Careers at American Ancestors

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  

Under the direction of the Chief Advancement Officer, the Corporate & Foundations Giving Officer will assist in executing and developing a corporate and foundations portfolio to fund the important work of American Ancestors, the oldest and largest genealogical society in the country.  Using moves management and prospect tracking, this Corporate & Foundations Giving Officer will be responsible for assisting with the identification, rating, cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship of assigned prospects and donors. 

This exciting opportunity is a full-time, exempt position. Some of the outstanding benefits include medical, dental, generous paid time off, paid holidays, Employee Assistance Program, tuition reimbursement, FSA, 403(b) Retirement plan, and so much more. 

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Manage and develop a portfolio of 120+ active and discovery prospects and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each.
• Responsible for the meaningful cultivation and solicitation of corporate/foundation program officers and senior executives, including face-to-face visits, as well as email, telephone, and mail communications and other appropriate moves management.
• Demonstrated experience with initiating relationships and building an institutional portfolio from scratch that could be beneficial.
• Experience and success in securing state and federal government funding/grants.
• Participate in outreach and stewardship activities for donors including quarterly dinners and American Ancestors programs.
• Participate in “moves management” program with a focus on cultivating, rating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts.
• Document all cultivation and solicitation activities with prospects/donors and employ prospect clearance policies. Maintains accurate and timely records of all activities in donor database.
• Work with the CAO to identify and strategize giving options and to structure gifts that accommodate donor interests and meet institutional needs/opportunities.
• Manage the grant process from proposal to administration.
• Ensure that gifts are recorded, acknowledged, and recognized in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Collaboration with the team will be important to create a strong and continuous portfolio.
• Provide additional assistance to organizational executives and other members of the Advancement team as requested.

Desired Skills: 

• A skilled foundation and corporate fundraiser with at least 7 years of experience raising and managing foundation portfolios and corporate support.
• Demonstrated experience in securing foundation funding and corporate sponsorship is essential.  
• Familiarity with national markets for history, genealogical, library, and/or educational nonprofits is highly desired.
• Knowledge of Boston-based institutional funders a plus.
• Exemplary oral and written communications skills are necessary.
• Ability to manage several development activities and strategies simultaneously while maintaining timeframes.
• Must have strong organizational and project management skills, as well as the ability to establish priorities and apply available information and resources to complete assignments on a timely basis.
• Excellent social skills and ability to relate to persons from many different backgrounds.
• Significant administrative work, including travel planning, itinerary building, correspondence, and accurate and timely documentation of all work.
• Experience with using Tessitura highly desirable
• Experience with using Microsoft’s Office 365 suite required
• Interest in genealogy, history, or related subject matter.

Full-time, exempt position salary $109,200.00-$125,000

To Apply 

Please submit cover letter and resume to Michelle Major, Director of Human Resources at michelle.major@americanancestors.org

Please include CFGO and your last name in the subject line of your email. 

No phone calls please.

Who We Are:  

American Ancestors is a national center for family history, heritage & culture based on Newbury Street in Boston and one of the world’s top destinations for family history research, according to USA Today. It is the global brand of New England Historic Genealogical Society, America’s oldest and largest genealogical society, founded in 1845. American Ancestors serves more than 500,000 members and subscribers and millions of online users engaged in family history nationally and around the world through its website AmericanAncestors.org with more than ten billion names in its databases.

With spaces and resources dedicated to advancing family history, including the Brim-DeForest Library, the Family Heritage Experience, the R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, the Brue Family Learning Center, the 10 Million Names Project, and the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center, we also maintain a publishing division that produces original genealogical research, scholarship, and educational materials. We strive to connect with our members and the public in meaningful ways, serving as respected expert genealogists and historians who care deeply about helping people.

The Role:  

Under the direction of the Chief Advancement Officer, the Major Gifts Officer will manage a portfolio of major gift prospects to support the vital work of American Ancestors. Using moves management and prospect tracking strategies, the Major Gifts Officer is responsible for the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship of assigned donors. 

