Summary

The American Institute for Economic Research educates people on the value of personal freedom, free enterprise, property rights, limited government, and sound money.

The Senior Manager of Development plays a leading role in advancing AIER’s fundraising efforts through donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and institutional giving activities.

Reporting to and working closely with the Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs, this role manages a portfolio of donors and prospects, supports major gift strategy and foundation fundraising efforts, and represents AIER at donor meetings, conferences, and institutional events within the broader liberty movement.

This role works in close coordination with the Director of Partnerships and Engagement, who oversees development operations systems, CRM infrastructure, fundraising technology platforms, and donor operations workflows.

Responsibilities

Fundraising and Donor Engagement

  • Manage and grow a portfolio of donors and prospects through active cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and relationship management
  • Support execution of AIER’s major gifts strategy in partnership with the Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs
  • Conduct donor meetings, prospect outreach, conference engagement, and relationship-building activities on behalf of AIER
  • Identify and help cultivate prospective donors aligned with AIER’s mission and programs
  • Prepare donor strategy materials, solicitation materials, stewardship communications, and meeting briefings
  • Represent AIER professionally within the liberty movement philanthropic and institutional community
  • Maintain disciplined donor follow-through, contact reporting, and portfolio management activities
  • Support annual giving, donor communications, and donor engagement activities associated with conferences and institutional events

Grants and Institutional Giving

  • Support foundation and institutional fundraising efforts, including prospect research, proposal development, reporting, and stewardship activities
  • Assist in identifying institutional funding opportunities aligned with AIER’s mission and strategic priorities
  • Coordinate internally to gather information necessary for grant proposals and reports
  • Help ensure timely submission of grant materials and stewardship deliverables

Coordination and Departmental Support

  • Coordinate closely with the Director of Partnerships and Engagement and development support staff to ensure strong execution and follow-through across fundraising activities
  • Support planning and execution of donor events, conferences, institutional gatherings, and fundraising travel
  • Maintain professionalism, responsiveness, discretion, and strong donor stewardship practices across external interactions
  • Contribute to a collaborative, mission-aligned culture within AIER’s Strategic Partnerships department

Qualifications

  • Commitment to AIER’s mission and classical liberal principles
  • Five or more years of experience in frontline fundraising, donor relations, institutional advancement, or related external affairs roles
  • Strong interpersonal, relationship-management, and communication skills
  • Familiarity with philanthropic networks and organizations within the liberty movement strongly preferred
  • Ability to represent AIER credibly and professionally in donor-facing and external environments
  • Experience supporting donor solicitations, stewardship, and fundraising strategy
  • Experience with grant writing or institutional fundraising preferred
  • Strong judgment, professionalism, discretion, and follow-through
  • Experience working in think tanks, policy organizations, advocacy organizations, higher education, or mission-driven nonprofits preferred
  • Familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms preferred

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, virtual role based in the United States. The expected salary range for this position is $95,000–$115,000 annually, commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

AIER offers a competitive benefits package, including health benefits, retirement contributions, paid time off, and professional development support.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Work Authorization

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout employment.

Travel and Schedule

This is a virtual role that must be U.S.-based; candidates should reside within reasonable access to a major airport

Approximately 25% of domestic travel will be required for donor meetings, conferences, institutional events, and fundraising activities. Schedule includes occasional evening and weekend events consistent with donor engagement responsibilities.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

  • Cover letter including:
    • What specific experience, skills, relationships, or accomplishments make you particularly well-suited for this role?
    • Compensation expectations and travel availability
  • Resume

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

Questions can be directed to Katy Gambella, Director of Outreach 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.