Director of Partnerships

Leadership Institute (LI) trains conservatives to lead and win in the public policy process.  Since 1979, LI has trained more than 368,000 conservative activists, students, and leaders.  Today, Leadership Institute graduates serving in elected office include four U.S. Senators, 37 U.S. Representatives, and more than 400 state legislators nationwide.

Leadership Institute's Director of Partnerships advances this mission by leading the major donor fundraising team and strengthening relationships between generous donors and Leadership Institute.  The director reports to the Vice President for Development.

The director manages and mentors a team of Partnership Advisors, sets revenue and portfolio goals, strengthens moves management strategy, and ensures that major donor relationships are cultivated, solicited, and stewarded with excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Major Partnerships Leadership

• Lead, manage, and mentor 5-7 full-time Partnership Advisors responsible for LI’s major donor relationships.

• Set annual and quarterly goals for revenue, renewals, upgrades, donor movement, and portfolio health.

• Implement standards and expectations for donor contact, moves management, proposals, stewardship, and Salesforce documentation.

• Review and approve major donor strategies, proposals, briefings, and stewardship plans.

• Conduct regular coaching, caseload reviews, pipeline reviews, and performance evaluations.

Fundraising Strategy and Revenue Growth

• Maintain a limited personal portfolio of high-level donors and prospects.

• Partner with Leadership Institute’s senior leadership to cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors and transformational gifts.

• Develop and implement the strategy to grow major donor revenue, retention, upgrades, and the number of donors giving at the major donor level.

• Work with Development leadership to set forecasts, track progress, and identify risks and opportunities.

• Oversee donor pipeline strategy, including qualification, portfolio assignment, upgrades, solicitation planning, and stewardship.

Leadership Across the Organization

• Partner with Leadership Institute's programs leadership to identify fundable priorities and present them clearly to donors.

• Help translate LI programs and initiatives into compelling, mission-aligned donor opportunities.

• Support new Leadership Institute initiatives and special projects by shaping donor strategy, funding opportunities, and stewardship expectations.

Qualifications

Required

• 7-10+ years of fundraising experience in political, conservative movement, or other values-based fundraising.

• Proven experience managing fundraising staff, with the ability to coach fundraisers, evaluate performance, set goals, and hold team members accountable.

• Strong understanding of major gift strategy, moves management, donor stewardship, and revenue forecasting.

• Strong personal commitment to Leadership Institute’s mission and values.

• Willingness to travel regularly (up to 20%) for donor meetings, events, and organizational priorities.

Preferred

Strong preference for job candidates available to work from Leadership Institute’s Arlington, Virginia headquarters.  Remote or hybrid work will be considered for exceptional candidates.

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits commensurate with experience.