The National Headquarters of the Commemorative Air Force, located at the Dallas Executive Airport in Dallas, Texas, is seeking a full-time Grants & Development Specialist. As this role is writing intensive, a writing sample must be provided upon request.

Who We Are: 

Founded in 1957, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to preserving and showcasing vintage military aircraft, as well as educating the public about the significance of its aircraft, the historical events they participated in, and the people they represent. The organization frequently hosts events that celebrate the contributions of military personnel, offering them the opportunity to share their stories and experiences. The CAF also operates numerous educational programs, including airshows, school visits, and museum exhibitions. By connecting veterans with the public, the CAF fosters a deeper appreciation for their service and ensures their legacies are preserved for future generations.

Job Summary:

Join the CAF’s dynamic Development team as the Development & Grants Specialist. Your contributions will directly impact the CAF’s annual fundraising campaigns; donor communication strategies; foundation and corporate giving initiatives; and digital fundraising outcomes. You will primarily support fundraising efforts by implementing a comprehensive institutional giving and stewardship plan, in addition to developing grant proposals to submit to private, community, and corporate foundations. You may also write and/or edit email appeals, social media copy, magazine articles, prospect profiles, and more.

The ability to write persuasively and clearly communicate the organization’s mission and programs is key. This role is also instrumental in supporting the development of the CAF’s affiliate museum, the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center (NAEC), and its educational programs. This position is ideal for a passionate, data-driven individual with a strong writing and/or communications background and a commitment to advancing the CAF’s mission through strategic grant acquisition and donor engagement. The Grants & Development Specialist reports directly to the Chief Relationship Officer.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead all stages of the grant lifecycle by crafting compelling proposals, reporting on programmatic impact and outcomes, and ensuring financial due diligence and stewardship.

• Coordinate prospecting research and assessment to identify and profile potential donors, foundations, corporations, or sponsorship opportunities.
• Build and support relationships with key individuals at various institutions to enhance fundraising outcomes.
• Oversee CAF’s grants program to ensure timely submissions and reporting per foundation and/or corporate guidelines, while also coordinating internal reviews with staff and volunteers.
• Manage grant pipeline by maintaining data related to grants (timelines, reports, etc.) and other organizational records using shared resources, such as Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge and Research Point.
• Maintain organized electronic and paper records of all grant-related materials, ensuring comprehensive documentation and easy retrieval.
• Partner with the Development team to devise and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies, leveraging data to enhance donor relationships and identify new opportunities.
• Work closely with the Chief Relationship Officer, Philanthropy Director, Marketing department, and other team members to write, proofread, and edit persuasive fundraising materials, including presentations, brochures, and other collateral that effectively communicate the CAF’s mission, goals, and funding needs.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned, like supporting annual events such as The Victory Ball, Aviation Discovery Fest, or Warbird Weekend.

Employment Type: Full-time

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; background in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, Non-profit Management and/or Development a plus.
• Minimum 2 years of experience writing and editing in a professional setting required; 3+ years of experience in a non-profit setting preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in development/fundraising required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the grant lifecycle required.
• Demonstrated ability and success in writing persuasive, clear, and concise fundraising/grant proposals required.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in aviation, STEM education, and/or WWII history a plus

Ideal Skills & Abilities: 

• Excellent persuasive writing and communication skills.
• High level of poise and professionalism, including follow-through and attention to detail.
• Familiarity and intermediate knowledge of grant/proposal writing and/or fundraising.
• Ability to prioritize work, manage multiple projects concurrently, and meet deadlines in a time-constrained environment.
• Familiarity with industry tools, databases, and CRM software (e.g., Candid, Blackbaud, Mailchimp, Instrumentl, etc.), preferably Raiser’s Edge.
• High level of enthusiasm, initiative, motivation, and self-direction.
• Solid understanding of budgets as they relate to proposals and grants.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong computer literacy.
• Must be knowledgeable about, and capable of articulating verbally and in writing, the CAF’s mission, vision, and priorities.

Benefits:

• Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance paid 100% for employee
• Life insurance, long-term, and short-term disability paid 100% for employee
• Retirement plan matching
• Paid time off
• Parental leave

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. This job description may be revised upon development of other duties and changes in responsibilities.

The Commemorative Air Force is the world’s largest WWII Flying Museum with over 175 WWII aircraft and 80 units in 28 states and 4 international locations. The CAF has a volunteer membership of over 18,000. Information concerning our organization can be obtained at www.commemorativeairforce.org.

If interested, please apply via this link:

https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Apply/2597804/Commemorative-Air-Force/Grants-Development-Specialist