Associate Director of Development, Major Gifts

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy; United States; Remote; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization seeking an Associate Director of Development for major gifts, representing an opportunity to engage deeply in fundraising efforts. This remote role involves managing donor portfolios, cultivating relationships, and supporting strategic planning to enhance philanthropic contributions, with a competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Company-paid long-term disability and life insurance

403(b) Retirement Plan with up to 7% match

Qualifications

• Five years of experience soliciting and closing major gifts.
• Experience within Conservation or Environmental organizations desired.
• Strong attention to detail with compelling development proposal skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a portfolio of 150-200 major donors.
• Solicit gifts ranging from $10,000 to $1,000,000.
• Collaborate with staff to enhance donor relationships.

Skills

Strong written and oral communication skills

Ability to build strong internal and external relationships

Strategic thinker and problem solver

Education

Bachelors’ degree

Tools

Microsoft Office suite

Donor database

Job description

Associate Director of Development, Major Gifts

Full-time Position

Remote

Organizational Mission

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Development will report to the Associate V.P. Development and represent the ATC in fundraising activities. This role requires an appreciation for the outdoors, diplomacy, and a passion for building meaningful relationships. In this role, you will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospective donors. You will also contribute to strategic planning and represent ATC at fundraising events to build meaningful, donor-centric relationships that lead to a lifelong connection to the ATC.

The Associate Director of Development is responsible for managing the portfolio of major donors and prospective donors. The position is responsible for supporting fundraising and donor cultivation events. The position supports the overall strategic direction and goals of the Development team and ATC.

This position works collaboratively with Membership, Mid-level Gifts, Foundation and Corporate Partnerships and Planned Giving colleagues to develop an integrated annual giving plan incorporating strategies to grow major donor prospects and support. The position supports the Engagement team and the ATC’s overall strategic direction and goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a portfolio of approximately 150-200 major donors and prospects (with the capacity to make gifts of $10k+).
• Develop relationships leading to gifts in the $10,000- $1,000,000 range.
• Designed and implemented engagement plans to secure gifts above $10k, focusing on 7-figure gifts.
• Actively solicit and close gifts from a portfolio of current and prospective donors at the major gift level.
• Travel to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors.
• Schedule weekly thank-you phone calls to donors as assigned.
• Develop solicitation goals, objectives and highly personalized strategies for existing and prospective donors to foster a sense of lifelong connection to the ATC.
• Solicit gifts both independently and collaboratively with ATC staff and board members. Enhance relationships between current and prospective major donors through in-person and virtual visits, phone calls, and meaningful contacts.
• Collaborate with ATC staff to share and exchange pertinent information about donors, strategies, activities and events.
• Support the CEO, Chief Growth Officer, AVP of Development by preparing materials for solicitations, communications, proposals, presentations, and oral briefings.
• Partner with staff to develop a deep and comprehensive understanding of the unique history of the ATC and all its project and program areas.
• Document touchpoints with donors in a moves management system; ensuring key donor information is recorded and pertinent research is captured.
• Appropriately track solicitations, portfolio activity, proposals, revenue, and reporting requirements; ensure timely and accurate data entry ahead of required quarterly performance and KPI reports.
• Assist in the planning and coordination of fundraising events. Plan and implement major gift donor recognition strategies.
• Prepare written materials for major gift donors and prospects, including correspondence, proposals, solicitation materials, profiles forA.T. Journeysmagazine, acknowledgments, etc.
• Other duties as assigned by the CGO and AVP of Development.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelors’ degree and proven track record of at least five years of relevant experiencesoliciting and closing major gifts.
• Ability to use a donor database, prospect research, and other wealth screening tools to aid in moving donors through a moves management process.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, exceptional attention to detail and the ability to articulate a compelling case for philanthropic support programs.
• Understand and be able to translate complex concepts into compelling development proposals.
• Proven ability to build strong internal and external relationships.
• Strong collaborative skills with confidence to influence at all levels to achieve strategic fundraising results.
• Strategic thinker and problem solver who can prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• The high degree of integrity, sensitivity,and good judgment in working with donors and handling confidential information.
• Knowledge of charitable trends and fundraising campaign strategy.
• Advanced ability with Microsoft Office suite and able to learn new systems quickly.
• Experience within Conservation or Environmental organizations desired.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Frequent travel, predominantly along the East Coast, is required.
• Frequently communicates with individuals by phone, video, email and in person. Working on the phone, video or computer for prolonged periods.
• Location: This is a remote position; the candidate should be in one of the 14 trail states on the East Coast.
• If working remotely, candidates must have secure internet access from which to work.
• Annual salary range: ($80k – $100k)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance available.
• Company paid long-term disability and life insurance provided.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with up to 7% match after 1 year of service.

ATC Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness with all employees and volunteers to enable participation and contributions to their fullest potential.

We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive organization and recognize that diversity contributes to an effective and successful organizational culture and mission.

The ATC prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and/or expression), national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, political affiliation, union membership, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the locations where we operate.