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Vice President of Development

Since 1955, National Review magazine has defined the modern conservative movement and enjoyed the broadest allegiance of American conservatives. National Review Institute is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), journalistic think tank that preserves and promotes William F. Buckley Jr.’s legacy, supports the National Review mission, and advances the principles of a free society through educational and outreach programs. These include the NRI Fellows program, the William F. Buckley Jr. Fellowships in Political Journalism, Regional Partnership events, the NRI On Campus program, the WFB Communicators’ program, the Burke to Buckley Fellowship Program, the Buckley Legacy Project, National Review Capital Matters, support for National Review’s Books, Arts & Manners section, and an array of events.

NRI events include the annual William F. Buckley Prize Dinner, the biennial Ideas Summit and Regional Seminars (alternating years), topical conferences, book launches, symposiums, salons, and partnership events, among others.

What You Will Love

  • Promoting the conservative ideals of William F. Buckley Jr. through programs which support education, journalism, and events
  • Supporting the editorial priorities of National Review and communicating them to a loyal and growing base of donors
  • Implementing your vision for building a comprehensive development strategy that produces aggressive growth
  • Leading an exceptional team to successfully meet a current fundraising goal of over $8 million with goals to expand considerably

What You Will Do
National Review Institute seeks a full-time Vice President of Development to oversee strategic growth in fundraising and development. The Vice President of Development will

  • Be responsible for managing a current team of 6 staff, including 4 regional development directors, overseeing their portfolios, and ensuring they are tracking towards goals
  • Manage the overall fundraising program, including foundation outreach, large projects such as targeted fundraising campaigns, and smaller projects like the creation of collateral material
  • Conceptualize, promote, execute, and follow up after a broad array of events, which serve to both advance donor relationships and enhance the overall NR brand and promote the enterprise’s editorial priorities
  • Oversee the foundation program (reviewing and approving proposals and reports), budgeting, the direct-mail program, the 1955 Society, and the Legacy Society, and manage a portfolio of high-level donors and prospects, including meetings, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship

The Vice President of Development may either work virtually from anywhere in the country or from NRI’s New York City headquarters. The Vice President of Development reports to NRI’s President.

What You Will Bring (Skills, Passion, Mission fit)

  • Strong understanding of, and appreciation for, the NR mission and Bill Buckley’s conservatism (this includes knowledge of, and relationships with, key people and organizations within the movement)
  • Extensive experience in development and major-gifts fundraising
  • Management experience, including the skill and ability to lead and inspire a remote team
  • Knowledge of and experience executing successful donor events
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both externally, especially writing and the ability to speak publicly, and internally with colleagues)
  • A strong work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit, and willingness to take initiative
  • Ability to travel nationally 1 to 2 times per week (overnight)
  • Knowledge of best development practices with CRMs; familiarity with Salesforce is a plus

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $175k to $250k. NRI pays a competitive salary commensurate with experience and provides excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and contributions to a retirement plan.

Apply

Please send your resume to Carmen Sapara (csapara@amphil.com).

Student Outreach Coordinator

National Review Institute is seeking an enthusiastic professional to preserve and promote William F. Buckley’s legacy, support the National Review mission, and advance the principles of a free society through educational and outreach programs.

In 2025, NRI will celebrate the centennial of William F. Buckley’s birth and his legacy through a year-long campaign of events and programs that will commemorate William F. Buckley’s contributions to society. This exciting moment for NRI will allow a creative individual to bring Buckley’s work and ideas to students and young adults through the planning of events on college campuses and throughout the country.

The Student Outreach Coordinator will manage the NRI On Campus, William F. Buckley Communicators program, and the Buckley Legacy Project On Campus events, which will include planning and executing student and young professional events, both in-person and virtually, developing partnerships with student and young professional groups, managing social media platforms, and measuring and reporting results from student activities. Additionally, the coordinator will assist with the general programmatic, developmental, and operational needs of the organization.

This position is based out of our Washington, D.C. or New York City office. You will report directly to the Senior Director of External Affairs, while working with NRI’s programs staff and assisting with partnership events and their strategic coordination with campus events. The position requires significant travel across the United States.

Candidates should ideally have one year of experience working in grassroots, external affairs, or programs management for a nonprofit organization and/or experience working with national student organizations while in college. Candidates should also have a working knowledge of the conservative movement, William F. Buckley Jr., and National Review magazine.

