Associate Director of Development

Fulbright Association; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fulbright Association seeks an Associate Director of Development to grow philanthropic support for its Washington, DC-based operations. This hybrid, full-time role focuses on donor engagement, annual giving, sponsorships, foundation support, and development operations for a $1.3 million nonprofit.

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will build a comprehensive fundraising strategy, collaborate with leadership, volunteers, and Fulbright alumni, and drive growth of a growing development

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 4–7 years of nonprofit fundraising or development experience.
• Success building donor, sponsor, or partner relationships.
• Experience coordinating fundraising campaigns and stewardship.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Experience with Bloomerang, Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or similar CRM.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospective supporters.
• Develop and implement donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Conduct donor discovery meetings and qualification calls.
• Prepare donor correspondence, proposals, briefing materials, and stewardship reports.
• Partner with the Executive Director on major donor cultivation and follow-up activities.
• Coordinate donor recognition initiatives and ensure timely gift acknowledgments.
• Lead annual fundraising campaigns including year-end, GivingTuesday, anniversary appeals, and special initiatives.
• Collaborate with communications on fundraising messaging.
• Monitor campaign performance and improve donor participation and retention.
• Support recurring and leadership giving initiatives.
• Research prospective corporate and institutional partners.
• Prepare sponsorship proposals and partnership packages.
• Coordinate sponsorship outreach and steward sponsors.
• Support sponsorship efforts for the Annual Conference and Association programs.
• Research funding opportunities.
• Assist in preparing grant proposals and reports.
• Collaborate with staff on funding opportunities.
• Maintain donor CRM records.
• Track fundraising metrics and campaign performance.
• Conduct prospect research and wealth screening.
• Prepare reports for leadership and the Board.

Skills

Donor relationship management

Campaign coordination

Communication

Organization

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Bloomerang

Salesforce

Raiser's Edge

Job description

Associate Director of Development

Reports To: Executive Director

Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid)

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

About the Fulbright Association

Established in 1977, the Fulbright Association is the U.S. alumni organization of the Fulbright Program. We connect, engage, and support a diverse community of Fulbright alumni, partners, and friends who advance international education, cross-cultural understanding, and global collaboration.

As the Fulbright Program celebrates its 80th Anniversary and the Association approaches its 50th Anniversary, we are investing in the future of our fundraising program to expand philanthropic support, strengthen strategic partnerships, and deepen engagement with our global community.

Position Summary

The Fulbright Association seeks a motivated, relationship-driven Associate Director of Development to grow philanthropic support for one of the world's most respected international education organizations.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Associate Director of Development will help execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy for a $1.3 million nonprofit organization with a focus on donor engagement, annual giving, sponsorship development, foundation support, donor stewardship, and development operations.

This position offers an outstanding opportunity for an experienced fundraising professional who is ready to take the next step in their career. Working closely with executive leadership, Board members, volunteers, institutional partners, and distinguished Fulbright alumni, the Associate Director will gain broad experience across every aspect of nonprofit fundraising while building a growing development program.

The successful candidate is relationship-oriented, highly organized, entrepreneurial, and excited to help shape the future of an organization with national and global impact.

Primary Responsibilities – Individual Giving & Donor Engagement (35%)

• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospective supporters.
• Develop and implement donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Conduct donor discovery meetings and qualification calls.
• Prepare donor correspondence, proposals, briefing materials, and stewardship reports.
• Partner with the Executive Director on major donor cultivation and follow-up activities.
• Coordinate donor recognition initiatives and ensure timely gift acknowledgments.

Annual Giving & Campaigns (20%)

• Lead annual fundraising campaigns including year-end, GivingTuesday, anniversary appeals, and special initiatives.
• Collaborate with communications on fundraising messaging.
• Monitor campaign performance and improve donor participation and retention.
• Support recurring and leadership giving initiatives.

Corporate Sponsorships & Strategic Partnerships (15%)

• Research prospective corporate and institutional partners.
• Prepare sponsorship proposals and partnership packages.
• Coordinate sponsorship outreach and steward sponsors.
• Support sponsorship efforts for the Annual Conference and Association programs.

Foundation & Grant Support (10%)

• Research funding opportunities.
• Assist in preparing grant proposals and reports.
• Collaborate with staff on funding opportunities.

Development Operations (10%)

• Maintain donor CRM records.
• Track fundraising metrics and campaign performance.
• Conduct prospect research and wealth screening.
• Prepare reports for leadership and the Board.

Board & Volunteer Engagement (10%)

• Support the Advancement Committee.
• Prepare committee materials and fundraising reports.
• Assist Board members with donor outreach.
• Coordinate donor cultivation events.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 4–7 years of nonprofit fundraising or development experience.
• Success building donor, sponsor, or partner relationships.
• Experience coordinating fundraising campaigns and stewardship.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Experience with Bloomerang, Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or similar CRM.

Preferred

• Experience in higher education, international education, membership associations, or mission-driven nonprofits.
• Experience with corporate sponsorships or institutional partnerships.
• Grant writing experience.
• CFRE certification or interest in pursuing certification.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $70,000–$95,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The Fulbright Association offers a comprehensive benefits package. Including medical, dental, vison, disability, life insurance and a 403b plan and match.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Fulbright Association is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.