Director of Development

American Indian Higher Education Consortium AIHEC; Alexandria (VA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with match

Holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

AIHEC in the Washington, DC area seeks a Director of Development to lead AIHEC’s comprehensive fundraising program and advance the 2025-2030 strategic plan. You will build a diverse donor pipeline, collaborate with senior leaders, and align philanthropy with AIHEC’s mission to strengthen Tribal Colleges and Universities.

This role requires eight or more years of nonprofit fundraising experience, exceptional writing and relationship-building skills, and the ability to translate complex

Qualifications

• Eight or more years of nonprofit development or related field.
• Proven success developing fundraising strategies and campaigns.
• Experience securing support from foundations, major donors, corporations.
• Experience cultivating senior-level funders.
• Strong proposal development and persuasive writing skills.
• Ability to work with a CEO and senior leadership.
• Understanding of postsecondary education and translating it into funding opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Develop multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with AIHEC’s plan.
• Establish annual fundraising goals and performance measures.
• Budget collaboration with CFO for philanthropic revenue projections.
• Cultivate and steward foundations, major donors, corporations.
• Design donor engagement opportunities including briefings, site visits, and convenings.
• Coordinate proposals, timelines, and internal processes for grants and gifts.
• Oversee development systems and dashboards to track pipeline and revenue.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Proposal development

Relationship management

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Leadership

Job description

Director of Development

Development Full Time Management Alexandria, VA, US

Salary Range: $115,000.00 To $145,000.00 Annually

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) is the collective spirit and unifying voice of our nation's Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). AIHEC advances American Indian and Alaska Native higher education through advocacy, research, member services, and programmatic initiatives designed to strengthen Native languages, cultures, communities and Tribal Nations. Through its unique position, AIHEC serves as a collaborative partner to member institutions and emerging TCUs. AIHEC also publishes the Tribal College Journal (TCJ), a premier national publication highlighting innovations, achievements, and issues impacting American Indian higher education.

Position Summary

The Director of Development leads AIHEC's organization-wide resource development and philanthropic efforts, building and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that advances AIHEC's 2025-2030 strategic plan and strengthens the organization's long-term financial stability. The Director leads efforts to expand and diversify philanthropic revenue, build AIHEC’s prospect pipeline, and develop and strengthen relationships with foundations, major donors, corporations, and other philanthropic partners. The Director also establishes and manages the systems and processes necessary to coordinate funding opportunities across the organization, including prospective private and federal opportunities.

This position works closely with the President and CEO, CFO, senior leadership, and communications to align fundraising priorities with AIHEC’s strategic and financial goals. The Director establishes the relationships, systems, processes, and materials necessary to strengthen AIHEC’s development capacity and position the organization for sustained philanthropic growth.

This position reports to the Chief of Staff.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position may provide oversight, coordination, guidance, and support to interns, temporary staff, consultants, or other project personnel as assigned.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Fundraising and Revenue Planning

• Develop and implement a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with AIHEC’s strategic plan, organizational priorities, and financial goals.
• Establish annual fundraising goals, strategy, and performance measures and regularly assess progress.
• Partner with the Chief Financial Officer and senior leadership in the development of AIHEC’s annual budget, including philanthropic revenue projections, funding assumptions, and assessment of revenue opportunities and risks.
• Conduct ongoing analysis of the philanthropic landscape to identify emerging funders, trends, and significant opportunities relevant to AIHEC and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

Donor and Funder Relationships

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of current and prospective foundations, major donors, corporations, and other philanthropic partners.
• Develop individualized strategies for AIHEC’s priority prospects and funders.
• Partner with the President and CEO on high-level donor and funder engagement, including prospect research, meeting strategy, briefing materials, solicitation planning, and follow-up.
• Design strategic engagement opportunities including funder briefings, site visits, and convenings that deepen understanding of AIHEC and the work of Tribal Colleges and Universities.
• Represent AIHEC with philanthropic organizations, corporate partners, donor networks, and external stakeholders.

