Employment Opportunities

Looking to join the American Battlefield Trust team? Explore our open full-time positions and part-time internship opportunities below. Find out more about the benefits and highlights of working at the Trust on our career page.

• Land Preservation Grants Associate
• Land Preservation Grants Manager
• Philanthropic Engagement/Mid-Level Fundraising Manager
• Southeast Region Director of Land Preservation
• Internships

Open Positions at the American Battlefield Trust

At the American Battlefield Trust, we build parks and tell stories — the narrative threads that make up the rich tapestry of our nation. Our culture calls for hardworking, entrepreneurial individuals that take calculated, intelligent risks and are always looking for opportunities to learn and improve. Our staff is united by a commitment to excellence and a passion for keeping American history alive. 

Since 1987, the Trust has saved more than 58,000 acres of hallowed battlefield land from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War. We have reached millions of students and other life-long learners through our education programs.  As our nation heads toward the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we are looking to grow even more and build upon our previous successes.

The American Battlefield Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
 

Land Preservation Grants Associate

The American Battlefield Trust, the nation’s premier historic land preservation nonprofit, seeks a Grants Associate to support efforts to obtain funding from federal, state, and local grant programs to preserve and steward important land throughout the U.S. associated with the Civil War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812. 

Land Preservation Grants Manager

The American Battlefield Trust, the nation’s premier historic land preservation nonprofit, seeks a Grants Manager to obtain and manage funding from federal, state, and local grant programs to preserve and steward important land throughout the U.S. associated with the Civil War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812. 

Position Summary

The Philanthropic Engagement/Mid-Level Fundraising Manager implements an effective mid-level donor program, and will aim to enhance the experience of the American Battlefield Trust’s mid-level donors (roughly defined as $1,000-$10,000). The Manager will aim to increase retention rates, to increase donors’ giving over time, and to identify donors from this pool who have major gift capacity and who want deeper engagement with the Trust. 

Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid Office)
Department: Development
Job Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
Salary Range: $65,000 - $80,000 annually
Benefits: vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, 403(b) retirement plan, employer-paid health, dental and vision insurance, employer-paid life and AD&D insurance, employer-paid disability insurance, paid parental leave, FSA, onsite gym at Washington, DC office 

About the American Battlefield Trust:

The American Battlefield Trust is the only national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving our nation’s battlefields from the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. We are seeking Philanthropic Engagement Manager to cultivate, solicit, and steward our fantastic donors so that we can save these battlefields before they are developed, and educate the public about what happened on these historic fields. 

America will soon be celebrating our 250^th birthday in just a few short years, and at the same time increasing development pressures are threatening our country’s battlefields like never before. Now is the time to save this land before it is too late, which is why the American Battlefield Trust is launching a major capital campaign. 

Principal Responsibilities:

The Philanthropic Engagement/Mid-Level Fundraising Manager:

1. Manages relationships across a portfolio of approximately 400-600 mid-level donors. 

• Engages donors through consistent and active communication to cultivate, steward and solicit them using various channels including phone, email, US mail and occasionally face-to-face, with a premium placed on donor retention and increased giving.
• Uses content such as donor impact reports and preservation victory announcements, to create personal touchpoints for donors based on their interests and giving. Determines which donors would benefit from more personalized or more frequent contact.
• Learns about the donors’ passions and interests, and then develop, execute, evaluate, and refine strategies to connect donors with the organization’s priority projects.

1. Collaborates with the Major Gifts Team and larger Development team to engage donors and prospects, to include participation in special events and other engagement opportunities.
2. Develop and implement a strategy around Donor Advised Fund giving.
3. Conducts prospect research on portfolio and supplements existing donor research as necessary.
4. Serves as an ambassador for the American Battlefield Trust by developing and maintaining a thorough and accurate understanding of its mission, key programs, and funding priorities to effectively connect donors and prospects to its priorities and core services.
5. Utilizes and updates the American Battlefield Trust’s donor CRM, EveryAction by recording activities, contacts, gift proposals, and strategies on an on-going basis consistent with current policies.
6. Writes foundation proposals and grant applications for small foundations on an as needed basis.

