Philanthropy Officer

About FIRE

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.

About the Position 

FIRE is seeking an energetic self-starter to join our team as a Philanthropy Officer. The Philanthropy Officer will be responsible for managing relationships with FIRE supporters who make annual gifts below $10,000 and will work through various methods to ensure a great donor experience.

The Philanthropy Officer will report directly to FIRE’s Senior Director of Development while working closely with the rest of the development team. Additionally, the Philanthropy Officer will consult with FIRE’s other departments to keep abreast of all programming initiatives. 

The Philanthropy Officer will work from either the Philadelphia, PA, or Washington, DC Office. FIRE operates on a hybrid work schedule, with staff in-office three days per week. The expected start date for this position is as soon as possible. 

Responsibilities

The duties for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Actively managing relationships with donors who give in the $1,000-$9,999 range
• Implementing stewardship plans and coordinating direct outreach efforts to individual donors in partnership with development leadership and team philanthropy officers
• Engaging in regular communication with donors through phone calls and emails to deepen their understanding of, and support for, FIRE’s mission
• Identifying supporters with higher giving potential and working with the team to move them up the donor pipeline
• Identifying supporters for the traveling philanthropy officers to cultivate through in-person meetings and events
• Securing annual renewal or upgrade of gifts through the existing campaign framework or through special outreach to raise the organization’s retention rate
• Running regular reports of donor activity and ensuring accurate tracking of stewardship activities
• Producing regular reports and establishing and maintaining performance metrics including overall portfolio management measurements
• Expected travel for this position is 0-10%; occasional work on weekends and evenings should be expected

Qualifications

A successful candidate will have a good work ethic, be a self-starter, and have the ability to work independently. Most importantly, the candidate must demonstrate a knowledge and passion for FIRE’s mission and an ability to articulate that passion in a way that will make others enthusiastic about our cause. 

A candidate must also possess:

• Four or more years of experience in development, preferably with experience communicating with donors
  • Applicants with non-development-yet-relevant experience in fields like law, policy, or advocacy are also encouraged to apply
• Philosophical alignment with the mission of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• An understanding of how to personalize FIRE’s mission and stories
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Superb organizational skills and the ability to manage a full portfolio of hundreds of individualsThe ability to be a compelling speaker, a good listener, and to think on one’s feet

Preferred, but not required, qualifications:

• A four-year undergraduate degree
• A working knowledge of donor prospecting methods
• A working knowledge of donor database platforms like Salesforce

Salary and Compensation

 Starting salary is negotiable and depends upon experience and education level. FIRE conducts periodic evaluations where employees may receive raises or bonuses for outstanding and excellent work. FIRE also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid comprehensive health, dental, and life insurance; a Section 125 Flexible Spending Account option; matching retirement contributions; and a generous paid time-off plan.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order)  in one PDF document:

• Cover Letter explaining your interest in this position and the mission of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, as well as your salary requirements
• Resume
• At least 2 professional references

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Bailey Drouant, Outreach Manager at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: Bailey@talentmarket.org.

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.