WHHA - Associate Vice President, Development Strategy and Operations

Company: ThinkingAhead
Location: Washington
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

White House Historical Association - AVP, Development Strategy and OperationsWashington DC

Organization:White House Historical Association (WHHA)

Organization:White House Historical Association (WHHA)

Department:Development

Job Title:Associate Vice President, Development Strategy and Operations

Supervisor:Sarah L. Fosdick, Chief Development Officer

Location: Washington, DC

Founded in 1961 by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, The White House Historical Association is the non-profit 501c3 focused on the preservation of the Executive Mansion and the White House art and historic furnishings collection. The Association serves the public and learners of all ages through our robust educational offerings including the White House History Teacher Institute, our online game "Brief the Chief", Digital Library, and wide variety of public programming. As a non- partisan organization, we work with and honor the legacies of First Families of all political backgrounds and affiliations.

In the fall of 2024, the White House Historical Association opened The People's House: A White House Experience. Adjacent to the west side of the White House complex, this new center tells the story of the Executive Mansion, its inhabitants, and the people who have dedicated their careers to its functions - a working office to the executive branch of government, a world stage to global diplomacy, and a home to the first family. Free to the public, The People's House: A White House Experience can impact 250,000 visitors each year and many more through its virtual programs.

Associate Vice President of Development Strategy and Operations
This position is a newly created key leadership role for the White House Historical Association and will lead, mentor and manage a team of (4+ direct and 5+ indirect) staff members with extensive partnerships across the entire 25 person department. The Associate Vice President of Development Strategy and Operations will lead the processes and programs that successfully execute the fundraising operation at the White House Historical Association (WHHA). Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Associate Vice President (AVP) of Development Strategy and Operations will manage the teams of staff that are responsible for development events, strategic donor communications, prospect and event marketing, prospect management, research, database, reporting, gift processing, gift agreements, finance, and all development operations.

The AVP will partner with the Vice President of Individual and Institutional Giving and the front-line fundraising teams - including all Stewardship functions - to advance annual revenue goals by acquiring new donors and ensuring retention of existing donors through the delivery of an excellent donor experience. The AVP will identify areas of opportunity for impacting acquisition and retention through development operations and will grow the skills of their teams to drive measurable improvements in fundraising.


Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Evaluate, strengthen, and continually assess the technical skills and staff capacity in the development operations areas of:
  • Finance and Development Operations
  • Philanthropy Events and Event Marketing
  • Prospect Management and Research
  • Database and Reporting (Salesforce)
  • Gift Processing
  • Gift Agreements
  • Strategic Donor / Prospect Communications and Marketing
  • Donor Acquisition
  • Membership and Donor Services
  • Identify and implement process improvements to increase WHHA revenue outcomes from events and philanthropy. Some programs and processes in the areas of Development Strategy and Operations may already be in place, needing improvement, while others need to be newly created.
  • Collaborate with Development leadership to accomplish shared annual goals as one united development team.
  • Facilitate collaborations with the front-line fundraising team on critical partnerships including donor acquisition, membership, gift agreeements, donor messaging, donor events, etc.
  • Hire, manage, and develop direct report(s) and their team members to grow the impact of development operations on overall fundraising success.
  • Coordinate with fellow leadership outside the Development department across the White House Historical Association operations, marketing, research, education, publishing, and leadership teams.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.
    Qualifications:
    
    • Bachelor's degree is required.
    • Ten years of relevant professional experience in Development Strategy and Operations or Advancement Services roles is required.
    • Knowledge and skills in multiple areas of Development Strategy and Operations is required.
    • Experience hiring, managing, and developing direct report(s) across various fields of development operations / advancement services is required.
    • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholder colleagues to achieve shared goals is required.
    • Demonstrated ability to build and assess a program to produce results in a fast- paced environment with attention to detail is required.
    • Exceptional communication, presentation, and organizational skills are required.
    • Willingness to work occasional evenings and/or weekends and occasionally travel for donor and prospect work is required.
      Salary Range:
      $200K - $225K
      
      Benefits:
      Plan outline will be provided.
      
      
      Location: Work is conducted by the team in person at the office, located off Lafayette Square. The team may access a flexible occasional remote work policy as is necessary.
      
      
      For Information or To Apply:
      The White House Historical Association has retained the services of ThinkingAhead Executive Search's Nonprofit Division to serve as our recruitment partner. If you are qualified and interested, please apply here on the ThinkingAhead website.
      
      Questions can be directed to:
      
      Kay Linder
      Partner, Nonprofit Division
      ThinkingAhead Executive Search
      klinder@thinkingahead.com
      
      Heather Campbell
      Partner, Nonprofit Division
      ThinkingAhead Executive Search
      hcampbell@thinkingahead.comReach out to learn more or nominate a qualified candidate.Upload your cover letter here (optional)
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Keywords: ThinkingAhead, Tuckahoe , WHHA - Associate Vice President, Development Strategy and Operations, Executive , Washington, Virginia