Director of Institutional Giving (Remote)

Disclaimer:

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. Remote positions at the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) require quarterly in-person meetings at our office location in Arlington, VA. IHS employees are required to visit the office for a minimum of two weeks per year.

Job Summary:

The Director of Institutional Giving is a strategic leader and highly skilled grant writer charged with growing IHS's foundation and corporate support. Reporting to the Executive Director, this individual leads institutional fundraising strategy, manages a team of institutional fundraisers, and personally cultivates high-value partnerships. In addition to overseeing high-quality proposal development, the Director shapes core messaging and creates adaptable communications that guide the team's outreach. This individual leverages cross-functional collaboration, sharp editorial judgment, and a tech-savvy approach to drive institutional revenue and impact through strategic partnerships with individuals across a broad ideological spectrum.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• 2-4 direct reports.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead and execute strategy to grow institutional revenue, focusing on cultivating high-value partnerships aligned with IHS's mission.
• Serve as messaging lead - developing content frameworks, donor-facing language, and adaptable templates for team-wide use.
  • Write and edit compelling proposals, reports, and correspondence tailored to diverse political audiences.
• Develop and manage a personal portfolio of foundation and corporate donors; represent IHS externally at the executive level.
• Oversee proposal pipelines, workflows, and grant cycles across the institutional giving team.
• Mentor team members in writing, relationship-building, and strategic donor engagement.
• Collaborate across departments (Programs, Academic Research, Finance, Communications & Marketing) to align donor materials with institutional priorities.
• Monitor KPI performance through Salesforce data and dashboards; adjust tactics based on progress toward revenue goals.
• Represent IHS in high-stakes donor conversations, adapting tone and messaging to diverse audiences.
  • Up to 20% travel required.
• Partner with the Executive Director and President & CEO to expand IHS's network of mission-aligned supporters.
• Leverage technology, including CRM tools and emerging platforms like AI/ML, to improve team efficiency and communication.

Required Skills/Qualifications:

• 7+ years of fundraising experience, including institutional giving and grant writing; 3+ years leading and managing a team.
  • Experience in nonprofit foundation relations, especially in policy, education, or thought leadership, preferred.
• Demonstrated success increasing revenue and securing multi-year foundation or corporate commitments; familiarity with grant budgeting and reporting preferred.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills; experience crafting persuasive, voice-aligned proposals and messaging across ideological lines.
• Proven ability to lead content strategy and develop tools for cross-team communications.
• Strong relationship skills with comfort engaging senior-level and ideologically diverse funders.
• Proficiency in CRM systems (Salesforce preferred), with a strong inclination toward leveraging technology and innovation to enhance fundraising efforts.
• Familiarity with classical liberal ideas and the ability to communicate them effectively.
• High emotional intelligence, strong organizational awareness, and the ability to manage competing priorities.

To apply, qualified candidates must submit the following materials (through additional documents):

• Resume
• Cover letter detailing your interest in this position and why the IHS mission resonates with you.

EEO Statement:

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

About IHS:

The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is a think network advancing the principles and practices of freedom in the academy, public policy, and civil society.

Founded in 1961, IHS believes that the liberal tradition has yielded unprecedented freedom and human flourishing. And in this moment, when the forces of illiberalism on both the left and right are gaining ground at an alarming pace, our vision is to spark a new spirit of liberal freedom.

Our Work:

• Cultivating a pool of intellectual talent for partners in policy, civil society, philanthropy, and the academy through $1.5 million in fellowship and career development programs.
• Catalyzing scholarship and academic networks to strengthen the fields of foundational and applied research that matter most to a free society.
• Equipping freedom-focused research centers, think tanks, foundations, and civil society organizations with the research and experts they need to maximize their impact in policy and in communities across the country.

IHS Benefits:

We have a flexible, professional, open office environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship and provides substantial opportunity for professional growth. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. IHS provides exceptional benefits to all employees, including health and dental insurance coverage (which includes paying 100% of the health and dental insurance premium for individuals), health savings accounts, long-term disability and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement savings program, a parking permit and 12 free tuition credit hours annually at George Mason University.

Other details

• Pay Type Salary

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