Senior Director of Principal Gifts
The Better Angels Society
Remote
Anticipated Start Date: TBD
Description
Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with The Better Angels Society in the search for a Senior Director of Principal Gifts.
Reporting to the President & CEO, the Senior Director of Principal Gifts will complement the organization’s existing development staff capacity and expand support for the organization’s long-term financial growth and sustainability, realizing the fundraising potential of the organization’s mission as the preeminent organization supporting outstanding American history documentaries to inspire lifelong learning, promote civic engagement, and encourage civil discourse.
In fulfilling its mission, the Better Angels Society (the “Society”) provides resources and recognition to a range of established, emerging, and student filmmakers telling the stories of our shared past through documentary films that are characterized by deep archival research, engaging storytelling, and ideological balance. The Society has raised more than $140 million to advance its mission and is currently raising funds for individual films including Emancipation to Exodus and LBJ and the Great Society from Ken Burns, Central Park from Lynn Novick, and Inside the Oval: Decisions of Consequence from Tom Yellin. In partnership with the Library of Congress, the Society also awards the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film — an annual recognition of outstanding late-stage American history documentaries.
In its seventh year, the Prize for Film is a singular award that provides a $200,000 cash prize to the best late-stage, feature-length American history documentaries, as well as cash awards to a runner up and four finalists. An annual prize presentation event, to be held at the New York Historical on October 22, 2026, attracts national arts and culture leaders, public media partners, and a growing community of documentary filmmakers and supporters, as well as corporate sponsors. The Society also annually awards the Better Angels Lavine Fellowships to five compelling historical documentary films in post-production that represent the range of the American experience and are well-positioned to benefit from customized mentorship. The fellowship creates a community where filmmakers gain expertise from seasoned industry leaders and share skills to collectively deepen their craft.
The Society is building civic engagement in young people and inspiring the next generations of American history documentarians through programs that provide opportunities, skill-building, and mentorship to young people, ages 14-22, to make their own short documentaries about U.S. history. With programs including the Next Generation Angels Awards, in partnership with National History Day, and the Latest Generation Film Contest, in partnership with the Lincoln Presidential Foundation, the Society continues to expand this work through the Amy Margerum Berg Education Fund. This is a fully remote position with a preference for candidates located on the East Coast.
The Better Angels Society is committed to the inclusion of all qualified candidates. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or participating in the selection process, please contact Jeanette Rivera-Watts at jeanetterw@aspenleadershipgroup.com.
Responsibilities
The Senior Director of Principal Gifts will play a central role in advancing The Better Angels Society's fundraising efforts by developing and executing a comprehensive strategy for securing principal gifts that includes the cultivation and management of relationships within a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners, foundations, and institutions, each capable of making substantial contributions.
The Senior Director will also continue to grow the new Friends of the Better Angels donor cultivation program and work to inspire and engage donors by understanding their philanthropic aspirations and aligning them with The Better Angels Society's strategic goals. Additionally, the Senior Director will support the President & CEO in donor stewardship and collaborate with the Board of Directors to leverage their networks for significant gift solicitations. The Senior Director of Principal Gifts will ensure that The Better Angels Society’s fundraising efforts are both strategic and impactful — securing the resources necessary to support its mission.
Requirements
A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least five years of principal gifts fundraising experience across all aspects of the donor cycle, from identification through stewardship, is preferred for this role. The Better Angels Society will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds.
If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to the Society, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of The Better Angels Society and the responsibilities and qualifications specified in the position prospectus.
Salary Range and Employee Benefits
The salary range for this position is $175,000 annually with discretionary bonus opportunities of up to 10% of the base salary following completion of one fiscal year. The Better Angels Society offers a generous benefits package, including health coverage, vision, dental, a 403(b) retirement plan, and paid time off.
How to Apply for this Job
About the Organization
The Better Angels Society (the “Society”) is the only national nonprofit organization solely focused on a mission to support excellence in American history documentaries to advance civic engagement and lifelong learning. To fulfill its mission, the Society provides resources and recognition to a range of established, emerging, and student filmmakers telling the stories of our shared past through documentary films that are characterized by deep archival research, engaging storytelling, and ideological balance.
The Society has raised more than $100 million to advance its mission and is currently raising funds for individual films from filmmakers Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, and the Ewers Brothers, with new projects to be announced in 2025. Additionally, through its Better Angels Stories initiative, the Society has supported more than thirty documentaries about American history on public media.
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