About the Claremont Institute: With its mission to “restore the principles of the American Founding to their rightful, preeminent authority in our national life,” the Claremont Institute has for over 30 years been a strong and effective leader in the movement toward limited government, free markets, and a strong national defense. The Institute has focused on educating those key individuals in government, academia, and the press that have the greatest ability to successfully articulate, uphold, and put those principles of the American Founding into practice. Founded in 1979, the Claremont Institute publishes the Claremont Review of Books, sponsors Publius and Lincoln Fellowships for rising young conservative leaders, and administers a variety of public policy programs. The Institute serves a necessary role of teaching the teachers, promoting leadership, and providing the intellectual venture capital for the conservative movement.
Position Summary: The Chief Development Officer (CDO) will develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan to advance the mission of the Claremont Institute. This individual will serve as a member of the Institute’s management team, making plans and setting policy to take the fundraising program to the next level of success. The CDO supervises the major gifts, annual giving, events, and development services teams. The CDO will develop and implement strategies that promote long-term sustainable growth and deepen the Institute’s relationships with its donors.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive development plan for the Institute, including plans for Annual Giving, Foundation support, and Individual Major and Principal Gifts.
- Establish and drive performance metrics for staff.
- Oversee the comprehensive calendar of activities in support of development.
- Ensure success in events management, including quarterly cultivation dinners and the annual Churchill Dinner.
- Work with the President, selected board and volunteers and others within the organization to identify linkage, ability and interest of major gift prospects for their solicitation in alignment with the Institute’s priorities.
- Support the President and other staff and key volunteers in their major gift work.
- Staff the Development Committee of the board, providing guidance and direction to their efforts.
- Work closely with other Institute colleagues, especially in annual giving, to identify prospects and existing donors with capacity and attachment. Create appropriate gift club activity and recognition for mid-level donors.
- Ensure that the Development Operations staff provides timely and accurate information of all gifts, solicitations and donor activity, and tracking and fulfillment of pledges, donor recognition activities, receipting and timely acknowledgements.
- Oversee stewardship of the Institute’s donors.
- Maintain ongoing and active networking with internal and external constituencies.
- Represent the Claremont Institute in the community as appropriate.
- Personally take a portfolio of 50 prospects for cultivation and solicitation.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree with five years of directly-related progressively responsible work experience with a proven record of successful cultivation and solicitation of large gifts.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of all areas of fundraising, with a particular emphasis on major and principal gift acquisition; familiarity with the Southern California donor community a plus.
- Demonstrated success in securing five to six figure gifts and grants from individual donors.
- Proven track record in planning and achieving short and long term goals and creating a plan outlining activity for the fiscal year.
- Exceptional interpersonal and influencing skills, tact and diplomacy with the ability to develop and maintain cooperative and successful working relationships with volunteers, staff and all donors; ability to serve as a team player and leader.
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically and creatively about engaging donors, and to develop plans of action and follow through.
- Experience managing a team; ability to inspire and motivate staff.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Political, analytical and negotiation skills. Sound judgment and superior problem solving ability.
- Integrity and fiscal accountability.
- Experience working with volunteers.
- Must be willing and available to work evenings and weekends according to event-related scheduling.
- Some travel within the country.
- Experience working with Tessitura, Raiser’s Edge, Millennium or similar fundraising data management system preferred.
Salary range: Commensurate with experience; compensation package includes health (employee company paid medical/HMO), vacation and sick days, plus more.
Application Process
To apply, please email the following materials to Claire Kittle, Executive Director of Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: Claire@talentmarket.org:
- Résumé
- Cover letter, which must include your philosophical interest in the mission of the organization and your desired salary range
While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. No phone calls please.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
