About the Acton Institute
For over thirty years the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty has promoted a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles. We are an ecumenical, nonprofit research organization that promotes the benefits of free enterprise and the interdependence of moral principles and true freedom to religious communities, business people, students, and educators. With an international scope, Acton manages a robust publishing and events outreach that argues for a moral foundation to the market economy. Wholly independent, the nonpartisan Institute works across many faith traditions including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Our intellectual research, teaching, and popularization at the intersection of faith and economics, morality and markets, and religion and liberty are unique in the liberty movement as is our reach among the religiously-minded.
The institute recently hired a new Director of Advancement, Kevin Augustyn, who is looking to grow the team and its efficiency and effectiveness in raising private philanthropic funds to support the work of the Institute.
About the Role
The Acton Institute seeks a confident, creative, and enthusiastic Foundation Relations Specialist to manage and foster continued growth in raising private philanthropic funds from private foundations to advance their mission. This individual will expand upon existing efforts and work closely with the President, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Advancement, External Relations Officers, and the entire advancement team. This person will take a relationship management approach to advancing partnerships with foundation donors and prospects, with full responsibility for the preparation of all written proposals and requests, including both original writing and content gathering from other relevant institute sources. The Foundation Relations Specialist will also be responsible for fulfillment of all reports, recognition, and other benefits promised to institutional donors, and for management of a tracking system for prospective, pending, and active institutional funding transactions.
They will also seek to identify, qualify, and cultivate foundation prospects. The ideal candidate will have at least three years of previous fundraising experience as well as excellent communication skills, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a clear understanding of Acton’s mission and vision. This is a full-time position located in Grand Rapids, MI.
Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of foundation donors and prospects in various stages of the giving cycle
- Collaborate with leadership to develop strategies, identify and qualify foundation prospects, and cultivate relationships that lead to solicitation and stewardship of foundation gifts in support of institutional priorities.
- Write foundation proposals and prepare reports
- Manage foundation proposal timelines to meet deadlines
- Serve as a secondary giving officer for the President and Director of Advancement by helping plan, develop, and execute strategic presentations, proposals, and other collateral for donor meetings
- Travel to donor-centric events involving the cultivation and stewardship of current foundation donors and the identification and qualification of prospective foundation donors
- Produce reports following the completion of grants
- Establish metrics and use data to track, analyze, and prepare monthly reports to analyze progress and subsequently determine necessary actions to maximize productivity
- Communicate with other departments to gather data necessary for meetings and reports
- Record and save actions in the CRM database
- Assist with special projects as necessary
- Participate in other events and advancement activities as needed
- Actively pursue professional development
Qualifications
- Ability to understand, appreciate, and articulate the Acton Institute’s mission, philosophy, values, strategy, and programs.
- BA/BS and three to five years’ experience in fundraising, preferably in foundation relations or major gifts, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Demonstrated ability to work with significant autonomy, and collaboratively
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, both oral and written
- Be an excellent writer capable of producing persuasive copy with ease and speed
- Have a commitment to lifelong learning and passion for the work of the Institute
- Have excellent relationship building skills and the ability to give persuasive presentations to achieve desired fundraising results
- Demonstrated analytical and strategic thinking capabilities
- Sharp attention to detail
- Exhibit professional decorum at all times
- Treat coworkers and all Acton guests and personnel with respect and work as a team player with all members of the organization
- Be flexible, forthright, ambitious, and comfortable in a fast-paced setting
- Experience with grant writing is a strong plus
- Experience with Wealth Engine, Foundation Database Online, and/or other CRM’s is a strong plus
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:
- Cover letter detailing your interest in the Acton Institute, how your experience has prepared you for this position, and your salary requirements
- Résumé
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: https://talentmarket.org/candidates/apply-for-your-dream-job/
Questions can be directed to Lydia Ocampo, Network Engagement Specialist, who is assisting with the search: [email protected]
There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.
Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide free consulting and recruiting services to free-market think tanks, policy organizations, research centers, and capacity-building institutions dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government and free enterprise.
