldwide through research, advocacy, and programs that support frontline activists. We are leaders in identifying threats to civil liberties and political rights, and never in our 78-year history has our work mattered more. Freedom House is in a period of growth, which includes a strong commitment to securing new external funds and diversifying our private fundraising.  This position presents an opportunity to be a part of a growing development team with the enthusiastic support of the organization’s senior leadership.

We seek an experienced fundraiser to serve as Development Officer or Senior Development Officer based on the candidate’s prior experience.  This position will focus primarily on foundation fundraising, through will support some of the organization’s corporate and government-related efforts as well. 

This position reports to Freedom House’s Vice President of Development.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

The Development Officer or Senior Development Officer will be an integral member of the Development team. S/he will work with the Vice President of Development to develop strategies to maintain current institutional funding, secure new grants, steward existing relationships, and identify and cultivate potential new institutional supporters. S/he will develop relationships with foundation staff.  S/he will create high quality, persuasive proposals and reports, and be responsible for meeting all application, renewal, and reporting criteria for institutional fundraising. S/he will conduct research on existing and potential funders, create budgets, and work closely with program staff to ensure that all proposals and reports accurately reflect the organization’s mission and priorities.

Essential duties include:

1. Lead foundation fundraising in partnership with the Vice President of Development. Serve as a thought partner on foundation development strategy and plans to develop and implement long-term stewardship and cultivation strategies.
2. Meet with foundation staff to secure grants for Freedom House, including preparing Freedom House staff and leadership for these conversations.
3. Manage the application, renewal, and reporting process for all foundations as provided by donor/prospect.
4. Has primary responsibility – in partnership with relevant program and operational staff – for developing and submitting foundation proposals and reports, including creating budgets and budget narratives. 
5. Track institutional funders’ deadlines and important dates in Freedom House’s database.
6. Identify and qualify new prospective institutional funders
7. Identify important achievements in the work of the organization with a view to developing written content and communications for relevant funders.
8. Lead foundation strategy meetings with development and program staff to assess action required with regard to foundation funding.
9. Other writing and research assignments as needed.
10. Other duties as requested based on department and/or organizational need.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required and at least 5 years of progressively increasing responsibility as an institutional fundraiser.  Experience with foreign and domestic funding is preferred, but not required.
• Exceptional writing ability. Able to synthesize information from throughout the organization into clear, compelling, and concise written materials.
• Proficient in creating project budgets and financial reporting.  
• Superb attention to detail, balanced against consistent production of timely, error-free work.
• Strong reasoning and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including interacting with people with a wide range of political and social views. Comfortable serving as support to senior executives as they manage fundraising prospects and donors. Skilled in establishing trusted partnerships throughout the organization and using expert judgment when dealing with internal and external constituents.
• Ability to multi-task, work effectively, and produce high-quality work in a fast-paced, high-volume, deadline-driven environment.  Ability to take initiative, prioritize duties, and work independently, as well as collaboratively, with a spirit of flexibility and positive outlook.
• Demonstrated interest in human rights and democracy as well as dedication to the organization’s mission.
• Experience using Salesforce as a fundraising tool is preferred.

Additional Information

Applicants are required to complete our online application form and to submit a resume and a cover letter that outlines interests and qualifications for this position.

Physical Requirements: Sedentary, regularly required to sit for extended periods of time. Constantly talk, hear, and understand speech at normal levels using a telephone. Occasionally required to stand, walk, and bend over; reach overhead; use hands, wrists, and fingers to grasp, push, pull, move, handle, feel, and type. Constantly required to use close vision and distance vision for regular computer work. Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 lbs. to waist height.

General Working Conditions: General working office environment. Some long hours, including evenings and/or weekends as reasonable, to complete essential tasks or attend important events and to be responsive in a timely manner to emergency assistance requests. Travel to event and meeting sites. Exposed to outside weather conditions when required to attend event venues or travel.

Freedom House is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. Read more about the application process and search answers to common questions here. Freedom House offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package including health and wellness benefits, retirement, and professional development.

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