Vice President of Development

Position Specification

Army Historical Foundation

Vice President, Development

Fort Belvoir, Virginia (on-site)

ABOUT THE ARMY HISTORICAL FOUNDATION

The Army Historical Foundation (AHF) is dedicated to honoring the American Soldier by preserving and presenting the history and heritage of the United States Army. As the official Foundation of the National Museum of the United States Army (NMUSA), AHF is responsible for fundraising, memberships, and the operational management of Museum attractions. Established in 1983 as a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit, AHF works to engage, educate, inspire, honor, and preserve the legacy of the U.S. Army. With a focus on creating meaningful experiences, AHF brings the Army’s history to life for visitors of all ages while also managing revenue-generating activities at the Museum. As they approach the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Army in 2025 and the nation in 2026, AHF is committed to supporting this historic milestone through special initiatives, new exhibits, and expanded educational programs that continue to honor the service and sacrifice of Soldiers and their families.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

AHF is seeking a dynamic and visionary Vice President of Development (VP) to lead and elevate their fundraising initiatives on behalf of the NMUSA at a pivotal time. The VP will lead the fundraising efforts driving the organization's key initiatives, particularly as it approaches the 250th anniversaries of both the U.S. Army and the nation. This includes spearheading the 250th National Partner Sponsorship, expanding the Legacy Society, and securing resources for high-profile projects such as the Revolutionary War Exhibit and the Nisei Soldier Traveling Exhibit. The VP will oversee a comprehensive fundraising strategy that spans major gifts, corporate sponsorships, annual giving, planned giving, foundation grants, and special events.

In this leadership role, the VP will be responsible for building strategic partnerships, growing the donor base, and executing high-visibility fundraising campaigns that align with NMUSA's mission of preserving and commemorating the U.S. Army’s legacy. The VP will ensure effective collaboration with the Marketing & Communications and Operations teams, align fundraising strategies with organizational objectives, and foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization. This is an exceptional opportunity for a fundraising leader to make a substantial impact and inspire others to join in commemorating these landmark anniversaries. Key responsibilities include:

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Develop and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes the 250th Giving Initiative, driving major gifts, corporate, annual giving and legacy giving to significantly advance NMUSA’s mission.
• Drive growth in the Legacy Society, increasing planned giving commitments, which currently contribute over $18MM toward fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors, executive team, director of NMUSA, and stakeholders to align key initiatives with long-term fundraising and organizational goals.
• Partner with and lead the Development Committee, fostering strong relationships to support strategic initiatives.
• Prepare and present comprehensive fundraising reports to the Board, ensuring that Board members are well-informed and actively engaged in development efforts.

Team Management & Development

• Build and lead a high-performing development team, currently consisting of a Senior Major Gifts Officer, 3-4 Major Gifts Officers, and a Development Associate.
• Oversee annual performance evaluations, set team and individual goals, and foster a culture of collaboration, excellence, and accountability.
• Provide mentorship and professional development to the team, ensuring they have the guidance and resources needed to meet evolving fundraising goals.
• Serve as a dynamic leader who can manage diverse personalities and work styles, fostering an inclusive and supportive team environment.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Lead efforts to expand and diversify the donor portfolio, with a particular focus on securing six- and seven-figure gifts from high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and corporate donors.
• Drive corporate giving strategies, particularly targeting underdeveloped sectors such as veteran-owned businesses and large corporate partners, to unlock new opportunities for funding.
• Oversee the 250th National Partner Sponsorship program, engaging both individual and corporate donors to secure significant support for key initiatives like exhibit marketing, property enhancements, and educational programming.
• Leverage the museum’s vast prospect pool to develop new corporate partnerships, fostering long-term relationships and ensuring strong community and corporate engagement.

Campaign Leadership & Major Initiatives

• Lead the $100MM national fundraising campaign launching in January, focused on the 250th Anniversary of the Army, driving transformative support for NMUSA’s mission.
• Spearhead capital campaign efforts, including securing $5-7MM for the Memorial Garden project, engaging high-profile donors, and leading significant giving initiatives.
• Work closely with the Board to select new Board members, ensuring alignment with overarching long-term goals.
• Oversee strategic fundraising campaigns tied to landmark exhibitions and projects, ensuring alignment with NMUSA’s long-term goals and maximizing donor engagement.
• Manage select high-visibility fundraising events, including the 250th Fundraising Gala and other commemorative initiatives, as part of broader campaign strategies.

Operational Oversight & Grant Management

• Oversee operational aspects of fundraising efforts, ensuring alignment with NMUSA’s goals for the 250th anniversaries and beyond.
• Track and evaluate the performance of fundraising campaigns and events, ensuring financial targets are met and strategic objectives achieved.
• Lead grant outreach to secure funding for major projects like property enhancements, ADA compliance, and new educational exhibits.

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate will bring 10+ years of senior leadership and fundraising experience. They will have exceptional major gift fundraising and relationship building skills, as well as a demonstrated ability to use data to set strategic priorities and achieve ambitious goals. Key experience includes:

• Proven track record of building and growing a fundraising program, including cultivating major gifts and securing corporate, foundation, and government funding.
• Highly skilled and knowledgeable fundraiser with up-to-date knowledge of funding trends, activities, and techniques.
• Strong, inclusive, and transformational manager and leader able to build, motivate, develop, and inspire a team.
• Experience working in close partnership with and advising a President and Board of Directors on fundraising activities.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing high-profile campaigns & events that generate significant revenue and enhance the organization’s visibility and reputation.
• Ability to collaborate with fellow senior leaders on high-level organizational priority-setting and decision-making.
• Familiarity with the philanthropic community and military values in the DMV region.

As a person you are:

• A dedicated and high-energy fundraiser— you love building connections through donor cultivation and bring versatile development knowledge and skillsets.
• An entrepreneurial and results-oriented leader — you have a track record of measurable successes and have built effective systems that advance individual and collective goals.
• A mission and values driven individual— you believe in the power of community to transform lives and are committed to creating inclusive and empowering spaces for all.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $180,000-$200,000 commensurate with experience with generous benefits. Benefits include group health, dental, and vision coverage, with AHF covering 80% of premiums. Employees have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and a 403(b) retirement plan with a 4% employer match.

TO APPLY: Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume using this link.

The Army Historical Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and seeks diversity with respect to race, national origin, religion, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status and physical abilities.

Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume using this link.