Advancement and Outreach Officer, Strategic Development

American Councils for International Education; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Job summary

American Councils for International Education is seeking an organized Advancement and Outreach Officer to support strategic growth and funding diversification in Washington, DC. You will help research prospects, draft proposals, and coordinate donor materials, connecting program expertise to funding opportunities while handling multiple projects in a fast-changing environment.

Ideal candidates bring strong writing skills, keen judgment, and attention to detail, with the ability to collaborate

Qualifications

• A degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong writing and editing skills; able to communicate clearly.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and priorities.
• Ability to develop strong relationships with individuals and organizations important to advancement.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Interest in international education, global development, or nonprofit work.
• Strong interpersonal skills and collaboration across teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

Responsibilities

• Support fundraising and strategic development initiatives to diversify funding.
• Participate in donor briefings, proposal and donor‑adjacent outreach, and materials highlighting program impact.
• Contribute to cross‑cutting strategic initiatives and pilot projects as needs evolve.
• Draft, edit, and coordinate proposals, concept papers, and donor submissions.
• Assist with proposal organization, deadlines, inputs, and compliance requirements.
• Conduct research on foundations and philanthropic partners aligned with priorities.
• Track funder relationships and engagement activities.

Skills

Writing & editing

Project management

Relationship building

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Cross-team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Job description

Position Summary

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $55,000 - $65,000 salary/year

American Councils for International Education is seeking a highly organized, intellectually curious, and adaptable Advancement and Outreach Officer to support the organization’s strategic growth and funding diversification efforts. This role supports the Strategic Development team in advancing new opportunities across U.S. government agencies, foundations, corporate partners, and philanthropic donors.

This Role Is Ideal For Someone Who

• Enjoys managing multiple projects and shifting priorities as new opportunities emerge.
• Thinks strategically but is also highly detail‑oriented and deadline‑driven.
• Learns quickly and is comfortable navigating ambiguity.
• Takes initiative, asks smart questions, and figures things out.
• Likes connecting dots between proposal development, fundraising, research, and outreach.

The Advancement and Outreach Officer contributes across the full lifecycle of opportunity development, from researching and tracking funding prospects, to supporting capture and relationship‑building efforts, to drafting and coordinating proposals, concept papers, and donor materials. This role is designed for someone who enjoys moving between proposal development, fundraising support, research, and communications as organizational priorities and the external funding landscape evolve.

Working closely with colleagues across business development, communications, and fundraising, the Advancement and Outreach Officer helps translate programmatic expertise into compelling funding opportunities and narratives. The ideal candidate is not defined by years of formal proposal management experience, but by strong writing skills, excellent judgment, attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast‑changing environment.

Position Responsibilities

Fundraising, Strategic Development, & Communications Support

• Support Strategic Development initiatives aimed at expanding and diversifying American Councils’ funding base.
• Participate in donor/partner briefings, proposal and donor‑adjacent outreach, and materials highlighting program impact and organizational strengths.
• Contribute to cross‑cutting strategic initiatives, pilot efforts, or special projects as organizational needs and opportunities evolve.

Proposal Development & Capture Support

• Support the development and coordination of competitive proposals, concept papers, and donor submissions for U.S. government agencies, foundations, and other funding partners.
• Draft, edit, and refine proposal content and supporting materials; compile inputs from program and leadership teams.
• Assist with proposal organization and management, including tracking deadlines, coordinating inputs, and supporting compliance requirements.
• Contribute to early‑stage capture efforts by reviewing funding announcements, conducting background research, and supporting proposal planning discussions.

Foundation & Philanthropic Prospecting

• Conduct research on private foundations, corporate giving programs, and philanthropic partners aligned with American Councils’ mission and program priorities.
• Support outreach and engagement with prospective funders through preparation of concept notes, briefing materials, and tailored background research.
• Assist in tracking funder relationships and engagement activities.

Qualifications

• A degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and priorities.
• Ability to develop strong relationships with individuals and organizations important to organizational advancement.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Interest in international education, global development, or nonprofit work.
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfort collaborating across teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

Preferred

• Experience supporting communications, research, or strategic initiatives.
• Experience with fundraising, donor engagement, proposal development, or business development.
• Familiarity with U.S. government or foundation funding.

Benefits

This position is eligible for healthcare benefits.

American Councils is committed to providing employment opportunities for all individuals, in accordance with current federal regulations. Our focus is on ensuring that all individuals have equal access to employment and advancement opportunities based on merit.

American Councils’ commitment to employment opportunity is driven by federal requirements, including Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act (supporting individuals with disabilities) and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) (protecting covered veterans). We also ensure our employment practices comply with all applicable regulations, including E-Verify requirements for work eligibility. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace where all individuals have the opportunity to succeed and grow, in full compliance with federal law.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.