The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) is the only foundation serving the entire orthopaedic community. OREF funds breakthrough research in orthopaedics, while simultaneously launching new researchers’ careers.
 
OREF Vision
OREF’s vision is to be the leading organization in supporting orthopaedic research to improve function, eliminate pain and restore mobility.
 
OREF Mission
Improving lives by supporting excellence in orthopaedic research.
 
Over the past 20 years, orthopaedic diseases and conditions have increased by an astonishing 45%. As people age and enjoy a wider array of activities than ever before, best-in-class orthopaedic medicine is fundamental to an active, healthy, pain-free life. In 1955, leaders of the major professional organizations in the specialty—the American Orthopaedic Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Orthopaedic Research Society—established OREF as a means of supporting research and education toward building the scientific base of clinical practice. Since its founding 61 years ago, the foundation has funded 4,700 research and education grants worth $142 million.  Now at a pivotal stage in the organization’s history, OREF is on track during the next 5 years to generate additional revenue with a goal to double the current annual $2.5 million grant portfolio.
 
Members of the OREF Board of Trustees are orthopaedic surgeons who have established medical practices throughout the United States and corporate executives within and without orthopaedics.
 
The Foundation’s offices are in Rosemont, IL and are easily accessible by car or public transportation. OREF currently offers a small office environment with 14 employees, and operates on a $5 million budget.
 
OREF’s grant programs are designed to strengthen and expand orthopaedic research by providing funding support to both new and experienced investigators. Currently a team of Development professionals supports the board to raise corporate and individual gifts to fund OREF’s research initiatives. The Annual Fund Officer is a new position, and the successful candidate will focus on raising unrestricted, general operating funding to support the work of the Foundation. Currently there are 2000 donors who contribute unrestricted funding in all amounts to OREF each year. The goal is to double this number of donors and operating funding, raising $2.7 million annually in unrestricted funding by the end of the new Officer’s first year. This is primarily a staff-run campaign and utilizes face-to-face solicitations as well as telephone, social media, email and direct mail appeals.
 
The Opportunity: Annual Fund Officer
 
The Annual Fund Officer is a new role, specifically created to raise unrestricted funding to support Foundation operations. Gifts are considered Annual Fund at any amount if they are unrestricted, contributed funds. Other dollars specifically contributed to fund research are not under the purview of the Annual Fund Officer. Donors of $1,000 or more to the unrestricted fund are members of the “Order of Merit” giving circle. Currently “Order of Merit” members account for more than 75% of the annual fund total. While the Annual Fund Officer will work to increase unrestricted funding, whatever the level, special focus will be on gifts of $1,000 or more.
 

As a key member of the OREF team, the Annual Fund Officer will report directly to the Vice President of Development and work closely with the Director of Campaigns and other Development colleagues.

 
The primary responsibility of the Annual Fund Officer will be to strategically plan and
execute a comprehensive annual fundraising program to meet targets for unrestricted
funds, to coordinate and organize annual fund activities and events, to recruit and
motivate surgeon peer fundraisers, and to manage all projects related to the cultivation,
solicitation stewardship and acknowledgement of annual fund contributions.
 
 
Primary Performance Objectives
 
Leadership and Planning

• Develop and execute an annual fund plan with the Vice President of Development that is consistent with OREF policy, needs, goals and revenue objectives.
• Establish a greater awareness and ensure credibility in the community regarding OREF’s need for unrestricted funding.
• Encourage current donors to research to also support OREF’s unrestricted/annual fund.
• Develop and monitor a moves management system to encourage continued and more robust annual fund donor engagement and giving over time.
• Effectively communicate OREF’s mission, goals and accomplishments to donors, prospective donors and volunteers.
• Generate reports to track and analyze key annual fund activities and results, ongoing and new.
• In partnership with the Annual Fund Committee of the Board of Trustees and Development colleagues, help to grow the Ambassador program (Orthopaedic surgeons who currently give and encourage others to do so) from 70 members currently to exceed 100 within the first year.

