Director of Development

The White House Historical Association (WHHA) is hiring a Director of Development for The People’s House: A White House Experience in the Development Department.  (Role is based in Washington, D.C.)

About the organization: The White House Historical Association is a nonprofit educational association founded in 1961 for the purpose of enhancing the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Executive Mansion. It was created at the recommendation of the National Park Service and with the support of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. All proceeds from the sale of the Associations books and products are used to fund the acquisition of historic furnishings and artwork for the permanent White House collection, assist in the preservation of public rooms, and further its educational mission. Since 1981, the Association has commissioned the annual White House Christmas Ornament honoring a historic president. Today, our acquisition, preservation, research, and education efforts continue through generous private donations and the sale of our books, products, and the Official White House Ornament.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Please note that this role is in-person and is based in Washington, D.C. 

This role is assigned to fundraising focused on The People's House: A White House Experience. To learn more about the site, visit:

www.thepeopleshouse.org

Working as a member of the Development Department front-line gift officer team, and in close coordination with the Vice President for Individual Giving, the Director of Development for The People’s House: A White House Experience plans, manages, executes, and adapts comprehensive annual and multi-year fundraising strategies for the Association’s interactive learning experience site located adjacent to the White House complex.  

The successful candidate will work with development colleagues, peers throughout the Association, volunteers and executive leadership. The Director ensures successful completion of annual fundraising goals, and development of relationships with current and prospective donors for greater giving in subsequent years. This involves current and prospective members of the National Council on White House History, advisory board members for The People’s House: A White House Experience, premier giving circles, the Legacy Society, the Board of Directors, and other stakeholders. 

The Director of Development will carry responsibility for sustaining funding to meet annual revenue targets of at least $1,500,000 and 120 in-person donor visits annually. The Director of Development serves as a liaison with development staff throughout the Association, including staff and leadership in Development. 

Strategic Fundraising, Planning, and Stewardship

·      Maintains a strong and effective working relationship with the Chief Development Officer and the Vice President for Individual Giving and partners to set fundraising goals and creates a comprehensive, sustained fundraising strategy across all sources of institutional and individual giving. 

·      Serves as a trusted fundraising advisor, with the knowledge, experience, and confidence to empower, guide, and support Development leadership on fundraising strategies for The People’s House: A White House Experience.

·      Works creatively, tactfully, and persistently to continue driving cultural change toward broader fundraising engagement and greater collective success across the program.

·      Seeks new and expanded funding opportunities. Provides guidance to Association leadership, scholars, and staff on the development team.

·      Coordinates proactively and closely with Development colleagues on major giving prospects and donors, and principal giving prospects and donors who have multiple Association affiliations, including Council Members and Board of Director members.

·      Identifies and qualifies new prospects for general, project, and/or specific area support; supports the fundraising efforts of the Association President, Chief Development Officer, and the Vice President for Individual Giving.

·      Grows and manages an active pipeline of donors and prospects building strategies to qualify, engage, solicit, and steward donors at all levels of giving—annual, major, and principal—and from both individual and institutional sources. 

·      Maintains and actively manages a personal portfolio of donors and prospects focused on either individual or institutional fundraising, depending on professional experience and background, while also assisting in and coordinating the work of other development professionals focused on the complementary fundraising portfolio.

·      Represents Association leadership in meetings with external constituencies, prepares Association leadership, and scholars for donor or prospect meetings and organizes, manages, and supports timely follow-up. 

·      Understands and communicates institutional and program policies, priorities, and objectives where appropriate.

·      With input from leadership and staff at The People’s House, scholars, Rubenstein Center Director, and other key colleagues conceptualizes and drafts compelling letters of interest, concept papers, proposals, and reports to ensure high quality, readability, a consistent voice, and adherence to funder guidelines, interests, and agreed-upon deliverables; prepares and monitors theories of change, performance frameworks, metrics, and annual reports to evaluate progress toward achieving goals and objectives. 

·      Maintains an understanding of The People’s House: A White House Experience exhibits and educational capabilities and how they may affect and provide fundraising opportunities for the program. Monitors philanthropic trends as they relate generally to the Association’s work. Maintains an overview and understanding of research projects within the Rubenstein Center, and keeps Development colleagues apprised of program priorities and research areas. 

·      Serves as a major gift officer on the Association Development team; assists in collaboration with the President’s office and other research programs on the development of joint fundraising strategies, approaches, follow up, and materials; and participates in Development Office staff meetings. 

·      Works collaboratively with donor relations professionals to proactively steward and engage WHHA donors. 

Management

·      Serves as an example to other Development colleagues and manages, as requested/assigned, day-to-day fundraising activities of The People’s House: A White House Experience, including engaging colleagues across departments, coordinating space calendars for donor engagements, and maintaining accountability among the team, developing work plans, and providing regular check-in-meetings.

·      In collaboration with Development colleagues, devises and implements outreach strategies for current and prospective donors regarding events and publications to ensure maximum fundraising impact.

·      Provides the Chief Development Officer, Vice President of Individual Giving, the Association President, and other members of Association Leadership with donor information, analysis, and briefings as needed or requested.

·      Engages in professional development through networking, professional conferences and on-line lectures and seminars. 

Education/Experience Requirements:

·      A Bachelor’s degree is required; the successful candidate will demonstrate development/external relations experience.

·      Minimum of five years of experience in fundraising (as the solicitor).

Note:

·      This role reports to the Vice President of Individual Giving.