Director, Major Giving

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.

North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Reporting to the VP, Development, Central and Mississippi Flyways, the Director, Major Giving will assist in growing the major gifts program primarily across the Rockies territory (Colorado, Wyoming and Utah) for the National Audubon Society. They do so through collaborative fundraising efforts together with field leadership, regionally-based current and former national board members, advisory board members, and other conservation professionals working across the Audubon Network, supporting Audubon in achieving its ambitious state, regional, and national goals. They will accomplish this in the following ways:

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 100 – 150 major gift donors and prospects and capable of giving $10,000 + annually
• Partner with regionally based current and former advisory and fiduciary board members to deepen relationships throughout the Rockies
• Establish a framework for increased annual fundraising results to include securing new $10,000 annual gifts and growing the gift size of current donors to 6-figures
• Lead Rockies Advisory Board engagement activities related to fundraising and participate in board development activities together with field leadership

The Director will partner across the organization, engaging program staff and Board members in fundraising activities, as well as identify giving opportunities. The right candidate will have lived experience working with people and communities of color—and demonstrated skill in doing so. They must also have exceptional written and oral communication skills and demonstrate a commitment to a collaborative work style.

Key metrics for results will include donor engagement (number of personal meetings with prospect and volunteers) and revenue (value of gifts; the number of solicitations; success rate of solicitations; and achievement of programmatic contributed revenue goals—both for Rockies, Flyway and National programs). The successful candidate is an entrepreneurial, results-driven, development professional who is adept at closing six and seven-figure gifts and leading teams.

This role is remote based out of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah. This position requires up to 50 percent travel in the assigned territories with occasional evening and weekend travel.

Compensation:

$115,000-130,000 / year

• Qualify current and prospective donors to develop an active portfolio of 100 – 150 people capable of making major gift level commitments (defined as giving a minimum of $10,000 annually).
• Create and implement personalized cultivation/briefing/ask strategies for all assigned prospects, based on philanthropic focus to enhance philanthropic giving to Audubon.
• Coordinate and guide program leaders and volunteers to help them effectively carry out their responsibilities related to fundraising.
• Fully brief volunteers, executives, and program staff for all interactions with donors, including research information, goals of meeting and talking points.
• Regularly review portfolio and planned strategies with VP, Development, conservation professionals, and others to align prospects interests with emerging priorities.
• Develop prospect pipeline and continually strive to identify and engage new donors.
• Develop and maintain a deep knowledge of local, state, and national priority projects and core initiatives.
• Help advance the skills of other fundraising staff as a leader and mentor on the development team.
• Using the fundraising database (Salesforce), create and record timely reports on all donor interactions.
• Help in the identification of new local, state, and national board members.
• Adhere to the highest ethical standards, demonstrate empathetic disposition and perseverance, reflect optimistic and positive attitude, and convey sensitivity to the needs of donors.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of ten years of client portfolio management experience, either in the non-profit sector or a transferable field (sales, marketing, communications, etc.). An equivalent combination of education and work experience will also be considered.
• Ability to lead and motivate partners within a matrixed organization to achieve results.
• Experience with complex organizations that have a reputation for strategic thinking, organizational excellence, and bold action.
• Demonstrated track record of forming donor relationships that result in annual gifts in the five and six- figure range, and experience soliciting multi-year commitments and seven-figure gifts preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team as well as to be self-directed with a high degree of accountability.
• Skilled at working cross-functionally with stakeholders, as well as high-level volunteers and boards.
• Ability to manage projects, establish and monitor priorities, maintain flexibility, and meet deadlines with little direct supervision.
• Ability to drive, manage and delegate project work; establish and monitor priorities and maintain flexibility while meeting deadlines.
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical skills, and attention to detail.
• Outstanding stewardship and relationship management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is required; experience with fundraising databases (e.g. Salesforce) is preferred.
• Commitment to further Audubon’s efforts to create a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment.
• Interest, understanding and commitment to the conservation of birds, other wildlife and their habitat is critical; as is the ability to communicate Audubon’s mission, goals, and programs effectively and with the highest professional standards.
• Ability to travel approximately 50% of the time.

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users.  If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

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