Development Associate, Individual Giving

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) seeks a hardworking, creative, detail-oriented, and highly organized individual to work in person with a talented team of fundraising professionals to cultivate donor relationships, share scholars’ work with supporters, and manage crucial database projects to strengthen AEI’s strategic outreach. The person in this position supports the individual giving team through database management, strategic database projects, relationship building with prospects, and more advanced projects and operations. Key responsibilities include supporting communication and databases, reporting and tracking data, and helping formulate and implement specific development strategies.

This role offers a great opportunity for anyone interested in expanding on their passion for nonprofit fundraising in conjunction with public policy. The ideal candidate must be able to collaborate on a team, possess strong writing skills, and be able to work under pressure in a fast-paced work environment. The anticipated start date for this position is as soon as possible.

This Development Associate is expected to travel once or twice per quarter for donor trips and engagement opportunities. Qualified candidates should submit a resume, cover letter demonstrating their interest in AEI’s mission, academic transcript, and 500-word writing sample on any topic.

• Database Management (Salesforce)
  • Manage and maintain donor and prospect records in Salesforce, ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of constituent data.
  • Record interactions of AEI staff and scholars with donors and prospective donors in Salesforce.
  • Ensure that records of donor gifts, pledges, proposals, and other fundraising activities are up-to-date.
  • Develop, pull, and manage complex Salesforce reports, lists, and queries to support fundraising initiatives and strategic projects.
• Communication and Relationship Management
  • Apply donor strategy to draft and refine individualized and mass communications.
  • Support the organization’s moves-management program by researching prospective donors, updating proposals, preparing donor materials, and drafting correspondence.
  • Identify, research, and cultivate relationships with existing and prospective donors, exercising sound judgment while collaborating with supervisors and gift officers.
  • Edit, review, and prepare proposals, briefings, and other fundraising materials.
  • Assist in identifying funding opportunities and contribute to proposal development for prospective donors.
• Projects and Operations
  • Process, code, and record daily gifts, pledges, and related donor transactions, ensuring timely, accurate entry and appropriate fund designation.
  • Develop and execute strategic database initiatives, moves-management activities, and other complex fundraising operations.
  • Regularly staff fundraising events in a support role, assisting with donor engagement and event logistics.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions at AEI

• The employee is expected to regularly stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard. This job requires close-up vision for computer work.
• The employee must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.
• The employee must be able to work in a confined area.
• Moderate noise (e.g., from computers, phones, printers, and light traffic) is expected.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities associated with this position.

• A bachelor’s degree (required)
• 2–4 years of previous applicable full-time work experience, preferably in fundraising
• Independent decision-making skills, judgment, initiative, and ownership
• The capability to independently manage projects with multiple deadlines and stakeholders
• The ability to communicate clearly and thoughtfully across teams, with peers, and when managing up
• A demonstrated and detailed understanding of AEI’s work and scholars
• The ability to apply logic, reasoning, and context clues to solve problems and provide alternative solutions
• The ability to communicate effectively and accurately, in writing and orally
• The ability to perform duties with minimal guidance from supervisors, particularly on task prioritization, quality control, and organization
• Proficiency in database administration (especially with Salesforce), Microsoft Office Suite, and related software

BenefitsAEI offers generous benefits, including 18 days of paid leave (15 days of paid annual leave and three personal days or floating holidays); 12 days of paid sick leave; paid family leave; medical and dental coverage, in addition to a health savings account; medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts; a tuition assistance program of up to $5,200; life and disability insurance at no cost to employees; and a 403(b) retirement plan with a contribution from AEI, among other benefits. For more information, you can see a full summary of our benefits at https://www.aei.org/jobs/benefits/.

Compensation is based on a number of factors, including the position’s scope and responsibilities, a candidate’s applicable full-time work experience, key skills and qualifications, and internal and external market considerations. The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $58,000–$65,000. Salary is just one component of AEI’s total compensation package for employees.