Director of Development

Become the Director of Development for the American Library
Association – the world’s largest library association!

 The American Library Association (ALA) will celebrate its
150th anniversary in 2026 with an historic fundraising campaign for
its endowment. You will lead this targeted fundraising effort along
with our senior leadership team. As development director, you would
also develop strategies for major gifts from foundations and
individual donors, implement strategies for increasing giving to
the Association’s ongoing annual fund, and build partnerships to
increase corporate support from our Library Champions.

 The Director of Development leads and coordinates
fundraising efforts to secure capital, endowment, annual, planned,
and special purpose gifts, and identifies grant opportunities and
other sources of funding—with the goal of increasing ALA’s total
philanthropic revenue. The Office of Development secures
philanthropic support for institutional priorities by engaging,
cultivating, soliciting, recognizing, and stewarding current and
prospective donors; and works collaboratively with ALA units and
stakeholders to advance the development effort.

 Key Responsibilities Include:

Supporting the Chief Advancement Officer’s work on the
executive team

• Provide strategic recommendations to the Chief Advancement
  Officer for the planning, implementation, evaluation, and
  administration of all fundraising activities.
• Plan and facilitate major fundraising initiatives in
  collaboration with the CAO and the ALA Executive Director, and
  other members of the ALA leadership team.
• Support the CAO’s  efforts to Increase ALA visibility and
  position the ALA as an organization worthy of support.
• Supplement the CAO’s role on the ALA executive team to advance
  the Association’s overall goals that include fostering a culture of
  philanthropy.

 Working collaboratively with external groups to
facilitate fundraising efforts and raise ALA’s profile

• Serve as staff leadership on ALA’s 150th anniversary
  fundraising campaign.
• Establish targets for fundraising campaigns, identify
  prospective donors and develop strategies for securing gifts.
• Work with volunteers and fundraising committees to further
  fundraising initiatives.
• Represent and promote ALA as a speaker, an author, through
  board service or committees, and otherwise.

Managing the ALA Development Office

• Work with staff, grant writers and others to oversee the
  identification and preparation of funding proposals for government,
  corporate, and public and private foundation support.
• Coordinate and facilitate fundraising and fundraising resources
  across ALA units.
• Manage two full-time staff and the Office’s consultants.
• Oversee and plan donor cultivation events.
• Manage the data collection, accounting, and reporting for
  development activities in conjunction with Accounting and other
  units.
• Oversee and improve the infrastructure and technology for
  fundraising.
• Administer the department, fulfilling human resources,
  financial and budgetary, technological, professional development,
  and other requirements and goals.

 This is a regular full-time position based in our Chicago
office.

ALA staff are currently working on a hybrid schedule. 
Please note that although we have a generous telecommuting policy
for our employees, we do not have any truly remote positions in
states outside of our workplace sites. Relocation package
available.

ALA currently requires that employees be fully vaccinated as
defined by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Proof of vaccination will be required on or before
start date. 

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory
completion of a background check and proof of your eligibility to
work in the United States.   

Starting salary range negotiable from the
low 100s, based on relevant experience. ALA has an excellent
benefit package that includes flexible work schedules, medical,
dental, generous paid vacation, a retirement annuity, and a 35-hour
work week. You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan
Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

Closing Date:  Consideration of candidates
will begin May 10, 2024 and continue
until the position is filled. 

FOR CONSIDERATION:

Apply online, including resume and cover letter
detailing your past experience and accomplishments in fundraising
and securing philanthropic support.

Or

Send resume and cover letter detailing your
past experience and accomplishments in fundraising and securing
philanthropic support to:

Lorelle Hopkins

ALA Associate Executive Director, Human Resources

Ref: dirDevOffice

 Email: [email protected]

The American Library Association is an equal opportunity
employer:  Disability/Veteran.

 Your Skills and Talents
Include:

•  Knowledge of fundraising and development
  strategies.
• Experience with fundraising campaigns of at least $10
  million.
• Cultivating major donors ($25K plus).
• Proven ability to develop and foster relationships with people
  at all levels of an organization, and to collaborate and influence
  at a high level.
• Experience with multiple volunteer committees, prospective and
  actual donors, and staff from a range of varying perspectives
• Knowledge and experience with time management, project
  management, and team building.
• Well-developed writing, interpersonal, and organizational
  skills, and public speaking ability.
• Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work both
  independently and in teams, with high personal standards
  representative of ALA’s commitment to excellence.
• Ability to respond quickly to changing business needs and
  priorities in an environment with uncertainty.
• Management experience that includes leveraging new technologies
  to improve operations.

 Requirements Include:

•  A proven track record of overseeing or
  engaging in successful major gift fundraising.
• Learning and adoption of ALA and library perspectives and
  values.
• Ability to sustain a moderate domestic travel schedule.
• Prior supervisory experience.
• Relevant undergraduate degree and 10 years of related
  experience; graduate degree is a plus.
• Based in or willingness to relocate to the Chicago or
  Washington, D.C. areas.

 More about ALA

ALA offers professional services and publications to members and
nonmembers, including online news stories from American
Libraries and analysis of and advocacy on crucial issues
from our office of Public Policy and Advocacy(PPA) located in
Washington, DC. Our main headquarters in Chicago is located on the
Magnificent Mile, Michigan Ave, with other satellite offices in
Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.