 
Fund Development

• Personally solicit annual fund contributions from academic departments, practice groups, individual orthopaedic surgeons, grateful patients and other potential donors.
• Travel to the annual week-long meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons to help staff the OREF exhibit and assist with all other activities during the meeting.
• Travel to select regional, state and specialty meetings to staff an exhibit, coordinate OREF activities, and to meet in person with prospective donors at the meeting and in the local area; on occasion, travel to other cities to meet in person with OREF Ambassadors and prospective donors.
• Support the efforts of OREF Trustees, Ambassadors and other surgeon volunteers, providing donor lists and contribution reports and transmitting promotional materials, designing PowerPoint Presentations, and providing other requested assistance.
• Develop annual fund communication and solicitation strategies utilizing email, direct mail, telephone, personal visitation, social media, crowd funding, and volunteer engagement.
• Coordinate, plan, and implement annual fund activities and events with a development focus, achieving fundraising goals and outcomes.
• Assist other staff with social media efforts, helping to coordinate information to be shared with other users.
• Maintain a calendar of orthopaedic meetings and develop and manage a system to optimize OREF’s participation in the meetings.
• Develop and maintain a donor pipeline to identify prospects for increased giving and major gift commitments.
• Receive, respond and report on telephone, email and written inquiries from donors, volunteers, and partner and foundation staff, and provide necessary support and information.
• Support the efforts of the Vice President in the solicitation of major gift commitments, the Director of Campaigns in the growth of Mentor Campaign efforts, and the Corporate Relations Officer in the outreach to orthopaedic residents and fellows when needed.
• Serve as project lead for events, activities and projects as assigned by the Vice President of Development and Chief Executive Officer.
• Work closely with Director of Campaigns and other colleagues to coordinate prospect and solicitation strategies and, when appropriate, combine solicitation for annual and research support.
• Monitor trends and opportunities within the industry.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Development and the Chief Executive Officer.

 
The Qualified Candidate
 
OREF is seeking an accomplished, focused Development professional with Association or healthcare nonprofit experience to serve as its first Annual Fund Officer. S/he will be self-motivated, results-oriented, resourceful, creative, highly energetic and intelligent, with exceptional interpersonal, communication, relationship-building and organizational skills. The successful candidate will be passionate and knowledgeable about OREF’s mission, and polished and respectful in communication with OREF Trustees and other stakeholders. The candidate must have a track record of following through on promises. An enthusiastic outlook and a collaborative nature with experience in making direct solicitations and closing gifts is essential.
 
Specific Requirements Include:

• A commitment to OREF’s mission, with a genuine willingness to continually learn about orthopaedic research.
• Minimum of 5 years of successful work experience, preferably in nonprofit development/fundraising; at least 3 consecutive years heavily focused on face-to-face solicitations for major gifts or annual fund.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Sound organizational abilities and a high degree of initiative and creativity.
• Strong interpersonal skills; experience in relating to high-profile business and medical professionals is advantageous.
• Proficiency in MS Office and donor database systems (Raiser’s Edge preferred).
• Desire to collaborate closely with other staff.
• Ability to travel.
• An undergraduate degree is required.
• Medical or healthcare association or nonprofit experience is preferred.
• CAE or CFRE certification is preferred.

 
This position offers a competitive salary with generous benefits. All inquiries will be held in strict confidence. The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria.
 
To Apply
 
This search is being managed by Laura Weinman, Senior Consultant, of Alford Executive Search, a division of KEES. Questions may be addressed to lweinman@alfordexecutivesearch.com.
 
To apply, candidates should submit their cover letter and resume to: https://alfordexecutivesearch.applicantstack.com/x/openings. To assure confidential tracking, no resumes will be accepted via email.
 
Alford Executive Search (www.alfordexecutivesearch.com), a division of KEES, is a retained search firm dedicated to providing recruitment services of exceptional quality and strengthening the nonprofit community through professional staffing solutions.