Development Director

~ American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1980 that acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. ~

ACEEE’s overarching goal is to reduce US energy consumption in half by 2050 and lay the groundwork to apply new tools and methods to realize further large-scale energy savings. Energy efficiency is the most cost effective, cleanest, and least wasteful path to greatly reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

ACEEE carries out its mission by conducting in-depth technical and policy analyses; advising policymakers and program managers; working collaboratively with businesses, government officials, public interest groups, and other organizations; convening conferences and workshops, primarily for energy efficiency professionals; and educating businesses and the public through reports, conference proceedings, media outreach, and its website.

With around 50 staff members, ACEEE’s organizational culture is collaborative and team-oriented with a strong commitment to its mission. This is demonstrated through an energetic pace within a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment. There is a high degree of workplace flexibility, with an emphasis on results, making ACEEE a pleasant place to work.  

Position Overview

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a leading national research organization based in Washington, DC, seeks a Development Director. 

ACEEE realizes about 20% of its annual revenues from conferences, while foundation grants, including grants from the Energy Foundation, Tilia Fund, Kresge Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Surdna Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, among others, comprise more than half of ACEEE’s income. Grants from federal and state governments, research contracts, and contributions comprise about 25% of ACEEE’s revenues.

To date, the organization has had limited support from individual donors. Fundraising activity is decentralized with the executive director, research director, and program directors all having a role. A successful corporate affiliates program is managed by the organization’s federal policy director.

Responsibilities 

The development director, under the supervision of the chief operating officer, will coordinate the organization’s fundraising activities and pursue new revenue areas and growth strategies. 

In particular, the development director will:  

• Develop and implement a three-year fundraising plan to address annual and long-term needs of the organization, increasing and diversifying the organization’s base of support
• Implement a more systematic and coordinated approach to foundation prospect research, proposal development, and stewardship
• Communicate grant opportunities to staff and provide support in developing proposals
• Assist and support the growth of the corporate affiliates program
• Create and execute an individual donor program, attracting new individual donors with an emphasis on major gifts and growth of the organization’s planned giving program
• Develop a fundraising plan to sustain ACEEE’s student scholarship program
• Engage board development committee members and staff in research, identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewarding of donors
• Increase the visibility of giving to ACEEE, including developing donor communications
• Lead effort to develop a system encompassing all fundraising information, including foundation, corporate sponsors, and individual donors, and building on the existing 120,000+ contact database
• Ensure that gift processing systems are maintained in an accurate and timely way to ensure appropriate recognition and support to donors and accurate donor data tracking 

Skills/Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree
• At least five years of proven experience in successful nonprofit fundraising
• Experience implementing, tracking, and evaluating development strategies
• General fundraising expertise with experience coordinating multiple activities
• Knowledge of foundation development and/or major gifts preferred
• Innovative, entrepreneurial, well-organized with attention to detail
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to inspire others
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Experience utilizing fundraising software and contact database
• Expertise in data analysis as it pertains to fundraising
• Grant-writing experience preferred; marketing skills or social media fundraising a plus
• Familiarity/experience working on energy or environmental issues is preferred but not required; at a minimum the successful candidate will find the field of interest and be capable of developing a general understanding

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Compensation: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience, and includes ACEEE’s generous and flexible benefit package, which includes health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance coverage; a 403(b) retirement plan; transportation and bike share benefits; three weeks’ vacation in the first year and four weeks thereafter.

Timing: Preferred start date October 2015

To Apply 

Please use the email below to send a resume with cover letter. Please use “Development Director” in the subject header. We do not accept calls about available positions. 

~ The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination with regard to race, sex, color, age, religion, creed, class, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability. ~