Director, Leadership Giving

Dec 19

National Audubon Society
Remote - USA

Anticipated Start Date: 01/27/2025

Description

Reporting to the Senior Director, Leadership Giving, the Director, Leadership Giving will partner with Audubon leadership to grow the leadership giving program for the National Audubon Society. This position will manage a portfolio of current donors with identified growth potential and new prospects with potential for giving at the 5-6-figure level and above, securing commitments totaling between $2MM-$5MM each year.

The Director will work with development colleagues, field leadership, and advisory board members to help chart a path of ambitious growth in major and principal gifts to support Audubon’s hemispheric conservation vision, as well as collaborate with the Gift Planning team to secure bequest intentions and non-cash assets from high-net-worth individuals. They will accomplish this in the following ways: Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 100 – 150 leadership giving donors and prospects capable of giving $10,000 + annually. Communicate Audubon’s ambitious goals, milestones, and programs to inspire new $10,000+ annual gifts, multi-year commitments and grow the gift size of current donors to 6- and 7-figures.

Partner with volunteer leadership, field partners, and engagement team colleagues to develop and implement moves management strategies and high-level prospective donor activities. 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 contributed revenue goals). The successful candidate is an entrepreneurial, results-driven, development professional who is adept at closing six and seven-figure gifts. This position requires up to 50 percent travel in the assigned territories with occasional evening and weekend travel. The preferred location for this role is on the West Coast. Ideally Northern or Southern California.

Responsibilities

Independently manage 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 Senior Director and field leadership to help convey alignment of Audubon’s work with donor priorities. Align prospects interests with emerging priorities.
Collaborate with engagement team on identifying and engaging new leadership giving donors. Identify regional philanthropic leaders who demonstrate affinity for similar causes and develop engagement strategies.
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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent lived experience required
A minimum of ten years of client portfolio management experience, either in the non-profit sector or a transferable field (sales, marketing, communications, etc.)
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

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

Salary range based on geo-differentials:

$115,000-$125,000/year = National
$127,000-$137,000/year = Alaska, CA (not San Francisco), Connecticut, D.C., Chicago, Oyster Bay, NY
$145,000-$155,000/year = NYC (not Oyster Bay), San Francisco, Seattle

How to Apply for this Job

Apply Now

About the Organization

The Organization Founded in 1979, NYC Audubon is an independent grassroots, membership-based organization that affiliates as an urban chapter of the National Audubon Society. NYC Audubon’s mission is to protect wild birds and habitats in the five boroughs of New York City, and, in so doing, to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers.

NYC Audubon’s conservation and science activities, education and public programs, and advocacy and outreach efforts on behalf of urban and migrating birds and wildlife are more critical than ever due to climate change effects and the devastating, steady loss of the natural environment in the City over many decades. A tight-knit team of nine full-time and five part-time staff, along with over 200 volunteers, serves a diverse community of nearly 8,000 direct and National-affiliated members and the people who live and work in America’s largest urban center.

Statement on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

New York City Audubon believes all people have the right to a close connection to the natural world and the right to a healthy environment. Preserving our environment is only possible if we all feel that connection. We recognize that inequities in our society are widespread and hinder access to nature. Only by embracing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility as values and striving for them in practice will we begin to foster a love of nature in all people and inspire them to be active stewards of the environment.

We further believe that to thrive as an organization and effectively advance our mission and vision, the diversity of New York City’s people must be represented in, and welcomed into, our leadership, staff, and membership. The expertise, values, and perspectives of a diverse and inclusive organization are fundamental to expanding the reach and impact of our conservation, advocacy, and educational efforts. We commit to building an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible New York City Audubon, dedicated to protecting nature for all of New York City’s people and its wild birds.

WOC is not responsible for the content of job postings.