Associate Director of Philanthropy

The Nature Conservancy; United States; Remote; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care benefits

401(k) with employer match

Parental leave

Paid time off

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Employee assistance program

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy seeks an Associate Director of Philanthropy to lead a portfolio of 75-100 qualified donors capable of giving $100,000+ gifts. You will build relationships with donors and act as the primary liaison, crafting donor strategies that align with both donor interests and TNC funding needs.

You will report to the Director of Philanthropy and coordinate with the State Director, boards, and program leaders to implement annual and multi-year fundraising plans aimed at growing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of fundraising experience or an equivalent combination.
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents.
• Experience in asking for and closing gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams.
• Experience designing and managing fundraising plans, including individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of donors contributing $100k+.
• Develop donor strategies to meet funding needs and donor interests.
• Solicit gifts directly from individuals in the portfolio.
• Collaborate with field teams and Worldwide Office for engagement.
• Prepare proposals and annual giving projections for each donor.

Skills

Relationship building

Donor stewardship

Major gifts solicitation

Cross-functional collaboration

Fundraising plan design

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

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 includes a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.Our 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. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Associate Director of Philanthropy (ADOP) is responsible for building and managing a portfolio of 75-100 qualified donors with the capacity to give more than $100,000, once the portfolio is developed. These individuals will be identified through a discovery process and sourced from an existing list of prospects. You will build strong relationships between those donors and TNC and act as the primary relationship manager for their engagement with TNC. You will understand and apply complex principles of developing donor strategies for each person that honors the donor’s interests while helping to meet the organization’s funding needs. You will be responsible requesting gifts directly from individuals in portfolio to achieve individual fundraising goals of $135,000 in new revenue the first year and incrementally increasing to $1,500,000 annually by year 4. In this role, you will discuss sensitive financial information with donors, listen for opportunities for gifts of assets or other non‐cash gifts, such as real estate, and conduct planned giving conversations, as appropriate.The ADOP provides outstanding stewardship to donors to deepen engagement after their gift and identify opportunities to increase future giving. You will seek support from and engage appropriate partners in the field and at TNC’s Worldwide Office, keeping them apprised of interactions, issues and/or concerns, and addressing questions as needed. You will also use TNC’s donor database, make annual giving projections for each donor you manage, understand budgets, and develop proposals.The ADOP reports to the Director of Philanthropy and works closely with the State Director, the Board of Trustees, the philanthropy team and program leaders to plan, implement, and coordinate effective annual and multi‑year strategies to generate support for the critical conservation priorities of TNC, primarily from individuals, but also including private foundations and corporations. In addition to the Director of Philanthropy, the ADOP will be part of a team with a Senior ADOP, Donor Relations Manager, Philanthropy Writer, Philanthropy Program Manager, and Philanthropy Coordinator with ample back‑of‑house support. This position will be primarily based in Kansas City with occasional obligations in St. Louis and travel to remote locations throughout Missouri.

We’re Looking for You:

Do you love building relationships? Are you an authentic communicator and skilled listener? Do you enjoy telling stories about the wonders of our natural world and connecting people with meaningful opportunities to make a difference? Come join us! We’re looking for an individual with fundraising experience to be part of our dedicated and dynamic team.By joining the Missouri team, you will become part of a group that is a force for nature and people. Our team consists of professionals who are leading the conservation efforts in our state and region on multiple fronts, expertly bringing strategy and action together.Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together. From grasslands to forests, to rivers, we envision a Missouri where our rich natural heritage is valued and protected, and people are inspired to conserve nature for future generations. TNC is a global conservation leader and one of the top non‑profits in the United States.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of fundraising experience or an equivalent combination.
• Experience building and maintaining long‑term relationships with fundraising constituents.
• Experience in asking for and closing gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Experience working with cross‑functional teams.
• Experience designing and managing fundraising plans, including individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to determine an individual’s interests, capacity and potential for helping the Conservancy meet its goals, and act appropriately to tie those interests with the Conservancy’s work.
• Ability to educate and inform prospective and existing donors about appropriate giving vehicles.
• Demonstrated experience using listening, diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships and motivate donors and volunteers.
• Proven ability to negotiate high‑profile or sensitive agreements and maintain confidentiality.
• Multi‑lingual skills and multi‑cultural or cross‑cultural experience appreciated.
• A donor‑centered approach to fundraising, an authentic desire to engage with people and understand their interests, and a genuine love for conservation!

What We Bring:

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide‑reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.We’re proud to offer a work‑environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!