Position Summary

ASAE Research Foundation supports the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) by advancing knowledge in association management and nonprofit leadership and supporting the next generation of association leaders. The ASAE Research Foundation transforms the association community through research, scholarships, and practical tools critical to our profession. ASAE Research Foundation exists to advance the development of current and next-generation association professionals through scholarships and awards, and by providing relevant resources that all of us can use. ASAE Research Foundation is fueled by the unwavering support of our dedicated volunteers, donors, advisors, and partners. Together, we form a vibrant community committed to advancing the work of associations worldwide.

Summary of Duties

ASAE Research Foundation seeks a mid-career development professional with experience in fundraising, development operations and donor relations. This position serves as an integral member of a three-person development team. This role ensures the integrity of donor data, the efficiency of development operations, and the delivery of exceptional donor experiences. She/he develops strong connections with our donors, is the operations and donor data expert, and is a strategic thinker who helps the Research Foundation elevate our development programs to achieve and exceed goals.

The director of development reports to the vice president of foundation relations, and works closely with the foundation research program team, as well as ASAE's meetings, IT/database, finance, web, and learning teams. This is a full-time exempt position based in Washington, DC.

Duties & Responsibilities

Fundraising, Operations and Stewardship:

• Create and maintain a pipeline of donors for annual and restricted funds. Manage the portfolio of annual giving donors.
• Provide donor support, including assistance with donation payments, giving circle inquiries, and fundraising event registration.
• Manage donor recognition and stewardship programs, including personalized acknowledgments, recognition methods, and impact reporting.
• Assist Foundation Coordinator with the accurate and timely processing of individual and corporate pledges and gifts, sponsorship payments, and fundraising event registrations.
• Manage the monthly giving program operations, and the “renewal” process for annual fund donors and giving circle members.
• Ensure on-going operational efficiencies and exceptional donor experiences through development and management of SOPs, and regular reviews with organizational stakeholders to explore opportunities for improvement.
• Track, analyze, and report on donation, sponsorship, and event registration results against goals, and provide insights and suggestions based on findings.
• Act as lead for virtual and live Research Foundation fundraising events, including logistics coordination, registration, and day-of support.
• Manage Meeting Community Needs fundraising program logistics, coordination, and marketing efforts.
• Works with Vice President, Foundation Relations and consultant on implementation of the planned giving program.

Fundraising Marketing Support:

• Collaborate with marketing team on development of e-newsletter, content, fundraising marketing campaigns, website updates, and provide support, including the development of prospect and donor lists.
• Serve as editor and content creator for the Insights(s) quarterly donor e-newsletter, all fundraising campaigns, and Foundation website.
• Manage the development and execution of multi-channel, direct response marketing campaigns for annual giving, major donors, donor cultivation, and fundraising events, in collaboration with the marketing and web teams.
• Track, analyze and report on fundraising campaign results, and provide suggestions for campaign improvements.

Database Management:

• Oversee the Foundation’s database, DonorPerfect, in conjunction with CRM to ensure accurate donor records, reporting and segmentation.
• Build templates, emails, forms, and other features according to donor and organizational needs.
• Lead the creation of dashboards and reports for internal stakeholders.
• Create operational manual procedures for database management best practices, data integrity and quality, as well as gift processing, acknowledgements, and donor stewardship.
• Prepare and analyze donor profiles, prospect research, pipeline tracking, performance analytics, and campaign result reporting as requested.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy, charitable registration, and audit requirements.
• Coordinate with finance on reconciliation, reporting and contribution tracking.

Volunteer Management:

• Act as the primary liaison for the Research Foundation Development Committee, providing volunteer support and logistical management of committee meetings.
• Act as primary staff liaison for the Foundation Development Committee task force, Donor Stewardship.
• Facilitate volunteer-lead programs, including donor stewardship outreach, and major donor prospect calling.
• Serve as the foundation liaison for the ASAE Young Professionals Committee affinity group, facilitating idea sharing and collaboration.

Position Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent relevant work experience.
• Minimum five-to-seven years’ experience in a fundraising, membership, or sales environment with demonstrated expertise in operations and donor/member/customer relations.
• Fundraising experience preferred along with strong knowledge of fundraising operations, donor stewardship, and fundraising platforms.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects, meet deadlines, and drive results.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data integrity.

Technical Knowledge

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive.
• Hands-on experience in a customer service role supporting customers, members, or donors.
• In-depth experience working with donor/member/customer management systems.
• Knowledge of gift processing and gift acknowledgement best practices preferred.
Events management experience a plus.

Essential Skills

• Self-driven; you learn quickly and navigate changes with minimal direction.
• Organized; you have strong project management skills and are adept at multitasking and prioritizing your work.
• Detail-oriented; you have keen attention to detail and take pride in high-quality work.
• Problem-solver; you know how to tackle challenges and enjoy looking for ways to improve processes and outcomes.
• Knowledge-seeker; you stay abreast of best practices and bring new ideas to your work.
• Communicator: you have excellent interpersonal skills, and are able to communicate ideas, needs, and feedback to others clearly in writing and verbally.
• People-person; you enjoy talking with your customers and develop a rapport easily.
• Perceptive; you quickly understand the nuances of a situation and make sound decisions.
• Creative; you are excited by new ideas, and able to create a vision that gets others excited about those ideas too.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment

The ASAE Research Foundation offers a competitive salary, an extensive benefits plan, and an open and welcoming work environment where differences are highly respected and new ideas always welcome.

Physical Demands

Ability to stand at events for long periods of time and lift up to 20 lbs.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:30

• • to 5 p.m. Hybrid work environment; in-office two days a week.

Travel

Travel on average three times per year with two-to-five-night stays.

Benefits Offered

• Flexible Work from Home Arrangements
• Flexible Work Hours
• Casual Dress Code
• Medical, Dental, Vision +
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Account
• Generous 401k Retirement Plan
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short and Long-Term Disability Plans
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• AFLAC Plans
• Legal & Identity Theft Protection Plans
• Company Paid Professional Development
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Personal Computer Purchase Program