Senior Specialist, Advancement

The American Council on Education (ACE) is the major coordinating body for the nation's colleges and universities. ACE is a membership organization that mobilizes the higher education community to shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality practices. With a diverse base of member institutions, ACE represents nearly 1,700 college and university presidents and executives, serving as the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting institutions. ACE's mission includes serving 280 minority serving institutions, 25,000 higher education professionals, and 7.7 million students enrolled in colleges and universities. ACE membership extends to all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and 21 other countries. 

The Senior Specialist, Advancement contributes to the development and fundraising activities in the Advancement department, in addition to managing the office administration and operations of the department. Reporting to the Director, the Senior Specialist will independently handle assigned projects that increase corporate and sponsor funding for: ACE’s programs and major initiatives; ACE Connect events, including the ACE Experience; individual giving funds; and membership programs.   

Essential Job Duties or Tasks: 

Fundraising

• Work with the Director and Chief Advancement officer to meet fundraising targets for ACE’s programs, individual giving campaigns, annual meeting, and Affiliate (corporate/foundation) Membership Program.
• Develop donor cultivation and stewardship strategies to strengthen engagement across ACE.
• Provide briefing and other information for prospects to support cultivation efforts.
• Assist staff Council-wide to develop sponsorship opportunities, concept papers, background materials, proposals, and stewardship reports to corporations and annual fund donors.
• Complete special projects as assigned.

Event Sponsorships

• Work with Director and Advancement Specialist to develop and implement strategies to expand sponsorship for ACE Connect events and convenings.
• Cultivate and solicit sponsors for ACE Connect events.
• Work with Advancement team to write text for ACE Connect event prospectuses and public-facing advertisements.
• Work closely with the Specialist position on database and other meeting support activities. 
• Work with Specialist position and finance to coordinate invoicing sponsors for event participation.
• In collaboration with the Specialist position, update and maintain a robust prospect list of potential corporate sponsors.

Affiliate Membership Program

• Work with Director to develop and implement strategies to increase unrestricted contributions to ACE.
• Work with Director to review and revise benefits for the Affiliate Membership Program.
• Increase Affiliate Membership and membership in the affinity groups: Executive Search Roundtable and Thought Leaders Circle
• Supervise maintenance and improvements to ACE's web pages related to corporate relations, including recognition of corporate members and donors.
• Work with Advancement team to carry out stewardship practices with Affiliate Members throughout the year.

Office Management and Administration

• Coordinate calendars of Advancement department members and assist in scheduling meetings and calls.
• Work with Grants Management to maintain the Advancement database/content. management system, assuring that the structure/architecture matches needs of the Council, and work with ITS to enhance its usage as it relates to corporate membership, annual meeting, annual funds and program sponsorships.
• Work with the Specialist position and finance department to ensure all corporate and individual giving records are up-to-date and accurate.
• Produce corporate and individual giving reports as requested.  
• Oversee preparation of materials for Board Reports, the Annual Report and other publications.
• Supervise maintenance of Advancement web page and revise content as necessary.

Education/Experience/Specialized Knowledge and Competency Requirements:

Minimum Requirements:

• 5 or more years relevant experience. Demonstrated commitment to ACE’s values and mission, preferably including some experience in higher education.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience, Masters and/or other advanced degree considered in lieu of work experience.

Other Requirements:

• Demonstrated success in corporate and foundation relations and fundraising: at least 5 years directly related fundraising work to include experience in areas such as sponsorships, grants, annual fund, marketing, corporate social responsibility, etc.
• Experience contributing to sponsorship strategies and planning for conferences or other large-scale convenings.
• Demonstrated understanding of fundraising from corporations including practices related to corporate giving, CSR, etc.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Entrepreneurial, ability to multi-task, and innovative thinker
• Experience working with diverse audiences and constituencies.
• Collaborative working style

Working Conditions/Physical Effort:

This position is open to a hybrid or in-person work schedule. Occasional travel possible.   

We require the selected candidate to live within a 100-mile radius of our building, located at One Dupont Circle NW, Washington, DC 20036.

The American Council on Education is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, disability, matriculation, familial status, genetic information, source of income, place of residence or business, status as a victim of an intra-family offense, credit information, protected veteran status, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking.