Associate Director of Corporate Relations

The Nature Conversancy; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy is seeking an Associate Director of Corporate Relations to lead California’s corporate engagement strategy, building and managing relationships with current and prospective corporate donors and partners.

This role involves collaborating with executives, aligning philanthropy and sustainability interests, and driving six-figure giving through thoughtful collaborations, causes marketing, and policy or sector initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 6 years related experience.
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with corporate donors.
• Experience securing $500,000 in a fiscal year from corporate giving.
• Experience in managing corporate practice and/or cause marketing engagements.
• Experience staffing senior leadership for moves management with corporations.
• Experience managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
• Experience working with fundraising principles and practices.
• Ability to design and implement fundraising strategies, including cultivation, solicitation and recognition strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive corporate engagement strategy for California-managed (and California-supporting) companies, working across teams to develop creative and compelling partnership strategies that engage, retain, and grow corporate opportunities and to measure, evaluate, and report on success.
• Personally manage a portfolio of corporate partners, as well as related C-suite individuals and corporate board members, recording 90–110 moves and at least 10-15 letters of intent or proposals annually, with a focus on deeper engagement and increased funding. Annual fundraising goal of $2,000,000 or more.
• Serve as a thought partner to key stakeholders focused on corporate relationships, including the Global Corporate Relations Principal Gifts, CA Principal Gifts, Global Corporate Engagement, Pacific Division Marketing, and Global Cause Marketing and Brand Partnerships teams, to maximize engagement opportunities across TNC’s corporate portfolio while reducing potential reputational risk.
• Advise other California fundraising colleagues in the management and development of the Chapter’s overall corporate portfolio through strategic partnership, monitoring and sharing of industry trends, and discovery of opportunities to grow Chapter-wide corporate giving and engagement.
• Work with the prospect research team identify and qualify prospective corporate partners and their leadership.
• Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
• Implement and lead multiple collaborative and complex projects, directing work of staff, managing budget, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability.
• Maintain confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.
• Decisions may have program-wide impact, affect staff in non-program areas, and bind the organization financially or legally.
• Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements; be alert to ethical compliance issues.
• Financial responsibility for setting and meeting fundraising objectives, evaluating results, and developing corrective strategies.
• Maximum opportunity to act independently, resolves complex issues within scope.
• Persuasively convey the mission of TNC to diverse groups important to the organization’s overall prosperity.
• Travel frequently and on short notice, work long and weekends as needed.
• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.

Skills

Corporate fundraising

Donor relationships

Moves management

Prospect tracking

Strategic fundraising

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Associate Director of Corporate Relations will help lead TNC California’s corporate engagement work, developing engagement strategies and building strong relationships with a portfolio of new and current corporate donors and prospects. The Associate Director will cultivate relationships with employees, including philanthropy and sustainability leads, as well as those at the executive and C-suite, of corporate entities that have the capacity to provide six-figures of support ranging from purely philanthropic to cause marketing engagements, and those who have the ability and interest to help us achieve our goals through other types of collaborations (policy, practices, sector leadership). Additionally, they will partner with fundraisers in the state with existing corporate relationships to strengthen and grow corporate giving opportunities and with conservation colleagues within the state to identify and shape initiatives that are compelling to companies.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Lead a comprehensive corporate engagement strategy for California-managed (and California-supporting) companies, working across teams to develop creative and compelling partnership strategies that engage, retain, and grow corporate opportunities and to measure, evaluate, and report on success.


• Personally manage a portfolio of corporate partners, as well as related C-suite individuals and corporate board members, recording 90–110 moves and at least 10-15 letters of intent or proposals annually, with a focus on deeper engagement and increased funding. Annual fundraising goal of $2,000,000 or more.


• Serve as a thought partner to key stakeholders focused on corporate relationships, including the Global Corporate Relations Principal Gifts, CA Principal Gifts, Global Corporate Engagement, Pacific Division Marketing, and Global Cause Marketing and Brand Partnerships teams, to maximize engagement opportunities across TNC’s corporate portfolio while reducing potential reputational risk.


• Advise other California fundraising colleagues in the management and development of the Chapter’s overall corporate portfolio through strategic partnership, monitoring and sharing of industry trends, and discovery of opportunities to grow Chapter-wide corporate giving and engagement.


• Work with the prospect research team identify and qualify prospective corporate partners and their leadership.


• Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.


• Implement and lead multiple collaborative and complex projects, directing work of staff, managing budget, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability.


• Maintain confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.


• Decisions may have program-wide impact, affect staff in non-program areas, and bind the organization financially or legally.


• Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements; be alert to ethical compliance issues.


• Financial responsibility for setting and meeting fundraising objectives, evaluating results, and developing corrective strategies.


• Maximum opportunity to act independently, resolves complex issues within scope.


• Persuasively convey the mission of TNC to diverse groups important to the organization’s overall prosperity.


• Travel frequently and on short notice, work long and weekends as needed.


• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.

We’re Looking for You:

Do you have experience at the intersection of corporate engagement and conservation? Are you a strategic fundraiser looking to hone your skills in corporate philanthropy? This may be the opportunity for you!

The California Development team is part of a larger team of development professionals who are leading and influencing how The Nature Conservancy raises funds in support of our ambitious global conservation goals.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree and 6 years related experience.


• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with corporate donors.


• Experience in asking for and closing corporate or corporate foundation gifts of


• undefined


• Experience securing $500,000 in a fiscal year from corporate giving alone.


• Experience in managing or overseeing corporate practice and/or cause marketing engagements.


• Experience staffing senior leadership for moves management with corporations.


• Experience managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.


• Experience working with fundraising principles and practices.


• Ability to design and implement fundraising strategies, including cultivation, solicitation and recognition strategies.

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered \"high risk drivers.\" To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit Auto Safety information page. Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $90,300 – $146,200. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can