Opportunities

Internships
Volunteering

Careers

From time-to-time, the Forum has job openings. Job announcements are sent out to the Forum's mailing list, and archived on its press releases page.

Campus Watch Managing Editor (Apply by August 9, 2019).

Campus Watch, a project of the Middle East Forum, seeks to hire a full-time managing editor.

Job Description:

Reporting to the director of Campus Watch, the managing editor is primarily responsible for generating articles on Middle East studies in North America.

Responsibilities:

· Produce a steady stream of original articles on Middle East studies, including blogs and longer, research-intensive reports.

· Edit essays and reports (Campus Watch Research) by staff, fellows, and outside authors.

· Research as directed.

Candidate Qualifications:

· Familiarity with American higher education, including ongoing debates, trends, and problems.

· Ability to identify important developments in Middle East studies, from underreported trends to breaking news, and assign and/or write relevant articles in a timely manner.

· Agreement with the outlook of the Middle East Forum and with Campus Watch's mission.

· Excellent writing, editing, and speaking skills; a keen eye for detail.

· Ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple projects and responsibilities.

Location: The Campus Watch managing editor may live anywhere in North America.

Employment Status: Full-time.

Compensation: Non-profit competitive.

To apply:

Prepare an application that includes:

A cover letter explaining your interests, qualifications, experience, and goals.
A résumé or curriculum vitae.

When the application is completed:

Bundle the entire application as a single document, preferably in Adobe Acrobat (Word is also acceptable).
Title it with your name in reverse order, without spacing, as in "ChurchillWinston."
Subject line should be "ChurchillWinston application for Campus Watch Managing Editor."
Submit the application to Thelma Prosser, at Prosser@MEForum.org.

Director of Development

The Middle East Forum (MEF) seeks a full-time, resident Director of Development.

Position:

Reporting to and working in close collaboration with the Director, the Director of Development designs and executes a comprehensive development strategy. Supervising a staff of three, the Director of Development coordinates all fundraising including the major gifts, annual solicitations, foundations, planned giving, special events, and capital campaigns. This individual also oversees MEF's donor relationship management systems.

Responsibilities:

Development strategy:

Participate in developing the annual fundraising campaign, which includes identifying funding needs, targets, and approaches and setting the timetable;
Develop plans to approach individuals, corporations, and foundations;
Supervise the planning and execution of fundraising events;
Manage and build the planned-giving program with a focus on deferred gifts such as bequest expectancies;
Grow a major gifts program including identification, cultivation and solicitation of major donors.

Campaign implementation:

Identify and cultivate new donors;
Respond to donor inquiries;
Continuously meet with prospective and actual donors;
Track solicitation efforts and regularly report to the Director about them;
Oversee proposal writing and reports for grants;
Supervise the scheduling of fundraising calls by the President and Director;
Review and approve solicitation and thank-you letters and tax acknowledgment forms, ensuring these are sent in a timely fashion;
Coordinate the production, review, and dissemination of development, communications, and marketing materials.
Maintain gift recognition programs.
Make public appearances/accept speaking engagements to explain MEF & build interest in it.

Staff supervision:

Supervise the Development Associate, Development Assistant, and Events Director;
Define goals, targets, and benchmarks and evaluate progress;
Determine best practices, standard operating procedures, and workflows;
Lead bi-weekly strategy sessions to gauge fundraising progress, explain new directives, and address feedback.

Technological infrastructure:

Ensure the continuous updating of all data and distribution lists for print and electronic mailings;
Review with the Controller the monthly reconciliation of MEF's finances;
Ensure the integrity and security of all confidential information;
Implement new technologies and new procedures as needed;
Ensure the integration of the donor database with other communications, data tools, and programs.

Candidate qualifications:

Five years of relevant experience to conceptualize and execute a $5-million annual fundraising campaigns.
Proficiency with standard computer applications (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Salesforce).
Organized work habits and high motivation; ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment and under frequent deadlines; careful attention to detail.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Basic agreement with MEF's outlook. (Please see http://www.meforum.org.)

Location:

The successful candidate works in the Forum's office in Center City, Philadelphia.

Employment status:

This is a full-time, salaried position.

Compensation:

Non-profit competitive.

To apply:

Prepare an application that includes:

A cover letter indicating your interests, qualifications, and goals.
A résumé or curriculum vitae.
Names of three references.

When the application is completed:

Bundle the entire application as a single document, preferably in Adobe Acrobat (Word is also acceptable).
Title it with your name in reverse order, without spacing, as in "ChurchillWinston."
Submit the application online by clicking here by 5 p.m. EST on June 28, 2019.

Development Assistant

The Middle East Forum (MEF) seeks a full-time Development Assistant to become an integral part of its fundraising team.