Key responsibilities include

Campus, Student, and Young Professional Engagement

  • Manage all aspects of NRI’s On Campus and Buckley Legacy Project on Campus events, including working with speakers and student groups, and traveling to schools across the country as needed
    • Grow relationships with key faculty and department heads at colleges and universities around the country—especially in NRI’s top-tier cities—to schedule campus events and promote NRI’s programs to interested students
    • Maintain the On Campus social media pages
    • Maintain the On Campus pages on NRI’s website
    • Track events and measure results for all student-related activities
    • Write succinct summaries of events for newsletters and other communications
    • Coordinating travel arrangements and a detailed itinerary for speakers
    • Finding media interview opportunities for speakers on campuses around the country
  • Manage all aspects, from inception to culmination, of the annual William F. Buckley Communicators Workshop. This is currently a day and a half (Friday evening and a Saturday program that ends in the late afternoon) in-person event that takes place in July.
    • Tasks include leading program creation, inviting speakers, consulting on venues, onsite management during the event
    • Responsible for robust attendance; marketing and advertising to outside groups to increase visibility
    • Creation and budgeting of expenses
  • Manage advertising, application, review, and selection of school-year and summer internships in consultation with NRI programs staff.
  • Develop and advance lasting partnerships with student groups and other young adult organizations in the freedom movement
  • Attend conferences and events to build a network and promote NRI

Event and Programmatic Assistance

  • Travel to and assist with other NRI-hosted events as needed, particularly the biennial Regional Seminars and biennial Ideas Summit in Washington, D.C.
  • Assist the Burke to Buckley Fellowship Program Manager with marketing, recruitment, and logistics
  • Work with NRI leadership and NR editorial management to assist with marketing for the William F. Buckley Jr. Fellowship in Political Journalism and The Thomas L. Rhodes Fellowship.
    • Utilize the collegiate and young professional network to advertise the fellowship program and encourage applications
    • Compile, review, and present fellowship application packages to NR editorial for review
    • Send response notices

Skills necessary for this position

  • Self-starter
  • Familiarity with budgeting
  • Ability to work independently and support a team
  • Demonstrate a professional attitude, organization, and attention to detail
  • Excellent communication, writing, and speaking skills
  • Capable to work under deadlines, adapt when needed, and multi-task

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $40k to $60k. NRI pays a competitive salary commensurate with experience and provides excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and contributions to a retirement plan.

Apply

Applicants should send a resume and cover letter to ashley@nrinstitute.org. The cover letter should explain how the applicant’s skills, experience, and future goals relate to National Review Institute. Argue the question: why you and why National Review Institute?

Development Assistant

National Review Institute is seeking a development assistant. The ideal candidate is organized, self-motivated, entrepreneurial, and knowledgeable of the conservative principles that William F. Buckley Jr. championed. Knowledge of and a commitment to the broader conservative movement, an understanding of Bill Buckley’s legacy, and familiarity with NR magazine and NationalReview.com—its writers, content, and historical significance—is also important.

The development assistant will report to Kristen Welch, Executive Assistant, and work closely with NRI’s development staff and executive assistant. The position is based out of the New York City office and is full time in person.

This position is ideal for either an entry-level person who wants to grow or someone with an administrative background.

Key responsibilities include

  • Working in Salesforce to log donations, update records, upload lists, and pull reports
  • Assisting the VP of development, development team, and executive assistant with other tasks, including research, where needed
  • Managing regular mailings, including event mailings and acknowledgement letters, and processing returned mail
  • Scanning, copying, and filing paperwork
  • Assisting with events, including ordering/shipping materials, calling donors, and staffing

Skills necessary for this position

  • Use of Microsoft Office and Salesforce required
  • Attention to detail
  • Organized
  • Communicates effectively
  • Problem-solving/adaptability
  • Time management and project management
  • Self-starter
  • Ability to multi-task
  • Customer service
  • Networking abilities

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $55k to $65k. NRI pays a competitive salary commensurate with experience and provides excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and contributions to a retirement plan.

Apply

Applicants should send a resume and cover letter to kristen@nrinstitute.org. The cover letter should explain how the applicant’s skills, experience, and future goals relate to National Review Institute. Argue the question: why you and why National Review Institute?