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The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) seeks to hire a full-time regional development director. This senior member of FDD’s development team will report to the senior director and be responsible for managing and growing a high-value donor portfolio across the Tri-State NYC region.

This role requires a seasoned fundraising professional with deep experience securing significant five- and six-figure gifts, cultivating sophisticated philanthropic partners, and driving strategic revenue growth.

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial, highly strategic relationship-builder with strong fluency, or the ability to quickly gain fluency, in foreign policy and national security issues, exceptional donor-management skills, and the ability to represent FDD with credibility at the highest levels.

This position will work closely with senior development leadership, FDD policy experts and scholars, and donor relations and events teams to engage with high-capacity donors and prospects.

• Key Responsibilities
  • Strategic Portfolio Leadership
    • Lead, manage, and grow a robust portfolio of major donors and prospects across the Tri-State NYC region.
    • Develop and execute multi-year cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies aligned with FDD’s organizational priorities.
    • Meet and exceed annual revenue goals through disciplined portfolio management, strategic solicitation, and pipeline development.
    • Conduct proactive, high-touch outreach to deepen donor engagement and clearly communicate FDD’s impact and priorities.
  • High-Level Donor Engagement & Relationship Management
    • Serve as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for major donors, prospects, and philanthropic partners.
    • Strategically plan, schedule, and facilitate donor meetings with FDD senior leadership, scholars, and experts.
    • Prepare tailored donor strategy briefs, research, meeting materials, proposals, and personalized follow-up communications.
    • Manage complex donor conversations and navigate sophisticated philanthropic expectations with discretion and professionalism.

• Event Leadership & Regional Engagement
  • Represent FDD at high-level donor programs, private briefings, parlor meetings, and regional events throughout the Tri-State NYC area.
  • Identify and develop opportunities to convene donors and prospects for high-impact engagements that strengthen relationships and advance giving.
  • Partner closely with events and operations teams to ensure seamless execution of donor-facing programs tied to portfolio strategy.

• Collaboration & Organizational Alignment
  • Work closely with senior development leadership to design and execute major gift strategies and regional growth plans.
  • Collaborate across investor relations, donor experience, policy, research, and operations teams to ensure cohesive stewardship.
  • Coordinate internally on upgrades, proposals, impact reporting, and long-term donor cultivation efforts.
  • Contribute to team-wide strategy discussions, best practices, and the continuous refinement of development processes.

• Qualifications
  • 7-10 years of professional fundraising experience, with direct responsibility for securing five- and six-figure gifts.
  • Demonstrated success managing a sophisticated donor portfolio within a competitive philanthropic landscape.
  • Strong working knowledge of foreign policy, national security, and geopolitical issues, or the ability to gain fluency quickly.
  • Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-management skills.
  • Highly strategic thinker capable of developing customized cultivation and solicitation pathways.
  • Comfortable engaging high-capacity individuals, including business leaders, philanthropists, and senior national security stakeholders.
  • Proven ability to work independently, manage complex priorities, and execute with precision in a mission-driven, entrepreneurial environment.
  • Exceptional organizational discipline, judgment, and attention to detail.
  • Willingness and ability to travel regularly throughout the Tri-State NYC region and to Washington, DC.

• Application Requirements
  • Resume
  • Cover letter
  • Portfolio examples

FDD is an equal opportunity employer. If you require an accommodation in order to apply for this position, please contact Jean Thurman at [email protected] or (202) 207-0190.

This is a remote position that requires regular travel throughout the Tri-State NYC region and occasional travel to FDD’s Washington, DC, office. This role has a projected salary band of $175,000-$225,000 per year, based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications. Additional benefits are available, including health care coverage based on eligibility. Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply here.

FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on foreign policy and national security. For more information, please visit FDD.org and follow FDD on X @FDD.

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply here.

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The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) seeks to hire a full-time Regional Development Director. This member of FDD’s development team will report to the Senior Director and be responsible for managing and growing a high-value donor portfolio based in Chicago, with coverage across the greater Midwest region.

This role is ideal for a driven fundraising professional with experience securing five- and six-figure gifts, cultivating philanthropic relationships, and contributing to strategic revenue growth.

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial, relationship-oriented professional with strong communication skills, the ability to develop fluency in foreign policy and national security issues, and a commitment to representing FDD with credibility and professionalism.

This position will work closely with development leadership, FDD policy experts and scholars, and donor relations and events teams to engage high-capacity donors and prospects.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Management & Growth

• Manage and grow a portfolio of major donors and prospects based in Chicago and across the Midwest.
• Execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies aligned with FDD’s organizational priorities.
• Work toward annual revenue goals through consistent outreach, relationship management, and pipeline development.
• Maintain regular, high-touch engagement with donors and prospects to communicate FDD’s work and impact.