Job Description

This Development Assistant works in a fast-paced environment, providing support to the Director of Development and working in all facets of fundraising, which may occasionally involve travel to events and conferences both in Philadelphia and out of town.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Research potential donors, both individuals and organizations
Enter and update records in Salesforce
Manage Salesforce reports
Draft, edit, and proofread donor communications and campaign materials
Attend MEF events to help coordinate logistics and engage donors
Other duties as assigned

Candidate qualifications:

Bachelor's degree with at least one year of development and/or non-profit experience
Compatibility with MEF's outlook (on which, see http://www.meforum.org)
Proficiency with office management systems and procedures: Salesforce, GSuite, MS Office, Adobe, and messaging applications
Ability to multitask and prioritize workload
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills

Location:

The Forum's offices in Center City, Philadelphia

Employment status:

Full-time

Compensation:

Non-profit competitive
403(b) retirement plan offered
Qualified and affordable group medical plans offered
AFLAC offered
Group life, short term, and long-term disability insurance offered
Commuter benefit plan offered

To apply:

Prepare an application that includes:

A cover letter indicating your interests, qualifications, experience, and goals
A résumé or curriculum vitae
Names of three references

When the application is completed:

Bundle the entire application as a single document, preferably in Adobe Acrobat (Word is also acceptable). Title it with your name in reverse order, without spacing, as in "ChurchillWinston". Indicate in the subject line that you are applying for the Development Assistant position.

Submit the application by close of business EST on April 5th to Thelma Prosser, Prosser@MEForum.org

About the Middle East Forum:

The Middle East Forum, a think & action tank, deals with the Middle East, Islamism, Muslims in the West, U.S. foreign policy, and related topics, urging bold measures to protect Americans and their allies. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019, the Forum recurrently has policy ideas adopted by the U.S. government.

MEF pursues its goals in three ways:

Intellectual, by providing information, context, and policy advice through publications, media appearances, lectures, and private consultations.
Operational, by getting things done in Washington, on campus, in courts of law, and beyond.
Philanthropic, by distributing about $2 million annually in separately earmarked funds to about 75 groups and individuals working to promote our goals.

Internships

The Middle East Forum offers a number of internship positions. Two types of internships are available:

On-location interns: In the offices of the Middle East Forum in Philadelphia.
Distance interns: Away from the MEF offices, with most communications via telecommuting.

Tasks vary:

Research. Use your online skills to help writers produce rigorously researched articles for large popular audiences, suggest avenues for research, and ensure that writers have up-to-date and accurate information at hand as they compose essays. For example, Campus Watch, which critiques Middle East studies in North America, gives interns the opportunity to examine a range of developments and problems within the discipline. Islamist Watch, our program to combat the ideas of lawful Islamism throughout the West, allows interns to assist with document preparation and mailings, collaborate with leading experts in the field, and engage in research that exposes Islamist organizations. Other Forum projects that may require research assistance include the Legal Project and the Washington Project.

Editorial. Learn the ins-and-outs of publishing by working with the managing editor of the Middle East Quarterly in a variety of tasks, including fact-checking, research, proofreading, advertising, and subscription efforts.

Writing. Want to break into print? Forum staff is ready to help you pick a topic, write an article, and place it.

Web Publishing. Help maintain and expand this website (Meforum.org).

Fundraising. Learn how a non-profit raises general operating and project funds from individuals, foundations, and others.

These positions are available throughout the year.

Internships are unpaid. The Forum does reimburse for local transportation expenses and takes part in work-study programs, when applicable.

In some cases, students can receive school credit for their internships at the Forum.

Former MEF interns have gone on to own businesses with interests in the Middle East; join the professional staff of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee; serve as officers in the U.S. Army; write for Fox News and The Wall Street Journal; and work for the U.S. House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.

Students interested in an internship position should e-mail a cover letter and a copy of their resumes to Thelma Prosser, the office manager, at prosser@meforum.org. Any questions should also be directed to Ms. Prosser.

Volunteering for the Middle East Forum

The Middle East Forum invites professionals to serve as part- and full-time volunteers, thus complementing its student internship program.

Tasks:

Volunteers are sought to work on a variety of tasks:

Research.
Writing.
Proof reading.
Administration.
Fundraising.

Qualities sought:

An outlook consonant with that of the Forum (on which, see details).
Understanding of American interests in the Middle East and strategic cooperation with allies in the region.
Familiarity with the contemporary Middle East, the academic study of the region, and radical Islam.
Knowledge of a Middle Eastern language desirable but not required.
Skills at Internet-based research.

Location:

Volunteers who reside in the Philadelphia may work at the Middle East Forum offices.
Volunteers who live elsewhere are invited to use electronic communications and work from where they are. An Internet connection is required in this case.

Terms: