Director of Development

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

Position Summary:

The director of development plans and implements a strategic fundraising program to increase philanthropic giving and expand the portfolio of donors for the American Physical Society (APS). The director leads a team and works closely with APS leaders, colleagues, and volunteers to secure gifts and grants in support of APS priorities. The Development team is charged with identifying new prospects; cultivating foundations and individual prospects and donors; soliciting and stewarding gifts; and partnering with APS leaders to develop a compelling narrative and set of gift opportunities to support APS’s priority goals. The director should be highly motivated, enthusiastic about science, and able to deploy development experience to build an even more successful department.

APS has a “remote first” concept that promotes equal treatment and equal access within the United States, independent of physical work location, with a majority of staff working primarily from home. APS values diversity and welcomes candidates from a variety of backgrounds.  APS offers a dynamic work environment with an outstanding total compensation package, including salary, outstanding benefits, and excellent paid time off.

Key Responsibilities:
 

• Directs APS fundraising efforts by planning and executing a robust and comprehensive fundraising strategy. 

• Takes the lead to cultivate, solicit, and steward individual and foundation prospects and donors, in collaboration with APS Leadership, APS colleagues, and volunteers. Models a proactive approach for prospecting and building relationships with donors and prospects.  Develops new and creative ways to inform and engage them. 

• Brings expertise in effective fundraising practices and standards to increase the effectiveness of the Development Department, including tracking of prospecting efforts as well as progress in the solicitation process; introducing a more proactive prospecting effort; and creating and managing a development advisory board. 

• Supervises and mentors the Development staff 

• Stays abreast of legal and tax requirements related to fundraising, and other developments in the field.

• Drives the development of a clear and compelling narrative for prospects and donors, which represents funding priorities of the APS leadership. 

• Provides comprehensive planning, budgeting, and implementation of short- and long-term goals for the development effort through the annual preparation of a department budget and operating plan.

• Works with the Finance Department to report gifts and pledges.   Works with the CEO, APS Board and Council, and other colleagues and committees involved with activities supported by Development funds. 

• Other duties as assigned.

Scope & Relationships:

• Reports to the Chief External Affairs Office (CEAO)

• Internal interactions with CEO, CFOO, Finance Staff, Director of Programs & Inclusive Practices, Director of International Affairs, Director of Public Affairs, Head of Public Outreach, Director of Communications, Director of Membership, APS Honors Program Manager, Presidential Line and APS Board & Council, APS Unit Leadership

• External relationships with corporate leadership, Foundation Directors and Staff, Education and Other Related Organizations and Associations, fundraising and planned gift professional development groups, and consultants, as appropriate

• Two direct reports 

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required.

 

Experience: 

• Minimum of 8 years of proven, successful, work experience in development.

• Minimum of 4 years of experience in front-line fundraising and a track record of successfully cultivating and stewarding major donors.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Preferred experience in building a culture of philanthropy within a nonprofit organization. 

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, facility with donor management software systems, and familiarity with Salesforce preferred.

• Ability to manage a comprehensive donor-focused major gifts program to cultivate and solicit major gifts, both current and future, from a large pool of prospects, while also leading annual fund appeals and managing a planned giving element. 

• Ability to thrive in a multi-faceted and complex environment, and to work well with interdepartmental teams as well as independently.

• Experience in educating and motivating volunteers and staff and in interacting with high level leaders.

• Ability to understand and appreciate the APS mission and culture, and to effectively represent APS and its programs to various audiences including corporate leadership, foundation staff, APS members, and other organizations or associations interested in related activities.

• Ability to travel during the year to visit with donors and prospects and to attend APS meetings. 

• Superior interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

• Strong organization and prioritization skills, as well as excellent attention to detail.

• Strategic planning and staff management skills.

Travel:
 

• The position requires travel up to 25% to relevant events and conferences, client sites, representation at key meetings and events, and through leadership activities with like-minded organizations as well as to APS office located in Washington DC, and other offsite locations for periodic meetings, training, and strategy sessions.

Salary:
 

• The salary range for this position takes into account various factors influencing compensation decisions, such as skill sets, experience, training, and other business and organizational requirements. The salary listed within the specified ranges considers relevant experience. Our compensation philosophy at APS aims to maintain salaries at the midpoint of the market. As a result, we typically hire within the target starting range. Exceptional, rare cases may merit reviews above target starting range for specialized or niche skills aligned with strategic operational goals.

 

• Hiring Range: $188,000/year - $256,150/year (USD) 
• Target Starting Range: $188,000/year - $209,150/year (USD)

Amazing 2025 Benefit Offerings:

• Flexible schedules and ability to work remotely
• 8% employer-paid retirement contribution
• Investment advisement services: 100% employer paid
• Medical benefits: PPO or HDHP option
• Employer contribution to FSA or HSA account, eligibility based on medical plan enrollment
• Lifestyle Spending benefit up to $2000.00 (USD) - 100% employer paid
• Dental benefits:  individual coverage 100% employer paid
• Vision benefits: individual and dependent coverage 100% employer paid
• Basic Life & Accident insurance: employee coverage 100% employer paid
• Supplemental Life & Accident insurance, including spouse & dependent child(ren) coverage
• Disability insurance:  employee coverage 100% employer paid
• Voluntary Accident & Critical Illness insurance
• Healthcare, Commuter & Dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Vacation: 15 days annually
• Generous holiday leave: 17 paid days of significance; includes one week closure at the end of December
• Personal leave: 4 days annually
• Volunteer leave: 1 day annually
• Sick leave: 10 days annually
• Bereavement & Compassion leave: 2 -15 days based on loss
• 12 weeks employer-paid family leave
• College tuition reimbursement plan
• Job related seminar & continuing education
• Professional Certification/Recertification 100% employer paid
• Training and professional development; access to LinkedIn Learning on-demand courses
• Employee Assistance Program
• Mindfulness Meditation: live and on-demand classes
• APS does not offer relocation assistance/costs