Proposal Development and Funding Strategy

• Translate AIHEC’s strategic priorities and programmatic work into compelling philanthropic investment opportunities.
• Lead development of concept papers, letters of inquiry, proposals, presentations, cases for support, and other donor-facing materials.
• Establish efficient internal processes for philanthropic proposal development, including clear timelines, responsibilities, approvals, and deliverables.
• Coordinate with the senior leadership and programs staff to identify, assess, and advance federal funding opportunities aligned with AIHEC’s strategic plan.
• Coordinate the transition of successfully funded projects to the appropriate team members responsible for pre- and post-award administration, implementation, compliance, and reporting.

Development Systems and Organizational Capacity

• Establish effective systems for prospect management, donor records, stewardship, forecasting, and development reporting.
• Develop fundraising dashboards and forecasts that provide leadership with clear information on pipeline, proposals, anticipated revenue, renewals, and performance.
• Maintain a coordinated calendar of proposals, renewals, reports, donor engagement, and stewardship activities.
• Partner with the communications team in the development of a comprehensive suite of donor and funder-facing materials, including AIHEC’s case for support, impact materials, presentations, proposal templates, and other collateral needed to support cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

Qualifications

Required

• Eight or more years of progressively responsible experience and nonprofit development, institutional advancement, philanthropy, or related field.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing fundraising strategies and campaigns that resulted in measurable philanthropic revenue.
• Proven success securing significant support from foundations, major donors, corporations, or other philanthropic partners.
• Experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding senior-level funders and donors.
• Strong proposal development and persuasive writing skills, including experience developing cases for support, concept papers, and major funding proposals.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a CEO, senior executives, and program leadership.
• Strong understanding of postsecondary education and the ability to translate complex organizational and programmatic work into compelling funding opportunities.

Preferred

• Experience with Tribal Colleges and Universities, Tribal Nations, and/or Native organizations.
• Knowledge of national philanthropy and funders supporting higher education, Native communities, workforce development, health, agriculture and natural resources, language and culture, information technology or related fields.
• Experience with a national membership association, higher education organization, or other multi-institution organization.

Core Competencies

• Relationship Building: Develops and sustains strategic relationships that advance organizational goals. Builds trust quickly, networks effectively, and establishes credibility with diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic Thinking: Sees the big picture and aligns development efforts with long-term organizational priorities. Anticipates future opportunities and identifies trends and risks.
• Communication: Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Writes compelling proposals, delivers persuasive presentations, communicates with diplomacy, and adapts messaging to varied audiences.
• Initiative and Resourcefulness: Acts proactively to identify and pursue opportunities. Demonstrates self-motivation.
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrates awareness, respect and effectiveness when working with diverse communities and stakeholders. Shows respect for Tribal communities and cultures. Builds inclusive partnerships.
• Accountability and Results Orientation : Maintains focus on achieving measurable outcomes and fundraising goals. Sets ambitious objectives, monitors progress and takes ownership of outcomes.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to communicate information and ideas, detect, determine, perceive, and observe details, particularly on a screen or on paper.
• Ability to spend more than half of the time viewing computer monitors.
• This position may require remaining in a stationary position 50% or more.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and in writing.
• Ability to travel independently and attend off-site meetings and events as required by business needs.

Job Location and Travel

• Hybrid within the Washington, DC area.
• Travel up to 25% for meetings, conferences, site visits, training, and partner engagement activities.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary Range: $115,000-$145,000 annually
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (Company Paid)
• Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance (Company Paid)
• Life Insurance (Company Paid)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with 6% Employer Match, subject to plan eligibility requirements
• Holidays and Paid Time Off

AIHEC’s personnel policies, procedures, and practices prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin, age, or sex. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws. If you require accommodation during the application process or in performing essential functions of the role, please contact Human Resources.