Spirit of America

Spirit of America is a privately-funded nonprofit that engages citizens in strengthening America’s security and advancing America’s values.  Founded in response to the attacks of 9/11, Spirit of America has pioneered a new category of philanthropy and national security. It is the only organization that is officially approved by Congress and the Department of Defense to work alongside deployed US troops and diplomats and provide private assistance to support their difficult missions.

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford says, “Spirit of America represents a new capability, not just another nonprofit. It is important to our country’s future.” And, former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, “Spirit of America is agile. It is responsive. It has truly saved lives. It has been worth its weight in gold to us.” Supported by top philanthropists and a world-class Advisory Board Spirit of America is the way to help those who serve America abroad return home safely and proud of their success. In the world’s toughest places, people experience the best of who Americans are and what we stand for.

About the Position:

Spirit of America seeks a nonprofit fundraising star with great leadership potential to serve as our Director of Development. The Director’s mission is to lead Spirit of America’s mid-level and major donor fundraising and achieve aggressive growth in five-, six- and seven-figure gifts. Spirit of America is based in Arlington, VA. The Director of Development may work remotely from any major metropolitan area in the continental United States. This is a high-visibility opportunity to make a contribution important to the country’s future.

Responsibilities

• Manage a growing mid-level and major gift fundraising program. Develop and implement strategies that are informed by ambitious revenue goals. Adjust plans based on tracking and analyzing results.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 major donors and major donor prospects through all fundraising cycles – identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Engage in every stage of donor relations, including making asks and closing gifts.
• Lead Spirit of America’s mid-level and major gifts development team including the Development Manager. Recruit, hire, and lead Major Gift Officers, as they are needed.
• Deploy Spirit of America’s CEO, operations team, and Advisory Board members to the greatest effect in support of fundraising and stewardship objectives.
• Serve as a voice of major donor needs and interests. Provide input to marketing and donor communications. Create briefing materials, presentations, and written proposals.
• Organize events and other donor prospecting and stewardship engagements.
• Oversee, and contribute to, grants including research, proposal writing, and reporting.
• Ensure information systems meet the needs of major donor fundraising and stewardship.

Personal Attributes

You are a high-performing development professional looking for an opportunity to showcase your skills and leadership abilities on a higher level. You want to be part of a team with other A players. You are a highly-motivated quick study. You build trust and relationships easily. Your intelligence and poise inspire confidence. You ask great questions. You are entrepreneurial and have a gift for seeing opportunity where most others see nothing. You are a superb player-coach and can lead a team while performing as an individual contributor. You aspire to make an enduring contribution to something big and important. Even with your qualities you are humble and treat people equally well no matter who they are.

Requirements and Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree, 7+ years of professional experience and a track record of at least four successful years in major donor fundraising.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a team.
• Ability to engage in weekend/evening meetings and travel up to 35% of the time.

Salary and Benefits

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Spirit of America offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision insurance, and 403b contribution match to 4%.

Spirit of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer

In accordance with applicable law, we prohibit discrimination against any applicant or employee based on any legally-recognized basis, including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniformed servicemember status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age (40 and over), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics) or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers.