The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) connects the world's leading public and private organizations to accelerate biomedical breakthroughs for patients. The FNIH brings together leading scientist to navigate and solve complex human health problems and advance development of new therapies, diagnostics, and potential cures; advance global health and equity in care; and celebrate and train the next generation of scientists.

Established by Congress in 1990 to support the mission of the NIH, the FNIH is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. For more information about the FNIH, please visit fnih.org.

The FNIH is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. The FNIH celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Position Overview:

The alumni relations officer is responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with former employees of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This role involves creating and implementing strategies to engage NIH alumni, fostering a sense of community, and encouraging their ongoing support for the FNIH’s mission. Reporting to the director, annual fund, the alumni relations officer will work closely with the director to design and execute programs that promote alumni involvement and philanthropy.

Key Responsibilities

Alumni Engagement

• Develop and implement a comprehensive alumni relations strategy to engage former NIH employees.
• Plan and coordinate alumni events, both virtual and in-person, to foster community and networking opportunities.
• Engage alumni in volunteer opportunities and events to deepen their connection to the FNIH and encourage philanthropy.
• Create and manage alumni communications, including newsletters, emails, and social media updates.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with alumni to support the FNIH's fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with the director, annual fund to identify fundraising opportunities and strategies targeted at alumni.
• Track and report on alumni giving trends and metrics.
• Work with internal teams, including Communications, Events, and Development, to support alumni-related initiatives.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for alumni inquiries and requests.
• Develop partnerships with other organizations and institutions to enhance alumni engagement opportunities.
• Maintain integrity of program data including entering accurate and up-to-date records of alumni in the database and ensuring all alumni interactions are recorded and tracked effectively.
• Utilize data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement in alumni engagement and giving.

Program Development

• Create and implement new programs and initiatives to engage alumni and encourage their support.
• Assess and evaluate the effectiveness of alumni programs and make recommendations for improvements.
• Develop recognition and stewardship programs to honor alumni contributions and involvement.
• Develop and implement alumni giving campaigns and initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant national and state laws, regulations, and ethical standards in fundraising and donor relations. Stay informed about best practices and industry trends in alumni giving.
• Maintain regular reporting and reconcile income reports with the Finance team.
• Participate in FNIH events and programs.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree required, master’s degree preferred.
• 6 - 8 years’ experience experience designing and executing annual and online campaigns specifically in alumni giving fundraising consistent with CASE standards.
• Proven track record of successful program development and implementation.
• Demonstrated success achieving fundraising goals through alumni programs.

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and engage diverse audiences.
• Excellent organizational, planning, tracking and follow-up skills, plus attention to detail.
• Solid project management skills.
• Proficiency with donor management software (such as Raiser’s Edge), CRM systems, and online giving platforms.
• Focused and motivated self-starter, able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and virtual meeting platforms (Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams, etc.).
• Ability to handle confidential and proprietary information with discretion.
• Passion for the mission of the FNIH and an understanding of the importance of philanthropy in advancing biomedical research and public health.
• Great attention to detail, deadlines, and the ability to review their own work for accuracy.
• Collaborative and interested in meeting with and learning about others.

This is a hybrid position and may require occasional evening and weekend work to support events and donor engagement activities as they may occur. Travel may be required for meetings, events, and donor visits.

At FNIH we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If you are excited about this role and the work of the Foundation, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all the qualifications in the job description, we encourage you to apply nonetheless. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles at FNIH.

The salary range for this position is $95,000 - $110,000 annualized salary.