Careers at American Ancestors/NEHGS

Under the direction of the VP for Advancement, 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.

Education and Professional Experience

Bachelor’s degree with at least five years of professional experience in the development field including experience in corporate and foundation gift cultivation, working with foundation program officers, grant proposal writing, and successful solicitation at the $100,000 level and higher.

Duties and Responsibilities

• 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/ NEHGS 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 VP for Advancement 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.
• This position is remote/hybrid and living within the Northeast ACELA corridor with easy access to Boston and New York City for program officer and corporate meetings.

Skill and Qualifications

• Exemplary oral and written communications skills are necessary.
• This position is remote/hybrid and living within the Northeast Acela corridor with easy access to Boston and New York City for program officer and corporate meetings.
• 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.

Salary

$76,000-$96,000

How to Apply

Please send resume and a compelling cover letter to, Michelle Major, Director of Human Resources at mmajor@nehgs.org. No phone calls, please.

American Ancestors is seeking a Research Director for our 10 Million Names project. This is a full-time position that can be hybrid at our beautiful Newbury Street, Boston location or, for the well matched person, fully remote.

Some of our outstanding benefits include medical, dental, vision, flexible spending account, generous paid time off, 12 paid holidays, 403 b retirement plan, and much more!

Project Description

Between 1565 and 1865, ten million men, women, and children were enslaved on American soil. Four million of these individuals survived the Civil War and became U.S. citizens in 1865. These women, men, and children have at least 40 million descendants living in America today, but slavery separated families, erased names, and obscured facts.

As a result, more than 40 million Americans encounter a “brick wall” when attempting to trace their ancestors before 1870, the date of the first census to record previously enslaved people. This lasting legacy of slavery—the erasure of family history—is still with us today.

Through genealogical research, the 10 Million Names project proposes to recover the names of the ten million people enslaved in America and restore those names to their families and to history. We aim to amplify the voices of people who have been telling their family stories for centuries, to connect researchers and data partners with people seeking answers to family history questions, and to expand access to data, resources, and information about enslaved African Americans.

Function of the Position

Reporting to the Vice President of Research and Library Services the Research Director, 10 Million Names, is responsible for providing oversight and direction to NEHGS staff, volunteers, and contractors who perform genealogical research for members and other clients, assuring that the research experience and output is thorough, accurate, timely, and demonstrates a high regard for customer service. The incumbent will also supervise financial tracking and ensuring that the research process moves forward according to established schedules.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Choose pilot projects, verify and clarify research expectations, determine report type (family trees, databases, charts, travelogues, Register style, ahnentafels, family narratives, etc.) for the 10 Million Names project.
• Assign staff, volunteers, and contractors according to researcher experience, expertise, and availability to one (or several) of the 10 Million Names pilot projects.
• Ensure research process moves forward according to established schedules.
• Review outgoing research to ensure deliverables are well-written, thorough, accurate, and meet the established expectations of the constituent and donors.
• Supervise financial tracking to adhere to budget standards and guidelines.
• Oversee training and support opportunities for Ten Million Names staff to build, maintain, and share historical and genealogical research knowledge and experience.
• Perform research, as time permits.
• Other responsibilities, as assigned.

Skill and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in History, Library Science, Museum Studies, or related subject.
• Proven accuracy in genealogical and historical research, with 5+ years of professional experience focusing on Black, Indigenous, and persons of color (BIPOC) research.
• Demonstration of excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Prior experience with budget management.
• Prior experience in personnel management of teams of 5 or more staff members.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
• Ability to manage and prioritize several tasks simultaneously.

Salary

$69,000-$74,000

How to Apply

Please send a compelling cover letter and resume to Michelle Major at mmajor@nehgs.org. No phone calls, please.

Multi-tasking in a busy time sensitive office, this position will assist the Director of Research & Library Services and the Research & Library Services Department. Excellent clerical skills are required as well as knowledge of Microsoft Office, CRM software, and PayPal. This position requires excellent communication skills and telephone etiquette in dealing with patrons as well as written communication skills. This position will respond to patron requests via email and telephone in a timely manner. This is a full-time non exempt , hourly position eligible for benefits.

The position is located at our headquarters on beautiful Newbury Street in Boston.

Some of our outstanding benefits include medical, dental, vision, flexible spending account, generous paid time off, 12 paid holidays, 403 b retirement plan, and much more!

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinates activities for the Research & Library Services Team
• Assist Library Services with Photocopy and Manuscript requests, along with billing patrons
• Maintain proper, positive, and respectful communication with future prospective clients via email, telephone, and in person meetings.
• Assists with research-for-hire intake for genealogy projects.
• Point of contact for communication with clients regarding research, billing, paperwork, questions, and concerns, which includes email, mail, phone, and voicemail.
• Maintain Tessitura, the Advancement log, and Research Services log in an organized and clear manner.
• Assist with training, time management, and productivity of Research & Library Services Department
• Collaborate, share, and provide status updates with advancement, membership, and other departments to ensure strong communication between departments.
• Oversee the organization, filling, and storing of past archived cases. Assist Collection Services with the archive and scanning process.
• Assist Researchers and Genealogists with ordering vital records.
• Assist Director of Research & Library Services with tasks relating to Lineage Societies reviews and billing

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Skills

• Computer skills; with emphasis in Microsoft Office, Mail-Merge, CRM software, PayPal, Web Content Management Software.
• Familiarity with Shopify.
• Customer service experience a must.
• High level of organizational skills and attention to detail
• Interest in genealogy, history, or related subject matter.

Salary

$22.50 an hour

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume to Michelle Major, Director of Human Resources at mmajor@nehgs.org. Please include your last name and position title of RS Coordinator in the title of your email. No phone calls, please.

American Ancestors and the New England Historic Genealogical Society seeks a full-time or part-time Researcher. Under the direction of Vice President of Research & Library Services and the Manager 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 or part-time, non-exempt, hourly position located at our beautiful headquarters on Newbury Street in Boston.

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

• Provide accurate genealogical and historical research, using knowledge of genealogical skills, techniques, and sources.
• Efficiently conduct research in an allotted hourly time frame
• If full-time, assist with in-person reference desk visitation at our Library in Boston
• Contribute to the New England Historic Genealogical Society publications including American Ancestors magazine and our online blog, Vita Brevis.
• Attend virtual and in-person genealogical conferences (as needed)

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 NEHGS collection

Education Level

Bachelor’s degree in a history related field or related experience.

Salary

$22 per hour

How To Apply

Please send resume, genealogical sample, and a compelling cover letter to Michelle Major, Director of Human Resources at mmajor@nehgs.org. No phone calls please.