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Manage a portfolio of 120+ active and discovery prospects and execute cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for each.
• Responsible for the meaningful cultivation and solicitation of capital campaign and annual giving donors, including face-to-face visits, as well as email, telephone, and mail communications. Goal of 10 face-to-face donor visits per month, with an emphasis on cultivating new support.
• Participate in events, programs and activities for donor outreach, cultivation and stewardship
• Manage a “moves management” program in your portfolio with a focus on cultivating, rating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts.
• Document all cultivation and solicitation activities with prospects/donors and employ prospect clearance policies. Maintain accurate and timely records of all activities in donor database.
• Work with the CAO to identify and strategize giving options and to structure gifts that accommodate donor interests and meet institutional needs/opportunities.
• Ensure that gifts are recorded, acknowledged, and recognized in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Collaboration with the team and across other departments will be important to create a strong and continuous portfolio.
• Provide additional assistance to Executive Leadership Team members and members of the Advancement team as requested.

Skills & Qualifications:  

• Minimum of 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, with a proven track record of securing individual major gifts at the $100,000 level and higher.
• Experience using a donor database, prospect research and other wealth screening tools to support moves management process.
• Develop compelling proposals and gift strategies, including understanding various giving vehicles and planned giving options.
• Exemplary oral and written communications skills are necessary
• Ability to manage several development activities and strategies simultaneously while maintaining timeframes.
• Must have strong organizational and project management skills, as well as the ability to establish priorities and apply available information and resources to complete assignments on a timely basis.
• Excellent social skills and ability to relate to persons from many different backgrounds.
• Significant administrative work, including travel planning, itinerary building, correspondence, and accurate and timely documentation of all work.
• Experience with using Tessitura highly desirable
• Experience with using Microsoft’s Office 365 suite required
• Interest in genealogy, history or related subject matter is a plus.

Education Level:  

• Bachelor’s degree.   

This exciting opportunity is a full time; exempt position located at our headquarters on Newbury Street in Boston. Some of the outstanding benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, generous paid time off, paid holidays, Employee Assistance Program, tuition reimbursement, FSA, 403(b) Retirement plan, and so much more!

Salary: $109,200

To Apply 

Please send resume and a compelling cover letter to, Michelle Major, Director of Human Resources michelle.major@americanancestors.org

Please include your last name and MGO in the subject line. 

No phone calls please.

American Ancestors seeks a full-time Researcher. Under the direction of the Director of Research & Library Services, a Researcher will conduct genealogical and historical research, in written and verbal form. This exciting opportunity is available as a full time, non-exempt, hourly position located at our beautiful headquarters on Newbury Street in Boston and is Tuesday-Saturday. 

Some of the outstanding benefits for the full-time position include medical, dental, vision, AFLAC, life insurance, generous paid time off, paid holidays, Employee Assistance Program, tuition reimbursement, FSA, 403(b) retirement plan, and so much more!!

Responsibilities of the Researcher Position: 

• Provide accurate genealogical and historical research, using knowledge of genealogical skills, techniques, and sources.
• Efficiently conduct research in an allotted hourly time frame
• Assist with in-person reference desk visitation at our Library in Boston. This position is Tuesday-Saturday and must be able to work on-site in Boston at least one day per week.
• Contribute to American Ancestors’ publications including American Ancestors magazine and our online blog, Vita Brevis.
• Attend virtual and in-person genealogical conferences (as needed)

Education Level for the Position: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a history related field

Qualifications:

• Genealogical Training
• 3-4 years of genealogical or historical research experience
• Ability to analyze documents and compile detailed narrative research reports.
• Writing skills
• Computer skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft and Adobe
• Customer services experience
• Knowledge of the American Ancestors’ collection

Hourly salary of $22.50, 35 hours per week.

To Apply 

Please send resume, a genealogical sample (REQUIRED), and a compelling cover letter to Michelle Major, Director of Human Resources michelle.major@americanancestors.org

No phone calls please.

10 Million Names is a collaborative project dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) between the 1500s and 1865.

