CSA is the umbrella non-profit for four bi-partisan membership organizations – Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, Mission: Readiness, America’s Edge, and Shepherding the Next Generation – all working toward the common goal of increasing effective investments in children and families that make our nation stronger in the future. Our members – law enforcement leaders, retired military leaders, business leaders, and faith leaders respectively – are extraordinarily effective at reaching policy-makers to help win major victories for kids. Together with allies, we work to ensure that every child has access to proven programs that help them get the right start in life: early education, childhood nutrition, voluntary home visiting, help for troubled youth and other programs that help at-risk children. We have more than 60 staff in the national office and 10 state offices.

An ideal candidate should have at least two+ years experience in reviewing research to extract useful data and draw important conclusions. We are seeking candidates who excel in written communication, including experience writing for policy makers or the public /lay media. The candidate should be conversant with research methods and statistics and be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

Major Responsibilities:

• Critically review and synthesize research to develop conclusions, supporting evidence and key data points that show the wisdom of investing in effective programs for kids.

• Search websites and contact experts in the field to supplement the research with additional necessary data, such as the number and percent of children served by particular programs in a state.

• Consult with our policy staff in order to make sure our reports and briefs are up to date and accurately reflect our policy asks at the local, state, or federal level.

• Consult with our communications and policy staff to make sure their products (op-eds, letters to the editor, policy letters) reflect the most current, accurate research.

• Prepare wording and graphics for our reports and briefs that effectively and succinctly summarize the findings from our research and service inquiries.

• Answer research questions from our staff, the media, funders or policy makers.

Qualifications

Candidates must have:

• A minimum of two+ years experience in research, graphics, and writing for a media and/or policy audience

• Excellent writing and editing skills

• A working knowledge of research methods and statistics

• A working understanding of economics

• High degree of initiative, creativity and problem-solving skills

• Ability to effectively multi-task and successfully meet deadlines

• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team

• Excellent web searching skills

• Effective oral communication skills

• Experience working in a policy or research field that impacts children and youth

• Familiarity with the legislative process.

Candidates should have an understanding of one or more of these fields:

• Early Education

• K-12 Education

• Criminology

• Nutrition

• Mental Health and Substance Abuse

• Public Policy

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

How to Apply

Please send by email, fax or mail your complete application package which must include:

• a cover letter,

• your resume,

• an application (form below), and

• 2-3 writing samples, including a research or policy brief/report you wrote or participated in, and a document that you produced on your own.

Email: jobs@councilforastrongamerica.org

Research Associate Search

Council for a Strong America

1212 New York Ave., Suite 300

Washington, DC 20005 No phone calls, please. Council for a Strong America is an equal opportunity employer.

APPLICATION

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4. Why are you interested in this position?

5. Please describe any related experience, and how you developed relevant skills.

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Location: Washington, DC

Organization Overview:

The COUNCIL FOR A STRONG AMERICA’s vision is to create a powerful network of unexpected messengers who champion increased evidence-based public investments that help at-risk children succeed and make our nation stronger. CSA is the parent organization of four bipartisan sibling organizations, including FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS, MISSION: READINESS, AMERICA’S EDGE, and SHEPHERDING THE NEXT GENERATION, who argue that investing in our children cuts crime, grows our economy, increases national security, and strengthens families.

In 2012, a year of political uncertainty with tight state budgets and a significant federal deficit, members of CSA’s four sibling organizations stepped up to the challenge to meet the need, capturing the attention of policy makers across the country, the media, and public opinion from California to New York.

Over the last six years, CSA’s budget doubled in size, and they want to double the budget again in the next 4 years to raise $16 million annually. With this increased funding, CSA will strengthen their unexpected messenger organizations through:

• Recruiting more members in more states and deepening the relationship with current CSA members especially in key policymakers’ districts.

• Increasing the capacity of the Communications, Research, and Federal Policy teams to support additional media work and policymaker meetings in these states

• Educating more policymakers, especially moderates and conservatives, that investing in at-risk kids strengthens our country.

