Lead Development Officer

Job Description

The Thomistic Institute is looking for a Lead Development Officer to work in our D.C. office. Principal responsibilities include:

1. Oversee all Thomistic Institute fundraising efforts by developing and executing short- and long-term fundraising plans in close collaboration with the Director, including supervision of at least one TI team member.
2. Serve as the primary steward of TI's donor pipeline, overseeing donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship across all giving levels.
3. Identify, research, and solicit prospective donors through wealth screening, strategic outreach, and representation of TI at external events and gatherings.
4. Partner closely with the Director in donor relations and outreach, including the preparation of donor reports, tailored updates, campaign materials, and briefing documents.
5. Supervise TI direct mail and email appeals (with primary responsibility held by another team member); coordinate the production of TI newsletters; and oversee gift processing and donor acknowledgements.
6. Write grant proposals in coordination with the Appeals and Grants Coordinator; prepare reports for awarded grants; and administer grant-awarded funds.
7. Exercise primary responsibility for maintaining the TI donor database (Salesforce), with support from technical staff.
8. Plan, manage, and execute TI fundraising events, including donor receptions and cultivation events; assist as needed with other TI programs such as summer conferences and academic events.
9. Represent the Thomistic Institute at events by introducing programs, speaking on behalf of TI to explain its mission, and presenting the core principles of the Catholic faith and the Catholic intellectual tradition.

Important traits & skills:

1. At least 4 years of experience in development and fundraising, demonstrating responsibility, good judgement, and strong interpersonal and organizational skills
2. At least a B.A. degree or its equivalent
3. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, thrives working with people and building relationships
4. Organized, responsible, self-motivated, comfort and precision in handling project logistics
5. Knowledge of the Catholic intellectual tradition and motivation to spread the faith by intellectual evangelization
6. Expertise in Salesforce, Excel, and/or Pardot is a plus

The Thomistic Institute is a research institute of the Pontifical Faculty of the Dominican House of Studies and an apostolate of the Dominican friars of the Province of St. Joseph. The person holding this position will represent the Director and the Dominican friars in public, will bear witness to and teach the Catholic faith, and will at times participate in Catholic prayers. Applicants must be practicing Catholics in good standing who assent to and profess the Catholic faith in its entirety as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

This position is a full-time, in-office position in Washington, D.C., and requires full-time residency in the greater Washington D.C. metro area.

As part of the position, the Lead Development Officer will be entitled to take one course (free of charge) per semester at the Dominican House of Studies (e.g., M.A. level classes in philosophy or theology), during office hours. Class time is considered part of the work day and does not need to be made up later.

All members of the TI team are encouraged to participate in the regular liturgical life of the Dominican friars (e.g. step away from work for Mass, the daily midday rosary, the divine office, etc.).

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Benefits:

1. Medical benefits and a retirement plan.
2. Two weeks of paid vacation; in addition, TI employees receive paid leave for most public holidays and Catholic Solemnities (e.g., the Triduum, St. Joseph's Day, Immaculate Conception), plus approximately two weeks for the Christmas/New Year's holiday.

Questions? Contact Ms. Katarina Federici at kfederici@dhs.edu or (202) 495-3871. TO APPLY GO TO: https://thomisticinstitute.org/lead-development-officer

About the Employer

The Thomistic Institute exists to promote Catholic truth in our contemporary world by strengthening the intellectual formation of Christians at universities, in the Church, and in the wider public square. The thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Universal Doctor of the Church, is our touchstone.

The TI is an academic institute of the Pontifical Faculty of the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.