DIRECTOR OF MAJOR GIFTS

About the Claremont Institute: With its mission to "restore the principles of the American Founding to their rightful, preeminent authority in our national life," the Claremont Institute has for over 30 years been a strong and effective leader in the movement for limited government, free markets, and a strong national defense. The Institute has focused on educating those key individuals in government, academia, and the press that have the greatest ability to successfully articulate, uphold, and put those principles of the American Founding into practice. Founded in 1979, the Claremont Institute publishes the Claremont Review of Books, sponsors Publius and Lincoln Fellowships for rising young conservative leaders, and Marshall Fellowships for young lawyers, and administers a variety of public policy programs. The Institute serves a necessary role of teaching the teachers, promoting leadership, and providing the intellectual venture capital for the conservative movement.

Position Summary: The Claremont Institute seeks an experienced development professional to acquire, manage, cultivate, and steward private support, with an emphasis on major gifts from individuals. In collaboration with the Chief Development Officer and the President, the successful candidate will develop and propose strategies for solicitation of major gifts, including: determining ongoing relationships with prospect/donor; recommending specific purpose and level of gift; identifying those to be involved in cultivation and subsequent solicitation; assuring that solicitations are carried out.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
• Carry out all aspects of the gift cycle: (1) initiate contacts with potential major donors; (2) develop appropriate cultivation strategies for them, including working with volunteers; (3) move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure; (4) make solicitations when appropriate; (5) maintain stewardship contacts with donors.
• Maintain an active portfolio of 150-200 prospects for cultivation and solicitation.
• Direct the design of strategies for cultivation and solicitation of major donor prospects.
• Carry out a high volume of personal meetings (12 to 20 per month), and prepare timely reports of activity.
• Develop and propose strategies for solicitation of major gifts, including: determining ongoing relationships with prospect/donor; recommending specific purpose and level of gift; identifying those to be involved in cultivation and subsequent solicitation; ensuring that solicitations are carried out.
• Participate in structuring a comprehensive calendar of activities in support of Development.
• Participate in Development team efforts, including setting individual and overall fundraising goals, and internal planning.
• Ensure success in events management, including the Annual Dinner in honor of Winston Churchill.
• Work with the President, the Chief Development Officer, selected board members and volunteers, and others in the organization to identify linkage, ability and interest of major gift prospects for their solicitation in alignment with the Institute's priorities.
• Support the President and other staff and key volunteers in their major gift work.
• Represent the Claremont Institute in the community as appropriate.
• Travel in the region and around the country. Available to work evenings and weekends according to event-related scheduling.

Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of five years of directly-related progressively responsible work experience with a proven record of successful cultivation and solicitation of large gifts.
• Demonstrated experience on major and principal gift acquisition; familiarity with the Southern California donor community a plus.
• Demonstrated success in securing five to six figure gifts and grants from individual donors.
• Exceptional interpersonal and influencing skills, tact and diplomacy with the ability to develop and maintain cooperative and successful working relationships with volunteers, staff and all donors.
• Possess solid writing skills to prepare clear, concise and effective correspondence, reports and other documents.
• Integrity and fiscal accountability.
• Experience working with volunteers.

Salary range: Commensurate with experience. Compensation package includes health (company paid medical), vacation and sick days, plus more.

How to apply:
To be fully considered for the position, please submit a cover letter and resume, plus salary history, to Ana J. Collisson, Chief Development Officer, at: ACollisson@Claremont.org