Development Officer

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, D.C. Our mission is to equip decision-makers with nonpartisan research and policy strategies to create a more prosperous and secure country and world.

To advance our mission, we are committed to the following four goals:

• Develop economic growth strategies for a changing world
• Expand economic and social opportunity for all
• Revitalize U.S. democratic institutions
• Advance peace and security worldwide

At the core of our mission is the quality, independence, and impact of our research. We are dedicated to finding bold, pragmatic solutions for societal challenges through open-minded inquiry, diverse perspectives, and holding ourselves to the highest standards of scholastic rigor.

Beyond the pursuit of excellence and intellectual rigor, Brookings places immense value on creating a supportive and collaborative environment where every individual can do their best work, learn, and grow. Because of this, Brookings has been at the forefront of public policy for more than a century.

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’ 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.

Please Note: This position is included in the staff bargaining unit, Brookings United, affiliated with the IFPTE Local 70 union, and is covered under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

Responsibilities

Ready to contribute to Brookings’ success?

The Development Officer is a member of the Corporate Giving team and develops and implements strategies to raise funds and manage donor relations. Reporting to the Managing Director, Corporate Giving and in coordination with scholars and the greater Development team, manages, prioritizes, and carries out the Corporate Giving team fundraising activities. The Development Officer will develop and execute a plan including both revenue growth and solicitation and acquisition of new donors, with a focus on acquisition strategies and securing new funding from corporate donors. The Development Officer maintains detailed awareness of institutional policies and guidelines, as well as professional best practices, and operates consistently within this framework.

Fundraising and Donor Relations (70%)

• Works in coordination with the Corporate Giving team to create and implement fundraising strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate donors. 

• Manages, implements, and tracks day-to-day fundraising operations of their portfolio. Advises scholars on fundraising opportunities. 

• Identifies fundraising opportunities and researches new prospects for support; assesses the potential and capacity of existing and prospective donors.

• Strategize with colleagues on the corporate giving team to identify expanded giving opportunities with current donors.  
• Moves corporate donors through the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship process, including meeting with donors, identifying and arranging meetings with Brookings scholars, preparing talking points and briefings, managing correspondence, and serving as the primary contact for grant negotiations and gift agreement processes. 
• Represents the work of scholars to current and potential funders. Maintains and stewards relationships with prospects and donors.  
• With the input of scholars, conceptualizes, writes, and submits concept notes, solicitation letters, and proposals, and supports scholars on assembling relevant proposal materials. Coordinates with scholars and edits documents to ensure high quality, readability, a consistent voice, and adherence to individual donor guidelines, interests, and programs.  
• Collaborates with colleagues in development and research programs on fundraising efforts. 
• Plans and implements events, meetings, and other outreach opportunities for prospects and donors; prepares principals and follows-up with participants.   
• Works across the corporate giving team to coordinate approach on donors with multiple giving streams.
• Work with other constituency teams to coordinate gift conversations, events, and stewardship as needed.  

  Tasks in Support of Fundraising (30%)

• Works with scholars and staff to draft and/or direct the production of grant and stewardship reports.   

• Works with colleagues in Development, Finance, and the Office of General Counsel on the review and negotiation of grants agreements with corporations. 

• Safeguards Brookings reputation and independence by carefully implementing corporate giving policies.  

• Partners with the Development Services team to maintain complete files on fundraising activity in Raiser’s Edge NXT, including correspondence with donors, meeting notes, proposals, and background information.

• Partners with scholars and program staff to track grant deliverables and manage grant modifications or special reporting needs; liaises with the funders if modifications or extensions are needed. Works with the Managing Director to track the progress of scholars toward completing tasks consistent with commitments made to funders.   

• Monitors philanthropic trends as they relate generally to Brookings's work.

• Monitors corporate giving trends and important developments by industry.  

• Maintains an overview and understanding of research projects within portfolio.   

• Works to develop pipeline of corporate prospects for individual scholars, centers, and programs.  

    

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 Requirments

Minimum two years of related experience required. Excellent communication. Database and spreadsheet skills, including the ability to enter and manipulate data. Interest in global issues and familiarity with fundraising in a non-profit environment is preferred.

Knowledge/Skill Requirements  

Excellent interpersonal, organizational, administrative, and communication skills required. Must be attentive to detail, proactive, discreet and dependable. Must be able to exercise good judgment, take initiative, function independently and work in close cooperation with others. Must be able to coordinate a variety of tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, meet deadlines and consistently follow up on details. Must be a positive team player and communicate clearly and politely in person, over email and on the phone. Maintain professional conduct, demeanor, and attire, particularly as it pertains to donor-facing and institutional events. Ability to occasionally work non-standard hours to staff events, including extended periods of standing and carrying light to midweight (typically 25 pounds or less) supplies required. Knowledge of Microsoft Office and the capacity to quickly learn other types of software, including Adobe InDesign and Raiser’s Edge is required. Excellent grammar, spelling, proofreading, and editing skills, and the ability to research information and compile it into a concise briefing.

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.  We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, 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.

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