About the Claremont Institute

The mission of the Claremont Institute is to restore the principles of the American Founding to their rightful, preeminent authority in our national life.

To return to limited government, conservatives must return to the principles of the American Founding. The Claremont Institute provides the missing argument in the battle to win public sentiment by teaching and promoting the philosophical reasoning that is the foundation of limited government, as well as the statesmanship required to bring that reasoning into practice.

About the Role

The Claremont Institute is continuing an ambitious new chapter of growth, including the expansion of its fundraising team. We are seeking a Director of Major Gifts based on the West Coast.

Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Director of Major Gifts will work closely with Development and Program staff to execute the Institute’s fundraising strategy. With a focus on major gifts, the successful candidate will strengthen existing donor relationships, develop new ones, and help expand the Institute’s base of philanthropic support.

The Director of Major Gifts will manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, solicit significant gifts primarily from individuals, assist with foundation outreach as needed, and participate in special events that generate revenue and deepen donor engagement.

This position may work remotely but should be based on the West Coast and located near a major airport for ease of travel to meet donors, prospects, and strategic partners. Being located in or willing to relocate to southern California is a plus.

Responsibilities

  • Advance relationships with individuals and organizations that result in philanthropic support for the Claremont Institute through personal visits, email correspondence, telephone conversations, and events.
  • Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of approximately 100–150 donors and prospects with the capacity to make major and principal-level gifts ranging from $5,000 to $1,000,000 or more, with a focus on the Western United States.
  • Develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies based on each donor’s interests, giving history, and relationship with the Institute.
  • Re-engage and renew lapsed donors.
  • Evaluate gift opportunities and giving vehicles and recommend an appropriate approach based on the donor and circumstances.
  • Develop stewardship plans that strengthen donors’ relationships with the Claremont Institute and encourage increased giving.
  • Translate complex intellectual and programmatic information into a clear and compelling  case for support.
  • Partner with the Development team to prepare donor communications and fundraising materials, design meeting content, and coordinate donor engagement with Program staff and Institute leadership.
  • Use Salesforce to document donor activity and moves management, maintain accurate relationship information, and provide reliable financial projections for the portfolio.
  • Use Institute events strategically to cultivate and solicit donors and prospects, including identifying attendees, coordinating invitations, preparing donor-specific meeting objectives, and ensuring timely follow-up.
  • Research donors and prospects, including their philanthropic history, professional background, giving capacity, interests, and connections to the Institute, and use that information to inform cultivation and solicitation.
  • Travel approximately one to two weeks per month to meet with donors, prospects, and strategic partners and to attend Institute events.
  • Plan regional donor trips with clear objectives, including meetings with existing donors, cultivation of new prospects, and opportunities for referrals and introductions.
  • Engage Institute leadership, scholars, board members, and other key representatives in donor cultivation and solicitation, preparing them with relevant donor background, meeting objectives, and follow-up plans.

Qualifications

  • Five or more years of experience in major gifts or a comparable fundraising role is preferred.
  • Experience with a nonprofit organization of comparable size is preferred.
  • A proven track record of identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and securing six-figure gifts or larger, including direct responsibility for managing a portfolio of major donors and prospects.
  • Proficiency with Salesforce or a comparable constituent relationship management system is preferred.
  • Ability to travel, 20-50% depending on candidate location.
  • An advanced degree is preferred.

Attributes and Skills

  • A strong commitment to the mission of the Claremont Institute.
  • An entrepreneurial spirit and comfort working within a collegial and relatively flat senior-management structure.
  • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, including strong writing, public speaking, and one-on-one donor communication.
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills with considerable attention to detail.
  • The ability to think creatively and strategically, identify new sources of philanthropic support, and carry plans through to execution.
  • Intellectual curiosity and the ability to listen to and engage donors and prospects, understand their interests and philanthropic priorities, and articulate how those interests connect with the Institute’s work.
  • A high level of emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
  • Strong initiative and the ability to work independently while contributing effectively as part of a team.
  • Sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism when working with donors, prospects, colleagues, and confidential information.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $120,000 – 150,000, depending on skills and experience.

How to Apply

To apply, qualified individuals should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:

  • Cover letter detailing your interest in the mission of the Claremont Institute, and why you’re a good fit for the role
  • Resume

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Bailey Drouant, Project Manager at Talent Market, who is managing the search process: [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.

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. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market, the liberty movement’s talent agency, is a nonprofit that connects liberty-minded professionals with free-market nonprofit jobs at no cost to candidates or organizations. We work with 501(c)(3) organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation. Visit Talent Market to explore open roles, join our talent network, or work with us on your next hire.