Gifts Officer (Development, Sr. Specialist)

Who We Are: As a Federation, AIP advances the success of a community of more than 30 independent scientific organizations. They, in turn, support hundreds of thousands of professionals across many scientific and engineering disciplines. AIP creates shared spaces — forums, conversations, connections — where individual action among our Member Organizations becomes collective impact. We want you to become a part of our mission and join our dynamic team!

Summary: 

Reporting to the Development & Grants Officer/Executive Director for AIP Foundation, this person is a key frontline fundraiser responsible for expanding philanthropic support for the organization. The role will manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 100+ prospective donors, including individuals, corporations, and foundations.

This role will focus on identifying, qualifying and cultivating new prospects and unassigned donors while strengthening relationships with existing and lapsed donors. The incumbent will also expand corporate partnerships and foundation relationships by identifying new prospective funders and cultivating strategic, long-term partnerships. Using thoughtful, data-informed strategies the incumbent will guide prospects through the full donor cycle, from identification and qualification to solicitation, stewardship, and ongoing engagement.

Working in close partnership with team leadership, program leaders, and colleagues across AIP, the incumbent will secure support for institutional priorities and programs, including student engagement, history and archives, science policy, and statistical and social science research.

What You’ll Do:

• · Using fundraising best practices, systematically manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 100+ individual, corporate, and foundation prospects and donors.

• Work closely with leadership to develop fundraising strategies, timelines, and revenue projections.
• Through cross-team collaboration, maintain fluency in AIP’s strategic priorities and programmatic funding needs for student engagement, history and archives, science policy, and statistical and social science research.
• Maintain an active schedule of in-person and virtual donor meetings, with regular, primarily domestic travel to engage prospects, donors, and partners.
• Develop compelling gift proposals, impact reports, and other donor-facing materials in partnership with Marketing, Finance, and program colleagues.
• Using prospect research tools and referrals, proactively identify and qualify new mid-level and major gift prospects, with particular emphasis on growing AIP’s mid-level, corporate, and foundation pipelines.
• Support the planning and execution of donor events designed to advance cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship objectives.
• Work collaboratively with staff across AIP, including student program leaders, archivists, science writers, policy professionals, and executives to identify prospective supporters and coordinate engagement strategies.
• Contribute to a collaborative Development team culture that values transparency, accountability, professionalism, continuous learning, and shared success.
• Meet or exceed annual goals and metrics set by leadership
• Use Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT to maintain timely documentation of donor and prospect activity, deliver accurate reporting, and leverage prospect insights.
• Use artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies appropriately to enhance prospect research, donor strategy, productivity, and fundraising effectiveness.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience.
• 5+ years of relevant professional experience with at least two years of frontline fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated experience in corporate & foundation relations and individual fundraising, including the ability to identify and qualify prospects.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to engage effectively with donors, executives, trustees, volunteers, and subject-matter experts.
• Ability to learn quickly and translate complex scientific, educational, policy, or research priorities into clear and compelling donor opportunities.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, with excellent follow-through and the ability to manage multiple relationships, deadlines, and priorities.
• Data-informed and results-oriented approach, with experience working toward measurable activity and revenue goals.
• Strong proficiency with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT or a comparable constituent relationship management system.
• Ability and willingness to use artificial intelligence and emerging technologies responsibly in support of fundraising activities.
• Sound judgment, strategic-thinking, initiative, and a high level of professionalism.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly, primarily within the United States.

TO APPLY: Include a resume and a cover letter. We encourage you to apply even if your experience does not fully match the position description. At AIP, we embrace considering people from a diversity of backgrounds and career experiences.

COMPENSATION:  $91,628.00 - $100,791.00

WORKING AT AIP: AIP embraces a flexible hybrid work environment to balance in-person collaborative work with remote work. The team works in a flexible, hybrid schedule and reports to our offices in College Park, Maryland and Washington, DC, as needed. Employees are required to reside in the DC Metro regions of Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC.
We offer comprehensive benefits, including generous paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, an annual retirement contribution of 10% of base pay, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and more.
Your colleagues at AIP are welcoming, gracious, and eager to help each other succeed. With our commitment to community service, institute-wide social opportunities, and ongoing learning and development, AIP is a rewarding place to work.
ABOUT AIP: Scientific discovery shapes our lives every day. And AIP empowers the organizations and people that make those discoveries possible.
As a Federation, AIP advances the success of a community of more than 30 independent scientific organizations. They, in turn, support hundreds of thousands of professionals across many scientific and engineering disciplines. AIP creates shared spaces — forums, conversations, connections — where individual action among our Member Organizations becomes collective impact.
As an Institute, AIP preserves the history of discovery so the past can guide the future. We study how research is done, who participates, and what holds people back or propels them to succeed. Our findings inform policy, practice, and decision-making across the physical sciences. We are especially focused on the next generation of physical scientists and committed to ensuring talent from anywhere can thrive in our fields.
Humanity needs science. And science needs people and organizations working together to tackle our planet’s toughest challenges. Together, we can advance science, empower scientists, and ensure discovery continues to shape our lives.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Join our team of energized, charismatic, collaborative, and passionate individuals, and contribute to making a difference in the field of physical sciences!