Director of Development

About The Future of Free Speech (FoFS)At The Future of Free Speech, our mission is to reaffirm freedom of expression as the bedrock of free and thriving societies through actionable research, empowering tools, and principled advocacy. We envision a world where everyone’s right to freedom of expression is protected by law and reinforced by a culture that tolerates diverse viewpoints. FoFS is located at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.About the RoleFoFS is seeking a Director of Development to help grow and sustain support from individual donors and foundations who care deeply about free speech, civil society, and democratic values.The Director of Development will be the organization’s primary frontline fundraiser, focused on individual donors and foundations. This is a donor-facing role for someone who is energized by outreach, travel, relationship-building, disciplined follow-through, and clear fundraising accountability.The person in this role will manage a personal portfolio, work closely with the Executive Director on top donor relationships, and oversee a focused body of foundation work, including proposals and reporting.ResponsibilitiesManage a personal portfolio of individual donors, prospects, and selected foundationsDesign and execute a strategic moves-management plan for priority donors and prospectsCoordinate and drive activity for the Executive Director’s portfolio of top donor relationshipsConduct regular donor outreach and meetings by phone, video, and in-personIdentify, research, and qualify prospective individual donors and foundationsDraft donor correspondence, grant proposals, reports, and other fundraising materialsManage foundation proposal calendars, deadlines, submissions, and reportingTrack donor movement, proposal status, and next steps in SalesforcePrepare briefing materials, talking points, and follow-up strategy for donor meetings involving the Executive DirectorCoordinate with internal staff to gather programmatic information, budgets, and supporting materialsSupport stewardship through timely acknowledgment, follow-up, and relationship maintenanceAssist with fundraising-related event outreach and sponsorship outreach for key organizational eventsHelp maintain accurate public-facing giving information across relevant nonprofit and donor-advised fund platformsTravel regularly for donor meetings, conferences, and related fundraising activityPerformance OutcomesBuild and actively manage a disciplined donor and foundation pipelineIncrease the number and quality of donor meetings, particularly with high-capacity individualsMove donor relationships toward meaningful engagement, solicitation, and long-term supportProduce strong, timely foundation proposals and reportsMaintain clear and consistent reporting on donor movement, open opportunities, and next stepsPartner effectively with the Executive Director on top donor relationshipsHelp FoFS raise more money by focusing time and energy on the highest-value opportunitiesWho Thrives HereFundraisers with experience in development, donor relations, foundation relations, or comparable relationship-based revenue workStrong writers who can turn ideas and projects into persuasive communicationsProfessionals who are comfortable asking for support and moving relationships toward a clear next stepPeople who enjoy being out in the field meeting donors and building trustOrganized operators who can manage a portfolio, maintain follow-through, and keep multiple opportunities movingPeople motivated by measurable progress, accountability, and mission-driven fundraisingPreferred Qualifications5+ years of fundraising experience or similar Experience raising funds from high-net-worth individualsExperience managing foundation proposals and reportingExperience with grant writingExperience in a think tank, advocacy organization, media organization, nonprofit research environment, or similar mission-driven settingFamiliarity with free speech, civil liberties, democracy, public policy, or related issuesLocation and CompensationThis role can be fully remote. However, candidates based in Washington, D.C. or New York City are preferred, given the concentration of relevant donors, foundations, and policy networks in those locations, but strong candidates based elsewhere, including in the Nashville area, will be considered. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.Regular travel for donor meetings, conferences, and organizational events will be expected.Annual salary is commensurate with the specific skills and experience of the selected candidate.Benefits include:Medical and dental insurancePaid time off401(k) retirement account with employer match12 paid holidaysFlexible work scheduleHow to ApplyTo apply, qualified individuals should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:Cover letter including:An introductory paragraph describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to the mission of The Future of Free Speech and how you came to those beliefs.Salary requirements.ResumeThe Athos Group is managing this search. Please submit applications to Kéyah Doering via email at keyah@athosed.com with “FoFS Director of Development Role” in the subject line. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.