DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), located in Alexandria, VA, is the leading organization of scientists and healthcare professionals committed to preventing and curing liver disease. They are seeking a Director of Development to oversee the holistic fundraising portfolio at the AASLD Foundation, including major gifts, directed grants, planned/estate giving, digital fundraising, and overall donor engagement. This position is remote with regular travel to AASLD headquarters required. Candidates residing in DC, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, and Florida will be considered. AASLD offers a competitive benefits package, including a 35-hour workweek and generous vacation/holiday leave.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Corporate Partnerships & Development, the Director of Development creates and implements a fundraising strategy, including comprehensive annual campaigns, for the AASLD Foundation, solicits grant support for research and travel awards, and develops relationships with private foundations to support AASLD Foundation programs and initiatives. This position manages relationships with current and prospective donors, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, and seeks opportunities to expand the portfolio and increase giving from current donors. Regular, direct interaction with donors and potential donors nationwide is expected, and direct, independent solicitation of gifts from individuals and institutional donors is core to the position.

The Director is responsible for growing and sustaining donor relationships across multiple channels, driving revenue through innovative fundraising tactics, and engaging donors in meaningful ways. In addition, this position is responsible for effective budget management, working in collaboration with the SVP of Corporate Partnerships & Development. The Director supervises staff whose primary duties are in gift management and individual giving and serves as liaison to the Individual Fundraising Committee. This position requires a strong background in donor engagement and digital fundraising, a strong network including private/family foundations, and a proven ability to drive results through strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

? Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors, focusing on increasing donor retention, engagement, and upgrades.

? Work closely with senior leadership, communications, marketing, IT, and event sales teams to ensure alignment of fundraising strategies and message discipline with broader organizational goals and initiatives.

? Maintain strategic oversight and confidentiality of development efforts.

Budget & Financial

? Develop department budgets and revenue generation to support $5M in programs and awards annually.

? Manage the organization’s resources within budget parameters.

? Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics and manage results against appropriate benchmarks.

? Set and attain fundraising targets and forecast long-term revenue to support organizational stability.

? Collaborate with the finance team to ensure proper use and stewardship of donor funds including gift accounting, reporting, and gift acceptance policies and procedures.

Corporate Support & Fundraising

? In partnership with the leadership team and Foundation Board of Trustees, set donor portfolio goals, evaluate results, and develop new approaches as needed.

? Develop multi-year fundraising strategies and goals for selected donors.

? Recruit and qualify key prospects, including individuals and family foundations, through comprehensive biographical and financial research.

? Establish and carry out donor cultivation and solicitation strategies including personal visits, events, letters, emails, and telephone calls.

? Prepare progress reports, presentations, and funding proposals.

? Oversee the management of individual donor stewardship including gift processing procedures, impact reporting, acknowledgments, and recognition.

? Collaborate with information technology staff to manage fundraising technologies.

Marketing

? Develop a strategic marketing and communications plan and supporting messages to engage donors at every stage of the giving cycle, including cultivating new donors, re-engaging lapsed donors, and retaining existing donors.

? Oversee the segmentation of donors and create tailored messaging and experiences to meet their interests and giving capacity.

? Utilize data and analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of campaigns, track donor behavior, and optimize future messages for higher response rates and ROI.

? Work across the organization to ensure Foundation impact is reflected through key communications.

? Identify marketing content for fundraising materials and develop special targeted appeals (mailings, brochures, flyers, solicitations, etc.).

Other

? Travel to three major events (DDW, TLM, EASL) annually and to donor/stewardship meetings regularly.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

? Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable strategies

? Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to craft compelling donor communications and presentations

? Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills including ability to anticipate future consequences and trends, make decisions congruent with the organization’s strategic direction, mission, and goals, and develop new approaches to solve problems or improve processes

? Excellent project management skills with the ability to determine priorities, develop plans to ensure the achievement of objectives, and allocate time and resources effectively

? Excellent customer service skills and the ability to provide the highest quality products and services that meet or exceed the needs and requirements of internal and external customers

? Interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence to build and maintain effective interpersonal and team relationships with a diverse network of colleagues inside and outside the organization, and with other relevant individuals and groups with whom the organization works (members, the media, other organizations, funders etc.)

? Ability to travel up to 20%

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

? Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, marketing, communications, or a related field

? Minimum of six years of experience in fundraising, with at least three years in a leadership role managing individual giving and/or digital fundraising efforts

? Proven track record of driving fundraising revenue through digital channels, direct mail, and donor engagement strategies

? Proven track record of successful donor engagement, raising funds from diverse sources and growing major gifts

? Expertise in donor segmentation, engagement, and retention strategies, particularly for mid-level donors

? Strong understanding of fundraising technologies, Salesforce, and email marketing tools (e.g., Aquia, Marketing Cloud, etc.)

? Advanced knowledge of Microsoft applications, including PowerPoint and Excel, and comfort with multiple databases

? Understanding of digital marketing trends, social media, online giving platforms, and emerging fundraising technologies

HOW TO APPLY

If you believe you meet the requirements, please submit a resume, cover letter, and two writing samples to the following job link:

Apply to AASLD Director, Development

Additional inquiries and questions can be emailed to Beth Cessna at jobs@cessnasearch.com or contact 202-232-1765.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF LIVER DISEASES (AASLD)

AASLD is the leading organization of scientists and health care professionals committed to preventing and curing liver disease. The organization fosters research that leads to improved treatment options for millions of liver disease patients and advances the science and practice of hepatology through educational conferences, training programs, professional publications, and partnerships with government agencies and sister societies.

AASLD recognizes that each employee’s experiences and perspectives are unique and add value to its ability to serve the membership and community. AASLD is committed to building a fully inclusive, collaborative, and respectful workplace that reflects all the communities it serves. The organization offers a competitive benefits package, including a 35-hour workweek, generous vacation/holiday leave, and retirement contribution.

AASLD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

ABOUT CESSNA & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Cessna & Associates, LLC is a boutique HR consultancy partnering with mission-driven nonprofit organizations. Our goal is to identify the best potential candidates that the market has to offer.

www.cessnasearch.com

About AASLD

AASLD is the leading organization of scientists and healthcare professionals committed to preventing and curing liver disease.

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