The project seeks to amplify the voices of people who have been telling their family stories for centuries, connect researchers and data partners with people seeking answers to family history questions, and expand access to data, resources, and information about enslaved African Americans.

American Ancestors seeks a full-time Researcher. Under the direction of the 10 Million Names Director of Research, a Researcher will conduct genealogical and historical research, in written and verbal form. This exciting opportunity is available as a full time, non-exempt, hourly position.  

We are looking for candidates who are experienced in and knowledgeable in African American genealogy, specifically for areas within North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.  

This specific position is open to applicants who currently reside in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia, and is a remote opportunity.  

American Ancestors offers outstanding benefits for full-time employees which include medical, dental, vision, AFLAC, life insurance, generous paid time off, paid holidays, Employee Assistance Program, tuition reimbursement, FSA, 403(b) retirement plan, and so much more! 

Responsibilities of the Researcher Position: 

• Provide accurate genealogical and historical research, using knowledge of genealogical skills, techniques, and sources.
• African American genealogy and historical research, specific to areas within North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
• Efficiently conduct research in an allotted hourly time frame
• Assist with Ask a Genealogist online reference chat through AmericanAncestors.org [Friday shift].
• Contribute to American Ancestors’ publications including American Ancestors magazine and our online blog, Vita Brevis.  
• Attend virtual and in-person genealogical conferences (as needed) 

Education Level for the Position: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a history related field 

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 5 years of genealogical or historical African American research experience (required)
• Expertise in genealogical research with a specialty in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia (required)
• Ability to analyze documents and compile detailed narrative research reports
• Writing skills
• Computer skills  
• Knowledge of Microsoft and Adobe  
• Customer Service Experience
• Knowledge of the American Ancestors’ collection 

Salary range: $22.50/hour 35 hours per week      

How to Apply 

Please send resume, a genealogical sample (REQUIRED), and a compelling cover letter to Michelle Major, Director of Human Resources michelle.major@americanancestors.org

No phone calls please.

American Ancestors is hiring an experienced Accountant reporting to the Controller and working across all departments. The accountant supports the finance team in maintaining accurate financial records, performing account reconciliations, preparing journal entries, and assisting with month-end and year-end close processes, under the direction of the Controller and CFO. This full-time, exempt position is working in our office on a hybrid schedule located on Newbury Street in Boston. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Duties and responsibilities may include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Record daily financial transactions in the general ledger and accounting system.
• Working between multiple systems to ensure accurate records
• Reconcile income statement and balance sheet accounts; book journal entries, including those for current accounts including prepaids, accruals and allocations.
• Conduct billing, collection, and accounting for accounts receivable.
• Reconcile cash and credit accounts with monthly banks statements.
• Work as an accounting team member to ensure success for accurate and timely reporting of financial information
• Assist the Controller and CFO with managing the monthly, quarterly and annual accounting close and annual financial audits.
• Maintain organized and accurate accounting files and documentation.
• Participate in process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• Assist with the annual audit process and tax information gathering process.
• Other responsibilities as designated by the Controller and CFO.

Skills and Qualifications:

• 2 - 4 years of accounting experience, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required
• Microsoft Excel experience required
• Accounting software experience required, SAGE Intacct ideally
• Familiarity with nonprofit or fund accounting is preferred
• Experience with CRM software, ideally Tessitura
• Understanding of GAAP accounting principles
• Commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, and integrity.
• Must be a team player, detail oriented, possess the ability to prioritize tasks well and work with various staff and managers.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to take ownership of processes and work independently.

Some of our amazing benefits include very generous paid time off, plus 12 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays, medical insurance from Harvard Pilgrim, dental from Blue Cross, EyeMed vision, 403 (b) retirement plan with a 7% contribution after 2 years of service, Employee Assistance program, AFLAC, and much more!  

Salary $ 65,500

How to Apply: 

Screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until a candidate is hired.

To apply, please email a resume and compelling cover letter to Michelle Major, Director of Human Resources, michelle.major@americanancestors.org

No phone calls please.