Major Gifts & Development Strategy Director

The Nature Conservancy; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 114,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts seeks an Associate Director of Development to lead donor strategies, cultivate relationships with high-net-worth individuals, and manage a portfolio focused on six- and seven-figure gifts. You will work across chapters, staff major donors, and drive sophisticated funding strategies.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree and 7 years of related experience; travel is expected, with a hybrid schedule and in-office visits to donor meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 7 years related experience.
• Demonstrated success building and managing a pipeline of six- and seven-figure gift prospects and donors.
• Experience in asking for and closing six and seven-figure gifts, including planned gifts and blended gifts.
• Experience in managing and tracking multiple prospects simultaneously.
• Experience working with fundraising principles and practices.
• Experience collaborating with fundraisers and senior leaders across multiple business units and teams in a complex, matrix organization to achieve outcomes.
• Experience, coursework, or other training in current and evolving trends in charitable giving.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of 50 – 85 donors, including donors and prospects with the capacity to give at least $100,000, once the portfolio is developed.
• 40 – 75 visits and 150 – 250 moves annually.
• Annual fundraising goal of $2,000,000 or more, along with a goal for bequest notifications.
• Discovery-based metrics such as annual qualifications, quarterly outreach goals, and other discovery and performance metrics as assigned.
• Persuasively convey the mission of TNC to various groups important to the organization’s overall prosperity.
• Exercise sound judgment in donor strategy, relationship management, and fundraising activities that have implications across programs and organizational priorities.
• Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
• 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.
• Maintain confidentiality of frequently sensitive and sometimes emotionally charged information.
• Able to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and resolve complex donor, project, or relationship-management issues while appropriately escalating matters that require additional review or approval.
• Have implications across programs, departments, and organizational priorities.
• Periodical regional travel, sometimes at short notice, work long hours and weekends as needed.
• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Pipeline management

Relationship building

Prospect qualification

Cross-functional collaboration

Fundraising principles

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts seeks an Associate Director of Development to lead donor strategies, cultivate relationships with high-net-worth individuals, and manage a portfolio focused on six- and seven-figure gifts. You will work across chapters, staff major donors, and drive sophisticated funding strategies.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree and 7 years of related experience; travel is expected, with a hybrid schedule and in-office visits to donor meetings.