Careers at FREOPP: Director of Development

About FREOPP

The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), founded in 2016, is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank improving the lives of Americans on the bottom half of the economic ladder using freedom, innovation, and pluralism. All research conducted by FREOPP considers the impact of public policies and proposed reforms on those with incomes or wealth below the U.S. median.

FREOPP is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and also has offices in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit FREOPP.org.

Why work at FREOPP?

FREOPP is a small and growing organization where you, as an individual, can have a major impact on our success. We care about making sure that our team members have the opportunity to learn new skills and take on new responsibilities. And FREOPP is doing meaningful work that has, to date, improved the lives of over 150 million Americans.

About the position

FREOPP seeks a Director of Development to help take its already thriving fundraising operations to the next level. As the Director of Development at FREOPP, you will be responsible for cultivating relationships with individual donors and foundations to secure major gifts and grants in support of our research and advocacy efforts. The ideal candidate will be highly organized with exceptional relationship-building skills.

The Director of Development will report to FREOPP’s co-founder and president, Avik Roy, who National Review has called one of the nation’s “sharpest policy minds.” Roy is best known for his work on free market health care reform. Hugh Hewitt has described him as “the most influential conservative analyst on health care,” and Ben Shapiro has called him “the leading scholar in America” on that topic.

The Director of Development can be based in FREOPP’s headquarters in Austin, its Washington, D.C. office, or in a major fundraising area (San Francisco Bay area, Texas, Florida, New York City, Boston).

Responsibilities

The Director of Development’s responsibilities will include:

Major donor cultivation

• Identify and research potential donors, including individuals and foundations aligned with FREOPP’s mission and values. Working closely with FREOPP’s president and chairman of the board to identify and cultivate relationships with key prospects.
• Develop and implement cultivation strategies to engage potential major donors, including personalized communications, meetings, events, and other stewardship activities.
• Cultivating donor relationships through in-person visits, phone calls, and correspondence.

Fundraising strategy, proposal development, and grant management

• Implementing and continually updating the organization’s fundraising strategy.
• Create compelling fundraising proposals and cases for support tailored to individual major donor prospects and existing donors.
• Researching, writing, submitting, and managing foundation grants
• Conduct thorough prospect research to gather information on donor interests, giving capacity, and connections to inform cultivation strategies and proposal development.

Donor stewardship and relationship management

• Provide exceptional stewardship to existing major donors, ensuring timely and personalized acknowledgment of gifts and regular updates on the impact of their contributions.
• Work closely with the Chief Research Officer to gather project updates, impact stories, and research findings to share with major donors and engage them in our work.
• Track and maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, and relevant information in the CRM.

Collaboration and teamwork

• Collaborate with the Leadership Team to align major gifts efforts with overall fundraising goals and strategies.
• Provide support and assistance in other development activities, including donor events, annual giving campaigns, and fundraising for the annual conference.
• Managing the relationship with the outside development vendor.

Requirements

The ideal candidate for the Director of Development role will possess the following attributes:

• 5+ years of professional experience in a related field, including significant experience in fundraising, development, or grant management. We will consider candidates with less experience for alternate development positions.
• Understanding of and exposure to the myriad components involved in a successful development operation.
• Dedication to FREOPP’s mission of improving the lives of Americans whose incomes or wealth are below the U.S. median.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts in a clear and compelling manner.
• Exceptional organizational skills with keen attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in using donor management systems and other fundraising software.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and the willingness to challenge the status quo.
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engage and inspire donors.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for donor meetings and events. Estimated travel: 25%; will vary based on location and experience and qualifications of the candidate.

How to apply

Qualified candidates should submit their application materials through the form below, including résumé, cover letter, references, LinkedIn profile, and Twitter account (if available).

As noted in the instructions, your cover letter should detail the reasons why you are a strong candidate for this position, why you believe in FREOPP’s mission, and your geographic preferences. Your three references should include email addresses, telephone numbers, and relationship to the candidate.

Only direct applications through this form will be considered.