Director, Institutional Giving (Job ID: 2025-3706)

Overview

Join one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.

We bring together leading experts in government and academia from all over the world, rooted in open-minded inquiry and representing diverse points of view, who provide the highest quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis. Research topics cover a full range of public policy issues in economics, foreign policy, development, governance and metropolitan policy.

With fair and transparent business practices, clear communication, mutual respect, and a collaborative atmosphere that offers both professional and personal development opportunities, Brookings offers an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the efforts of all contributors.

The Office of Development manages fundraising across the institution. Focused on a constituency based fundraising model, our team works directly with the research programs and executive office to set an overarching fundraising strategy that supports the important work of our scholars.

In Brookings Development, we aim to: 

• Build and nurture relationships with donors and prospects to raise critical financial resources in support of the institution’s fiscal health and to advance the mission of Brookings.  
• Safeguard Brookings’s institutional values of Quality, Independence, and Impact. 
• Amplify the impact of our scholars’ research and steward our donors’ generosity with compelling and innovative programming for our donor groups. 
• Support our Board of Trustees in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities to protect and sustain the institution. 
• Partner closely with our colleagues across Brookings by providing best in class fundraising and fundraising operations to benefit all research programs. 
• In everything we do, strive for excellence, act with integrity, communicate with honesty, show respect and collegiality, be proactive, collaborative, creative, and solutions oriented. 

Position Location: This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of at least two days of remote work each week.

Responsibilities

Ready to contribute to Brookings Success?

The Director, Institutional Giving will lead and manage strategy, activity, and staff of Foundation Giving for the Foreign Policy (FP) research program. As a member of the FP foundations leadership team, the Director will play an integral role in setting the strategic direction for long-term, sustainable growth. The Director will build and oversee an integrated approach to stewarding and growing foundation and government giving, specifically for FP. The Director will identify prospects, cultivate relationships, and develop written proposals and materials for solicitation and stewardship. The Director will work with their fundraising colleagues to leverage relationships and enhance fundraising efforts throughout the Institution.

Strategy and Foundation Giving (100%)

• Work with the Managing Director, Institutional Giving to implement and manage an integrated, strategic, and sustainable annual and multi-year foundation fundraising program for FP.
• Set and lead the FP development strategy to not only secure and renew foundation and government funding, but also to move donors through the “pipeline” toward larger, more transformative gifts.
• Partner with the Managing Director, Institutional Giving and other development colleagues to leverage Brookings’s overall partnership with current and potential donors, particularly as it relates to institutional donors.
• Oversee strategy for engagement with foundations and government funders, coordinating closely with the appropriate colleagues on building strategies and agendas for meetings and other related activity.
• Collaborate with development colleagues to ensure strong communication and coordination with prospects, strategies, events, and engagement.
• Develop and meet/exceed annual and multi-year fundraising targets to support FP’s strategic programmatic priorities.

• Manage a personal portfolio and travel in support of qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of foundation donors, as well as to identify additional prospective institutional donors through engagement with current donors.
• Identify fundraising opportunities and research new prospects.
• Build relationships with FP scholars to maintain a current understanding of relevant research topics and how they may be positioned to generate fundraising opportunities; represent FP and/or its scholars in meetings with institutional prospects and donors; provide briefings and follow-up for donor meetings to FP leadership and scholars.
• Write and/or edit/submit concept notes, solicitation letters, and proposals, coordinating closely with the appropriate scholars; edit concept notes and proposals drafted by scholars to ensure compliance with institutional policies, consistency with other documents, and relevance to donor interest and intent.
• Work with FP scholars and the Institutional Giving grants team to draft and/or direct the production of institutional grant reports and impact reports. Submit or deliver reports to donors, as appropriate.
• Works with the finance team to track deliverables and manage grant modifications or special reporting needs. Liaises with funders to obtain grant modifications and extensions, as needed.

Qualifications

Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications:

Education/Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.  Minimum of 6 years of successful fundraising experience with foundations required.  Demonstrated experience in developing fundraising strategies; proven history of outright solicitation for gifts of at least $100,000 from foundations.  A record of success in meeting financial goals, analyzing and identifying problems, and formulating creative solutions.  Experience developing solid working relationships with a senior leadership team, high-level volunteers and donors.  Experience working in complex organizations. 

Knowledge/Skill Requirement

Comprehensive understanding of institutional development (including foundation and government fundraising, funding vehicles, and encompassing the management of fundraising information systems, prospect-research, stewardship and related activities). Ability to conceptualize, plan and implement a strategic approach to building relationships and securing philanthropic support from foundations and government agencies; setting realistic goals, prioritizing activities, soliciting gifts and orchestrating the involvement of institutional leadership. Strong oral and written communications and listening skills.Articulate, persuasive, polished and sophisticated with ability to successfully interact with high-level individuals in diverse settings.A collegial style and an appreciation for the work of Brookings scholars and the vital national policy questions their work addresses; Must be a team player who welcomes collaborative decision making. Strong project management, analytical, and organizational skills: leading, negotiating and delegating abilities while managing multiple projects and deadlines and maintaining disciplined adherence to program goals. Decisive, diplomatic, tough and resourceful while possessing professional maturity, credibility, patience, good judgment, honesty, integrity and trust; able to motivate others. Energetic and willing to work hands-on in developing and executing a variety of fundraising activities ranging from routine to the highly creative and visible.

Additional Information 

What can we offer you? Brookings provides a generous benefit package that is comprehensive and includes both traditional benefits and unique offerings. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision benefits, generous time off, and workplace flexibility. For more information, please visit Brookings Benefits.   

Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please attach your cover letter and resume as one document when you apply. Please note: if you have applied to more than one Brookings job opening you should add a position-specific cover letter as a separate attachment. 

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for employment at Brookings. 

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms, including diversity of experience, thought, and personal background.  We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. All selection decisions are based upon merit, skills, abilities and experience.

Please Note: Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.