Vice President of Development

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Founded in 1989, Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a higher national priority. The Research! America alliance is comprised of 515 member organizations representing more than 125 million Americans. These member organizations represent stakeholders in basic, behavioral, biotech, clinical, health services, prevention and public health, and therapeutic research from the both the public and private sectors.

With an active and distinguished Board of Directors led by former members of Congress, Research!America leads the movement for strong increased investment in the budgets of the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The alliance is committed to growth in research investment of other federal health research agencies including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Science Foundation. Research! America champions a supportive policy environment for private and public sector research.

Since 1992, the organization has commissioned and released results of 100 national and state polls in an effort to better understand attitudes about research, researchers, and research-based institutions. Research!America hosts high-level research partner forums and media/science forums designed to provide opportunities for dialogue among research leaders in industry, academia, and government, as well as patient advocates and journalists. "Investment in Research Saves Lives and Money" is Research!America's series of one-page fact sheets that highlight the human, financial, and national economic impacts of public and private investments in medical and health research. These fact sheets and other advocacy tools are provided to Research! America members, and in addition, are disseminated to members of Congress, state government leaders, news media, and other influential leaders.

Research!America has four organizational goals:

  • Achieve funding for medical and health research from the public and private sectors at a level warranted by scientific opportunity and supported by public opinion.
  • Better inform the public of the benefits of medical and health research and the institutions that perform research.
  • Motivate the public to actively support medical and health research and the complementary sciences that make advances possible.
  • Promote and empower a more active public and political life by individual members of the research community on behalf of medical and health research, public health, and science overall.

Research!America is currently seeking its first Vice President of Development to create, direct, and implement new and expanding development activities for the organization.

FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

The Vice President of Development will be a member of the senior management team and will be Research!America's chief fundraising executive. The Vice President of Development will build the development function and build and maintain successful relationships with members of the organization's Board of Directors, corporations, foundations, and prospective donors across the country. Working with Research!America's President and Executive Vice President, the Vice President of Development will be responsible primarily for increasing unrestricted support. He or she will develop the fundraising strategy for the organization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Vice President of Development will be expected to:

  • Thoroughly understand Research!America, its mission and policies, culture, values, history, key stakeholders, programs, finances, and how its multiple constituencies and sources of funding can be integrated to generate revenue and increase visibility;
  • Provide strategic focus and tactical direction to the engagement of Research!America's President and Executive Vice President in fundraising activities;
  • Work to expand Research!America's donor base; developing and building a strong diversified fundraising program; including researching and identifying new prospects among major donors and foundations, and pursuing corporate funding;
  • Take the lead in coordinating with relevant staff on the production of foundation proposals, budgets, and required reports;
  • Engage Board members in development activities; staff them when necessary; Ensure that all annual fundraising goals are met; oversee support to maximize efficiency; maintain fundraising schedules, and streamline internal systems when appropriate; and,
  • Stay abreast of philanthropic, economic, and social and community trends related to Research!America; ensure that staff and board are informed of changes in trends and initiatives that might impact the organization.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will have the following experience and qualifications:

  • A minimum of 7-10 years of senior, professional development experience, including significant experience creating and building a development department;
  • Demonstrated ability to establish, maintain and strengthen relationships with significant donors on behalf of an institution, and an understanding of the record keeping and stewardship systems that support a successful donor relations program;
  • Experience with engaging a sophisticated, volunteer board in fund raising activities;
  • An appreciation of the skills and support systems needed to work productively with corporate and foundation supporters;
  • Experience in soliciting gifts for a membership organization and passion for advocacy;
  • Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and describe funding needs in a way that is compelling and comprehensive to the potential donor;
  • The ability to work productively with colleagues (e.g., staff members, academic and business leaders, and members of the research community) on behalf of the fundraising enterprise; and,
  • The ability to organize and prioritize fundraising activities effectively and to guide staff members in managing their particular responsibilities.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Vice President of Development will be:

  • A strategist who is adept at planning, prioritizing, organizing and following through;
  • A superior communicator;
  • Outgoing, straightforward, creative, and self-possessed;
  • A facilitator, collaborator, and coordinator with outstanding leadership abilities and interpersonal skills;
  • An individual with credibility, good judgment, honesty, integrity, trust, and the ability to motivate others in a similar vein;
  • One who shares information readily, listens as well as gives advice and respects the abilities of others;
  • Team-focused, must enjoy and be successful at working on teams and able to roll up one's sleeves and make things happen as an individual;
  • A person who presents a high degree of maturity, sophistication, self-confidence and flexibility; and,
  • Someone committed to and enthusiastic about the mission and vision of Research!America.

Research!America is an equal opportunity employer.

Send résumés to search@dri.cc.