Senior Development Officer

Position description

For over two decades, Spirit of America has united citizens with America’s troops and diplomats in common cause: to defend freedom, strengthen the frontlines of democracy, and create opportunity for a free and better life.

Spirit of America is a privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in response to the attacks of 9/11. We have pioneered a new category of national security philanthropy — one that has a direct, asymmetric operational impact on the fight to defend the free world.

Spirit of America is not neutral. We take America’s side. We only provide assistance in support of national security objectives and the missions of US troops and diplomats and the local people and partners they seek to help.

Since our founding, we have implemented over 1,500 projects in 112 countries to support America’s national security. We communicate directly with deployed US troops and diplomats. We ask what they are trying to accomplish, what is needed, and how we can help. We then provide private philanthropic assistance to meet needs and help them solve problems. We fill the gaps between what government can do and what is needed. Because Spirit of America is 100% privately funded, we can invest in innovative ideas and rapidly deliver results that address America’s toughest challenges in ways that government can’t.

Our budget has grown from $4 million in 2020 to $35 million in 2023. From Rapid Response Projects to large-scale Strategic Initiatives, our work has saved lives, kept US troops safe, prevented conflict, and spread America’s values in the world’s toughest places.

Our Board of Advisors includes Generals Jim Mattis, Joe Dunford, H.R. McMaster, Phil Breedlove, and Jim Jones; Admirals Eric Olson and Gary Roughead; Ambassadors Ryan Crocker, Bill Taylor, Greta Holtz, and Mike McFaul; and former Undersecretary of Defense Michèle Flournoy.

Spirit of America leverages an unprecedented partnership with the US military based on a groundbreaking agreement with the Department of Defense. No other nonprofit has such an agreement. Our agreement allows the military to collaborate with us, identify needs, receive and distribute our assistance, and provide us logistical support. Thus, every philanthropic dollar invested in Spirit of America builds on and leverages investments made by the US government and military. That leverage — combined with our entrepreneurial, venture capital approach — provides philanthropic investments in Spirit of America with asymmetric impact and return on investment.

By taking America’s side, Spirit of America aligns private philanthropy with patriotism, American values, and national security. This creates a unity of effort and “whole of America” approach. Our model transforms Americans from spectators into participants and investors. It gives Americans a stake in the work of America’s troops and diplomats and America’s role in the world.

The Opportunity
Position: Senior Development Officer 
Location: San Francisco, CA; Dallas, TX; New York, NY; or Arlington, VA
Reporting Relationship: Chief Development Officer, Windle Jarvis
Website: https://spiritofamerica.org/

Purpose of the Position
In 2024, Spirit of America hired Windle Jarvis as its Chief Development Officer. In his first year with the organization, Windle and the Spirit of America team expanded the development function, increased donor giving at the major and principal gift level and outlined a development strategy for continued institutional growth in unrestricted revenue.

Given its continued growth and development strategy, Spirit of America now seeks a mission-driven and dynamic Senior Development Officer with a track record in principal and major giving to assist in expanding the organization’s base of individual donors. This front-line fundraising role will help advance freedom and democracy and work at the intersection of US foreign policy, global humanitarian impact, and entrepreneurship. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest and proven track record in national security, military affairs, and foreign policy, with a deep commitment to the safety and success of America’s troops and diplomats. This newly created position entails building new relationships and deepening existing ones with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individual supporters of Spirit of America.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, and solicit gifts of $25,000 and higher, with the long-term expectation of raising at least $1,500,000 annually.
• Lead the expansion and unveiling of Spirit of America’s National Leadership Council, a donor group of $25,000+ individual contributors to the organization.
• Oversee all aspects of each major donor’s relationship and timely movement through the solicitation cycle, in coordination with other team members as appropriate, with a focus on moving to a major/principal gift proposal.
• Lead cultivation and solicitation meetings with major individual donors, including members of family foundations and family office staff (when applicable).
• Develop new resources, fundraising avenues, and revenue-generating markets, such as planned giving and estates, to support systemic growth in revenue.
• Collaborate with other Spirit of America staff on various institutional priorities.
• Participate in and contribute substantively to organizational strategy and planning sessions. Assemble fundraising metrics and measures of success for discussion.
• Curate and execute high-value donor engagement opportunities (including salon dinners, fundraising trips, and private donor briefings).
• Ensure alignment with marketing on support for awareness, education, and broad stewardship programs for major donors, and on the strategy, coordination, and alignment of grassroots marketing efforts.
• Collaborate with the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer on state registrations, grant management, and fundraising rules and regulations.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will bring a demonstrated passion for Spirit of America’s mission to their candidacy and a connection to our work. They will have a demonstrated ability and proven track record in principal and major gift fundraising with a desire to serve in a front-line position, expanding existing and growing new donors for the organization. The ideal candidate will have experience serving as a senior spokesperson and ambassador for an organization with at least 10 years of related experience.

Specific qualifications include:

Education and Experience:

• 10+ years’ experience in fundraising or related function, particularly with major and principal donor cultivation.
• A track record and strong interest in national security and foreign policy is required.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles, practices, and daily operations within a high functioning development office, including discovering and qualifying prospects and donors; initiating contact and tracking outreach; developing creative and effective solicitation strategies; moving prospects and donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation.
• A positive, organized, team-oriented approach to problem solving.
• Proven record of building a prospect pool, cultivating donor relationships and closing gifts in the six-figure and above range.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills in both one-on-one and group settings.
• Ability to articulate and present clear, persuasive written and verbal communications.
• Poise, presence, and polish that inspires confidence in both internal and external audiences of all levels.
• Flexibility and willingness to engage in weekend/evening meetings and undertake regional and national travel up to 50% of the time.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to adapt style and voice for different audiences and platforms
• Excellent project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate decisions and policies from the Leadership Team to team members
• Experience and passion for an organization operating globally
• High degree of professional ethics, integrity, and resiliency
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, growth-oriented organization

Key Relationships

Fundraising Staff

• Chief Executive Officer
• Chief Development Officer
• Director of Development
• Additional Development Staff

Other Spirit of America Leadership

• Board of Directors
• Marketing Team
• International Operations Team

Compensation

• The expected salary range for the Chief Development Officer rests between $225,000 and $250,000. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a 403b contribution match of 4% and other organizational benefits.

Application instructions

To apply, please send all applications and nominations.

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