Associate Director, Individual Giving & Donor Relations

Full-time FAS staff

Washington, DC or San Francisco, CA

Why FAS?

Does FAS sound like an organization that you would be energized to join? Is it aligned to your values?

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) takes quite seriously our role as a beacon and voice for the science community.

FAS has a rich history: after the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, a group of atomic researchers – deeply concerned about the use of science for malice – created an organization committed to using science and technology to benefit humanity.

The group they created – the Federation of Atomic Scientists – soon became the Federation of American Scientists in recognition of the hundreds of scientists across diverse disciplines who joined together to speak with one voice for the betterment of the world.

Today, we are a group of entrepreneurial, intrepid changemakers, forging a better future for all through the nexus of science, technology and talent. We value equity, inclusion, and transparency. As a collective, we are building an organization focused on being impact-driven, customer-focused, and growth-oriented as a force for good in the world.

Skills and Expertise: Must Haves

Skills

A track record of building: you've designed fundraising strategies where none existed, or led significant expansion of an individual giving program, and translated those strategies into measurable revenue growth.
Fluency with high-net-worth donors: you know how to earn trust with people who have many options for where their philanthropy goes, and how to make the case for unrestricted giving.
Executive-level relationship skills: demonstrated experience partnering with a CEO and Board and representing an organization's credibility in the room.
Strategic range: equally comfortable designing a multi-year giving strategy and personally closing a six-figure gift.

Expertise

10+ years of major gift fundraising experience, with the relationships, reputation, and substantive fluency in relevant issue areas to be credible with sophisticated donors.
Demonstrated success in planning, designing, implementing, and executing fundraising strategies, with a particular focus on cultivating high-net-worth individuals.
Deep experience managing an active major gifts portfolio through all stages of the donor lifecycle.
Proven ability to steward relationships and work effectively with donors, board members, and constituents from a variety of backgrounds.
Understanding of and commitment to professional fundraising ethical standards, donor confidentiality, and sound stewardship practices.
Database fluency (Salesforce, WealthX, RelSci or equivalent) to bring rigor and pipeline discipline to a function being built from scratch.
Excellent written communication skills, including experience developing proposals, correspondence, and briefings.
Demonstrated ability to identify and engage new prospective donors when an established pipeline does not yet exist.

What this role will do

A strong candidate who will qualify prospects, manage a portfolio, and develop the right cultivation and solicitation strategy for each donor. You’ll build multi-year giving plans and engage FAS’s executive leadership and Board strategically to advance donor relationships and giving opportunities. As the sole operator of individual giving, you’ll need to be a self-directed builder who can develop and manage the program end to end.

To Sum It Up…

This is an inaugural role; you will build a system from the ground up.

FAS has never had a dedicated major gifts function. The opportunity in front of you is to design and stand up the individual giving strategy that will fund FAS's next chapter. You'll have the mandate, the executive access, and the runway to build a donor pipeline, a stewardship philosophy, and a fundraising culture at a storied organization.

Reporting to the Director of Partnerships and working closely with the CEO and Board of Directors, you will lead the development and execution of FAS's individual giving and major gifts portfolio as a core component of the organization's broader fundraising strategy, with a specific focus on securing unrestricted funding that supports FAS's strategic priorities and enables the organization to move quickly on the issues that matter most. In your first two years, success looks like:

A durable pipeline: a qualified, multi-year individual and major donor pipeline that gives FAS predictable, growing unrestricted revenue and supports measurable fundraising goals.
A donor base built on trust: high-net-worth individuals who understand FAS's role in the policy ecosystem well enough to become long-term partners.
A fundraising infrastructure that scales: the systems, stewardship cadence, and institutional muscle memory for individual giving that let this function grow well beyond what one person can carry alone.
A stronger FAS brand in philanthropic circles: elevated visibility among individuals who care about science serving the public interest.

If you want to build something from the ground up, join us!

Work Environment

This position may be hybrid or remote depending on ultimate position location. Much of the work will involve relationship building and meeting with prospective donors and funders across the country. Travel is required; the anticipated travel will be discussed during the hiring process.

Salary Range

$145,000 - $160,000

Benefits

FAS offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that supports employees’ health, financial security, and overall well-being. Benefits include a competitive 403(b) retirement plan, medical, dental, and vision coverage, short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, employee assistance support, pre-tax benefits such as healthcare and dependent care FSAs, and commuter benefits.

Hiring Statement

Don’t check off every box? Apply anyway! Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every listed qualification. At FAS we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and developing new voices. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway – you might just be the right candidate.

The Federation of American Scientists is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. The Federation of American Scientists prohibits discriminating against employees and job applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose the compensation of the employee or applicant or another employee or applicant. Employment is contingent on successful verification of eligibility to work in the United States.

Associate Director, Individual Giving & Donor Relations