Donor Engagement & Relationship Management

• Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned donors and prospects.
• Coordinate and support donor meetings with FDD leadership, scholars, and experts.
• Prepare donor briefings, background materials, and follow-up communications.
• Support proposal development and donor strategy execution.

Regional Engagement & Events

• Represent FDD at donor programs, briefings, and small events throughout Chicago and the broader Midwest.
• Help identify opportunities to convene donors and prospects for meaningful engagement.
• Partner with internal teams to support the execution of donor-facing events tied to portfolio strategy.

Collaboration & Team Integration

• Work closely with development leadership on portfolio strategy and growth opportunities.
• Collaborate across donor relations, events, policy, and operations teams to ensure strong coordination.
• Support internal processes related to donor tracking, proposals, and stewardship.
• Contribute to team-wide best practices and development efforts.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of professional fundraising or relevant relationship-management experience.
• Experience supporting or securing five- and six-figure gifts.
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships and advance donor engagement.
• Interest in foreign policy, national security, and geopolitical issues, with a willingness to develop deeper expertise.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and operate in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Self-starter with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Willingness to travel regularly within the Midwest and periodically to Washington, DC.

Application Requirements

• Resume
• Cover letter

FDD is an equal opportunity employer. If you require an accommodation in order to apply for this position, please contact Jean Thurman at [email protected] or (202) 207-0190.

This is a remote position based in Chicago, requiring regular travel throughout the Midwest and periodic travel to FDD’s Washington, DC office. This role has a projected salary band of $120,000–$160,000 per year, based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications. Additional benefits are available, including healthcare coverage based on eligibility.

FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on foreign policy and national security. For more information, please visit FDD.org and follow FDD on X @FDD.

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply here.

Apply

FDD seeks a full-time U.S. military officer to serve as a Visiting Military Officer in its Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP). The officer must be able to commit to a 6-month or 1-year fellowship. Some officers can conduct short-term fellowships for as little as 6 weeks, depending on several variables. Fellowships can be in person in Washington, D.C. or a partially remote hybrid arrangement. It is the officer’s responsibility to obtain permission from the respective service to conduct the fellowship.

Each officer’s fellowship experience and research are curated to build on their experience and support their professional goals. Upon completion of the fellowship, participants are invited to join FDD’s National Security Network (NSN), a nonpartisan mentorship and leadership development program for mid-career national security practitioners.

The successful applicant will have the rank of O-3 to O-6 and seek to gain research experience on issues related to U.S. defense policy and strategy.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research related to the defense strategies, policies, and capabilities necessary to deter and defeat threats to the freedom, security, and prosperity of America and our allies and partners;
• Author and co-author analytical pieces for publication in newspapers, journals, and online outlets;
• Discuss research at events, both organized by FDD and in outside venues;
• Plan, execute, and attend meetings and briefings, as well as networking and professional development opportunities; and
• Support the day-to-day research and work of CMPP.

Qualifications

• U.S. military officers between the rank of O-3 (Captain/Lieutenant (Navy)) – O-6 (Colonel/Captain (Navy));
• A graduate degree in a relevant discipline;
• Demonstrated excellent analytical, research, and writing skills; and
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

Interested and qualified applicants should apply here.

To view current internship opportunities, visit us here.

About FDD’s internship program

Based in downtown Washington, D.C., the Foundation for Defense of Democracies has a number of internship opportunities available during the spring, fall and summer semesters. All FDD interns will have the opportunity to participate in a twice-monthly speaker series, which brings high-level DC officials and senior staff members to engage with interns in an intimate setting. FDD interns will be encouraged to build on their academic skills by working closely with senior staff. FDD is also happy to assist students who wish to earn academic credit for this internship. All interns are eligible for a stipend and will be required to complete specific government documentation before this stipend is paid. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. It is recommended that interested candidates submit applications early.

Please specify the department(s) for which you would like to be considered (feel free to indicate preferences) in your cover letter. While you may use the same cover letter for multiple positions, please submit a separate application for each position of interest. Incomplete applications will not be considered. For general inquiries, email: [email protected].

Eligibility

• Must have at least a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• Should have a relevant course of study and have completed coursework in any of the following fields: International Relations, Security Studies, History, Communications, Journalism, International Economics, Political Science, Computer science, and/or a relevant STEM field of study.
• Interns should have knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, including Word, as well as basic Excel skills.
• Must be able to commit to a minimum of 22 hours per week.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Application Materials Required

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover letter (Please review our website and include which FDD projects and issue areas resonate with you and why. Also indicate where you found this internship and your availability for the semester.)
3. Writing sample (no more than three pages)
4. Unofficial transcript copy