Position Overview:

A key driver of aggressive organizational goals, the VP of Development is entering CSA during an exciting time of growth and will be the primary visionary and staff leader to ensure the development targets are met. Working closely with the President, CSA‘S board of directors and senior management team, this person will develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising program, securing resources from all donor segments, to include foundation and corporate donors as well as individual and major gifts, across the constituent organizations. They will be responsible for managing, mentoring, and leading a dynamic development team toward accomplishing these goals. In working with the board, they are responsible for helping to build the organizations capacity for giving. The Vice President of Development will directly supervise the development team, which consists of a Director of Development, Deputy Director, two Development Associates and a Development Assistant, and work from the CSA headquarters office in Washington, DC.

 Responsibilities:

• Thoroughly understand and articulate CSA’s mission, values, history, component organizations and strategies

• Provide leadership, direction, and management for CSA’s development team, creating an environment of respect, accountability, motivation, professional growth and high productivity

• Know and understand CSA’s board of directors, secure their confidence and support, and find ways to enlist and motivate them to participate in fundraising activities

• Develop and execute clear short-term and long-range plans for development that are both realistic and challenging, with particular focus on diversifying revenue streams

• Prepare and monitor CSA’s annual fundraising plan, budget and revenue forecasts. Provide accurate projections for budgetary and financial reports. Monitor/report on performance against plan and budget

• Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with major donors. Create and execute strategy for annual solicitation campaign to meet budgetary needs that may include planned gifts, corporate partnerships, and additional techniques that yield profitable results.

• Represent CSA at meetings and speaking engagements as required

• Stay abreast of philanthropic, economic, social and educational trends related to fundraising and CSA’s advocacy initiatives

• Maintain working knowledge of relevant policy changes, and ensure that CSA’s board of directors and staff are informed of changes that might impact fundraising efforts

• Ensure high functioning of systems to accurately maintain and update donor and prospect records

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of senior development and management experience in an organization during time of growth

• Track record of developing and executing creative and successful fundraising strategies to include foundations, corporations, and individuals

• Strong staff management experience with particular interest in leading, mentoring, and coaching a dedicated and talented staff

• Passion for CSA’s mission, with an unyielding commitment to improving the lives of children; Background in public policy, early childhood, education, nutrition, or youth issues a plus

• Understanding of the legislative process and public policy advocacy, with experience raising funds for public policy, advocacy, and/or campaign work

• Experience developing relationships with one or more COUNCIL FOR A STRONG AMERICA constituencies (law enforcement leaders, retired military leaders, business leaders, faith leaders) preferred

• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with CSA’s senior management team, board of directors, donors and staff

• Self reliant and willing to roll up his/her sleeves; upholds highly ethical standards, respect for confidentiality, and a high degree of personal integrity

• Thrives in a results-oriented, ambitious, flexible, and deadline driven culture

• Strong comfort working with Macintosh computers, specifically working with Microsoft Word and Excel, FileMaker Pro, and/or other database software and applications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred

To Apply:

Please upload résumé and cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity, both in Word format, to David Kass, President at http://jobs.cgcareers.org/application.aspx?id=2013. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Council for a Strong America offers a competitive salary and benefits, commensurate with experience and skills.

Council for a Strong America is an equal opportunity employer equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that understands the value of diversity and its impact on a high performance culture.

About Commongood Careers:

Council for a Strong America has partnered with Commongood Careers to conduct the search for a VP of Development. Commongood Careers is a mission-driven search firm for the nonprofit sector. With robust networks, a range of service offerings, and accessible fees, Commongood Careers is committed to providing a smarter way for the nation’s leading edge nonprofits to make high-impact hires. Since 2005, Commongood Careers has led over 600 searches for 200 organizations in 29 states, making us one of the most experienced nonprofit search firms in the country. Learn more about nonprofit jobs at Commongood Careers.