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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

• Ensures the mission, vision and values of FAI are incorporated into all functions of strategic partnership, relationship-building and fund development;
• Develops, implements and oversees a development plan and budget that is both innovative and responsive to the long-term financial goals of FAI for our operations and for building our endowment through ever-changing economic climates;
• Explores, learns, and strengthens FAI’s ability to engage in and create diverse financial structures and opportunities to support our work;
• Contributes to indigenizing our financial stewardship and giving opportunities;
• Plans all aspects of our annual Howard Rock & Ted Stevens Smokehouse Gala, and other fundraising events and partnerships, including designing, leading, and close-out;
• Works with leadership and staff to research, identify, prepare, and manage grants, donations and sponsorships from private, corporate, foundation, State and federal entities;
• Cultivates and nurtures strategic relationships and partnerships with prospective donors, constituents, foundation representatives, and community members;
• Designs and implements targeted fundraising campaigns for FAI events and initiative areas;
• Identifies, solicits, and recognizes individual and major gift donors through Friends of First Alaskans and various other individual fundraising campaigns;
• Oversees and ensures the successful management of the organization’s gaming permit;
• Coordinates and manages the stewardship of all donor appreciation – including appreciation cards/letters, timely tax information, social media posts as appropriate, and other gifts in a timely manner;
• Oversees the management of the donor/financial supporter database for consistency and accuracy;
• Mobilizes volunteers and other community partnerships to support the work of FAI;
• Serves as a key advisor to the President/CEO and works as a member of the leadership team;
• Helps in the work of decolonizing and indigenizing philanthropy as a way of continuing to help our Native community;
• Travels as necessary to represent the organization at all levels;
• Supervises assigned staff and as delegated by the President/CEO; and
• Other duties as assigned or to help the organization achieve our vision, mission, strategic plans and key objectives.

Skills/Knowledge

• Strong commitment to the organization’s vision, mission, values and purpose and doing what is necessary to achieve it through this role and as a member of the leadership team;
• Stewards strong, authentic relationships; recognizes that being good relatives is critical for our ability to advance our vision and mission;
• Seeks opportunities to indigenize our approach to advancement, and finds ways to incorporate indigenous values and ways of being into all aspects of advancing our work;
• Excellent writing, engagement, interpersonal, communication and organizational skills;
• Strong financial skills with preparing, tracking, analyzing, and managing budgets and statements, including financial grants administration;
• Various aspects of management, including grants management and reporting, event planning, contract management, strategic sponsorships and the like;
• Strong team management skills, including the ability to supervise, motivate, and catalyze staff;
• Able to give clear direction, incorporate personal feedback, and work well under pressure;
• Self-starter with strong time management skills – must be able to work well both independently and as an integral member of a team;
• Contributes substantively and topically to partnerships; giving value to supporters, advancing areas of mutual interest through collaboration, funding, and opportunities;
• Able to lead with strength, think strategically and implement effectively;
• Embrace values-based and ethical fundraising practices;
• Demonstrated ability to seek opportunities and nurture partnerships on an ongoing basis;
• Strong skills with database management, including Microsoft Office and other tracking software;
• Successful skills in managing multiple priorities and projects and meeting multiple deadlines;
• Ability to communicate clearly and compellingly to a variety of audiences; willing to share about our cultures and communities to help grow understanding and support;
• A go-getter who has energy, passion, knowledge, and skills to grow a practice of sustainable relationships and financial stewardship
• Knowledge of best practices for fundraising, sustainability, and financial advancement strategies;
• Understands the landscape of Alaska and its diverse organizational structures and entities to be able to build and manage long-term relationships on behalf of our Native community and FAI;
• Strong knowledge and appreciation of, experience within, and commitment to working with and for Alaska Native peoples and statewide Native organizations;
• Knowledge of Alaska Native and Alaska history, state and federal laws as they pertain to the status and rights of Alaska Natives;
• Knowledge of traditional, political, and social organizations and cultural ways of life in Alaska, and issues facing Alaska Natives;
• Ability to work in and contribute to an Indigenous team environment focused on perpetuating Alaska Native knowledge, identity, ways of life, spirit, being, and languages, as well as other areas of indigenizing our organization and our outcomes through our vision and mission

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:

• Letter of Interest
• Current Resume
• Contact Information for 3 professional references
• Relevant sample of your work (written or design material, video, etc.)
• Additional information may be requested during the interview process

*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.