Required Competencies and Qualifications:

The American Battlefield Trust seeks a Philanthropic Engagement/Mid-Level Fundraising Manager with:

• A commitment to the mission of American Battlefield Trust to preserve our nation’s hallowed battlegrounds and educate the public about what happened there and why it matters today.
• At least two years of experience in development, donor relations, or other similar roles demonstrating increasingly responsible positions in development.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, deepen and sustain positive relationships with donors. 
• Genuine curiosity in people, an interest in engaging donors, and uncovering their passions and interests. 

• A high level of accountability, self-motivation, and ability to work independently and with confidentiality; 

• Desire to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and ability to write effectively;
• A keen attention to detail and an ability to maintain high standards;
• A professional demeanor and good judgment when interacting with the American Battlefield Trust’s staff and leadership team, high net worth prospective donors, and key stakeholders; and
• Competency with Microsoft Office. Proficiency with CRM databases required, and experience with EveryAction is preferred.

To apply, submit resume and cover letter to developmentresumes@battlefields.org.
 

Southeast Region Director of Land Preservation

Would you like the opportunity to make a permanent and lasting impact to the preservation of uniquely important landscapes where the most consequential events in American history occurred? A newly-created position of Southeast Region Director of Land Preservation at the American Battlefield Trust (the “Trust”), the nation’s largest non-profit battlefield preservation organization, offers the chance for a motivated individual to save extraordinary historic sites for present and future generations. The Trust has protected nearly 60,000 acres of important Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefield land in 25 states. Through its land preservation and history education efforts, the Trust creates and expands battlefield parks that, as outdoor classrooms, tell the story of America’s unique history.

In order to accomplish its important mission, the Trust seeks a Southeast Region Director in the Land Preservation Department to advance our goal to save critical battlefield land at significant Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefields located throughout the southeastern United States, including Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky, and the Carolinas. The Southeast Region Director will work closely with landowners, partner organizations, government grant sources, and other Trust staff to complete land preservation projects, including conservation easements and fee simple transactions to protect battlefield land in perpetuity before it is lost.

Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid Office) or remote work location in a southeastern state     
Job Classification: Full-Time; Exempt           
Department: Land Preservation
Salary Range: $104,000 - $129,000 annually
Benefits: vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, 403(b) retirement plan, employer-paid health, dental and vision insurance, employer-paid life and AD&D insurance, employer-paid disability insurance, paid parental leave, FSA, onsite gym at Washington, DC office 

General Scope of the Position

The Southeast Region Director will be responsible for accomplishing land preservation transactions throughout the southeastern United States, from initial landowner outreach, due diligence, closing, and post-closing activities.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Landowner and Partner Organization Outreach

• Conduct initial outreach to landowners to introduce the Trust and its preservation interest and build lasting working relationships
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with partners, including battlefield friends groups; local, state, and national park personnel; and key local and state officials

Preservation Transaction Structuring and Negotiation

• Present preservation options and structures to landowners, including fee simple acquisitions, life estates transactions, conservation easements, bargain sales, etc.
• Negotiate and structure preservation agreements, including fee simple purchase agreements containing purchase price, feasibility study periods, holdover arrangements, and other terms and conditions, and conservation easements containing provisions to protect the property in perpetuity

Funding, Due Diligence and Closings

• Work with the Trust’s government grant managers to pursue government grant funding for projects
• Work with the Trust’s development team to assist in private fundraising
• Engage contractors to complete all necessary due diligence and feasibility analysis, including appraisals, title reviews, surveys, and environmental assessments
• Conduct substantive reviews of all due diligence reports, identifying any potential issues and developing approaches for issue resolution
• Manage real estate transaction closings, including document review, coordination with landowners, settlement companies and attorneys
• Prepare post-closing documentation, including conservation easements and stewardship arrangements
• Explore opportunities to transfer preserved properties post-closing to partner entities for long-term stewardship and interpretation

Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• B.A./B.S. degree is required; J.D. or MBA is preferred
• At least 5-10 years’ experience in real estate transactions, project management, or related work
• Ability to establish excellent working relationships, be detail-oriented, and meet project deadlines
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite
• Willingness to travel
• Interest in land conservation and American history preservation is essential
• Salary is commensurate with experience

To apply for the position, please send resume, cover letter, salary requirements, and references to LPresumes@battlefields.org.

