The American Society on Aging seeks an energetic, strategic and collaborative leader to fill the new position of Director of Development and Strategic Alliances. This is a unique opportunity for an innovative and passionate executive to lead and enhance ASA’s philanthropic and collaboration efforts, at a time when the issues related to aging are so visible and timely.

Reporting directly to the President and CEO, and serving as a member of the executive team, the Director is responsible for providing leadership and strategic vision for all aspects of fundraising, working in collaboration with the Vice President of Education. This position is responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive strategic alliance and fundraising program that builds and maintains a secure programmatic and financial foundation to support the organization’s overarching mission and strategic priorities.

Role and responsibilities

• Provide dynamic leadership to fundraising and strategic alliance efforts. Assess the organization’s fundraising potential and, building upon the organization’s current fund development plan, craft a multi-year strategic funding plan that includes ways to build the funding base, increase unrestricted and restricted funds from all constituencies, and ensure internal resources are appropriately leveraged, bringing together senior staff, development staff, and Board members and other members of our volunteer leadership as a cohesive and cooperative unit to meet the ongoing challenges of broadening and diversifying philanthropic and collaborative support.
• Systematically identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new individual and donors and sponsors capable of making significant contributions to the ASA. Educate them about ASA’s mission and programs, and develop specific strategies and tailored cases for support.
• Maintain existing donor relationships and deepen those alliances through regular, relevant communications and stewardship. Provide comprehensive, timely and innovative stewardship; elevate the importance of stewardship in order to strengthen donor interest in, satisfaction with, and commitment to ASA.
• Personally cultivate and solicit major and principal gifts from a portfolio of current and prospective corporate, philanthropic, and other donors, both individual and institutional.
• Provide a high level of support and open communication to the Board of Directors on development-related activities in ways that inspire them to action and strengthen their ability to help the organization through these efforts.

A Relationship Builder and Collaborator

• The Director will be skilled at building and sustaining excellent relationships at multiple levels with varied constituencies. Those constituencies include ASA’s Board of Directors, other volunteer leaders, donors, the staff leadership team, corporate and community leaders, and others. The Director will have an inspirational approach to building collaboration and buy-in and generating support from stakeholders, including corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. S/he will be a charismatic, high-energy leader who can talk with all constituents and successfully convey ASA’s competencies, capacity, reach and potential for impact.

ASA seeks a seasoned fund raising, collaboration, and business development professional who is capable of clearly articulating opportunities related to, and raising funds for, the organization’s mission. The Director must be a strategic and creative thinker, persuasive communicator, and excellent team player.

An ideal candidate will bring the following professional experience and personal characteristics:

• A personal passion for and commitment to the mission, as well as an appreciation and understanding of its important role in serving professionals in the field of aging.
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible fundraising and managerial experience in development with a comprehensive knowledge of all areas of business/relationship development, and fundraising, including major, planned, and annual giving, as well as corporate and foundation support.
• Demonstrated ability and experience building on an existing development program, including individual and institutional philanthropy, in such a way that the increased philanthropic revenue becomes transformative for an organization.
• Personal, demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major individual and institutional donors. The ability to inspire high net worth individuals, family foundations, and other foundations to financial leadership.
• A record of creative and entrepreneurial leadership. The ability to mentor and motivate key players across the organization and encourage change and growth, building a stronger culture of philanthropy.
• Demonstrated experience training and working with Board members and other organizational leaders in development related activities, providing them with quality support and intelligence and increasing their comfort with and success in fundraising.
• Success in increasing the effectiveness of a development program through established objectives and performance standards. A keen eye for operational efficiency and optimal use of resources; the ability to plan, monitor, and achieve a budget.
• Proven ability to make effective presentations to small and large groups of people, and the desire and ability to be an effective and engaging spokesperson. Hands on leadership style with a positive attitude and willingness to personally pitch in to all efforts in order to ensure success.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree is preferred.

A Passion for the Mission

The Director will have a passion for the ASA mission and vision and a commitment to diverse communities and the people they serve. S/he will embrace ASA’s culture, while continually innovating to help expand its brand and reach. The Director will also be an empathic, charismatic leader who has strong faith in humanity and treats others with respect. S/he will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics and values; someone who can be trusted without reservation.

NOTE: While the organization is based in San Francisco, consideration will be given to candidates who reside outside the area for a possible remote-work arrangement.