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Position Description
Indigenous Advancement Director

Location: First Alaskans Institute (FAI), Anchorage

Reports to: Vice President

FTE / Wage: 1.0 Regular Full-Time Equivalent / $70,000-$95,000, DOE

FSLA Designation: Exempt

Core Purpose of this Role

The Indigenous Advancement Director (IAD) contributes to the long-term sustainability and advancement of First Alaskans Institute (FAI) by growing the financial foundation that supports our work. The IAD will provide the vision and professional skills necessary to oversee the implementation of a comprehensive Advancement Plan that includes strategies and goals for stewarding donor and giving campaigns, writing and administering successful grants, hosting meaningful fundraising events, and growing our endowment and planned giving by building key relationships and partnerships that support the ongoing work of First Alaskans.

This is an excellent role for an independent and detail-oriented person who thrives in Indigenous organizations, enjoys writing creatively to tell the stories of our work, and wants to strengthen relationships with diverse communities, sectors, and businesses. The IAD enjoys meeting new people and cultivating collaborations towards shared efforts, planning and executing exciting fundraising events, is passionate about our work and contributing to the leadership of the organization. A strong IAD has a curious, strategic, and culturally based spirit, deeply loves our peoples and works in service of finding relationships and financial support for our peoples’ work through FAI.

Critical to this position is a high-level of efficiency, autonomy and follow-through with adaptability and foresight to develop, manage, and implement Indigenized advancement strategies that exemplify our Native peoples within a team that uplifts, supports, and utilizes our cultural and organizational values.

All FAI staff members are expected to actively grow their understanding of and advocacy for our Native peoples, including addressing social justice issues facing our communities, understanding intergenerational trauma and healing, and uplifting our cultural practices and knowledge. Essential to this team approach are members who are the right fit and bring the capacity and experience that contribute to our ability to succeed in our work for and with our Native community. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Skills/Knowledge

Education & Work Experience

Bachelor’s degree required, but a higher degree or professional certification in development, fundraising, strategic partnerships, nonprofit management, administration, business, social enterprise, philanthropy, and the like with a minimum of 3 years of experience in fundraising, management preferred. Equivalent educational and/or professional experience may be substituted as deemed appropriate by FAI to fulfill the requirements of this role. 

Equipment and License needs

All FAI staff must have reliable access to a personal cell phone, internet and a valid state driver’s license to effectively work no matter where they are.  

To Apply

Our streamlined application requirements are as follows and constitute a complete* application:

*Incomplete application packets will not be considered. Please email your complete application packet to [email protected] with the subject “Indigenous Advancement Director”.

Applications accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until position is filled.

FAI is a dynamic organization changing as needed to best address its goals. This job description is representative of duties at a moment in time and is intended as a “living document” updated periodically to reflect changes in job responsibilities and/or emphasis. It is not intended or implied to be an employment contract but is a method of communication to explain responsibilities, advertise the job, identify performance measures and potential training needs. 

First Alaskans Institute requires employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of hire.