The American Battlefield Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Internships

The American Battlefield Trust provides students interested in history and conservation with outstanding opportunities to work on meaningful projects and gain perspective on the dynamics of an efficient, top-rated nonprofit organization.

The Trust offers paid part-time internships in our Washington, D.C. office, up to 29 hours per week, as needed throughout the year. Interns will be paid at minimum the Washington, DC, minimum wage, which is currently $17.00/hour. Successful candidates may be able to arrange for varied tenures, depending on availability. While we strive to accommodate the schedules of qualified candidates, the selection process is competitive and organizational staffing needs are consideration criteria.

We are currently accepting applications for the following department(s). Click the links below for additional details or see the department descriptions below for more information:

• Digital - Spring 2025
• Land Preservation

Successful candidates will be contacted by a staff member directly. As part of the selection process, candidates may be asked to participate in an interview, either in person or over the phone. We regret that due to the volume of submissions, we may not be able to respond personally to all applicants. No calls, please.

Candidates must specify the department (first and second choices are welcome) for which they wish to be considered. Application packages containing a cover letter, resume and two writing samples (no more than five pages; excerpts welcome). Please submit applications specifically for Development to developmentresumes@battlefields.org; applications for the Digital Department to digitalresumes@battlefields.org; applications for the History and Education Programs to eduinterns@battlefields.org; applications for Land Preservation to LPresumes@battlefields.org; applications for Policy and Communications to to policyresumes@battlefields.org or:

American Battlefield Trust           
ATTN: Intern Coordinator           
1030 15th Street NW, Suite 900 East        
Washington, D.C. 20005

Internship applicants can expect the following per department or initiative:

Development:

Interns will learn the mechanics of the nonprofit industry, including event planning, prospect research and donor and member cultivation and management. Our current opportunity is for a start date of July 2024.

Education:

These internships entail a wide variety of Civil War and Revolutionary War research, writing, content creation and image or video editing in support of our education programs on our web site, at American Battlefield Trust events and in print. These are just some of the opportunities available to you as an intern for the American Battlefield Trust Education Department. For motivated History majors, who are looking to hone and develop their public history and program management skills, this internship is for you.

Video Production:

The Education team also offers internships specific to video editing. Assistance with filming in the field may also be included depending on the intern’s location and length of the internship. Responsibilities include color correction, sound mixing, illustrating with images and B-Roll, and adding Trust branding; researching Civil War, Revolutionary War and War of 1812 topics in order to best find the best possible imagery to illustrate our programming; and building pages on the Trust website for videos to live.

Policy and Communications:

Interns assist with multimedia advocacy and outreach efforts; planning, preparing for and executing select special events; drafting and distributing news releases; and supporting a wide variety of government and public relations initiatives throughout the year.

Land Preservation:

Interns will perform key administrative tasks regarding land transactions. These tasks may include organizing digital and physical files, researching land transaction records, and assisting with grant applications. These internships are ideal for detail-oriented students interested in real estate or data management. Internships will have hybrid or in-office work schedules, to be determined in consultation with successful candidates.

Digital Media:

Interns assist with social media, marketing, digital video editing, and web publishing to help 19th-century history meet 21st-century technology.           
 

More opportunities

If you’re interested in bringing your experience and passion to the Trust, but we don’t have the right position available right now, please email our HR Manager at rmaris@battlefields.org with your resume and contact information, and we’ll reach out if we ever have an opportunity that we think might be a good fit.