Program Regional Strategist

Social Impact Guide; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Sierra Club is seeking a SPARC Program Regional Strategist, Chapter Fundraising to coach and manage fundraising initiatives across multiple chapters. The role focuses on building mid- to major-gift pipelines, coordinating with major gift officers, and supporting volunteers and staff in executing fundraising plans.

Responsibilities include strategic fundraising coaching, grant strategy support, and direct engagement with external funders to grow giving at the chapter level.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience overseeing and implementing fundraising programs for chapters.
• Ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward mid to major gifts.
• Proven coaching skills with individuals and small teams.

Responsibilities

• Coaching chapter leaders with strategic and tactical advice to improve fundraising performance.
• Consults and supports chapter leaders on fundraising strategy and program implementation at individual chapters.
• Leading the development and execution of chapter fundraising plans.
• Coaching chapters on grant strategy and working with Grant Writers.
• Meet with external funders to cultivate relationships and steward donors.
• Collaborating with national fundraising team to coordinate major gift work.

Skills

Fundraising program management

Mid to major gifts

Coaching

Communication

Project management

Confidentiality

Diplomacy

Interpersonal skills

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Job Title

SPARC Program Regional Strategist, Chapter Fundraising

Department

Membership Growth

Location

Remote (anywhere in US). This position requires an ability to travel.

Reports To

SPARC Program Assistant Director, Chapter Fundraising

Supervisor

n/a

Context

At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope

Each of our 64 local chapters is responsible for raising the majority of their annual budget. The SPARC (a Strategic Path for Advancing Relationships through Coaching) Program is a new approach to support chapters with their larger dollar fundraising through project management and coaching. The SPARC Program Regional Strategist plays a crucial role in helping Sierra Club Chapters raise the money they need by helping manage their mid and major gift level program. More than anything else, they will:

• Serve as the lead coach/project manager to an assigned portfolio of chapters who need strategic and tactical advice. Their support to individual chapters will help build effective, efficient fundraising programs focusing on building authentic relationships with mid to major gift level funders.
• Coordinate closely with major gift officers in their region to support strategies for major gift level donors.

Job Activities

• Coaching chapter leaders with strategic and tactical advice to improve fundraising performance.
• Consults and supports chapter leaders on fundraising strategy and program implementation at individual chapters. This may include site visits and in-person coaching.
• Leading the effort to develop and execute chapter fundraising plans. Facilitate the creation of and execution of chapter fundraising plans, meeting with chapters regularly to ensure the completion of fundraising activities specifically related to mid to major gifts.
• Coaching chapters on grant strategy. When needed this role by helping to identify potential grants, support the chapter with grant strategy, and work collaboratively with Grant Writers.
• Meet with external funders. This role may need to manage a portfolio of donors if there is a gap at chapters, by cultivating relationships, making asks, and stewarding donors.
• Coaching chapters on ways to leverage volunteer involvement with fundraising. Works with volunteers and staff leaders to create opportunities for volunteers to participate in fundraising—particularly at the board level.
• Collaborating with leaders in our Advancement and Membership Growth Departments to facilitate coordination between major gift staff, mid-level managers, and chapter leaders. Facilitates collaboration between chapter staff and the national organization’s fundraising team, particularly with major gift work.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Extensive experience overseeing and implementing fundraising programs, preferably in a small non-profit. Your ability to provide sound advice to Chapter Directors, fundraising staff, and volunteer leaders based on your own experience and study is crucial in this role.
• A deep understanding of how to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward $1,000-$25,000+ gifts from individuals. You must be able to understand, teach, and project manage a mid to major gift level fundraising program at chapters.
• Extensive experience and expertise in coaching. You will be working with individuals and small teams that need your advice, assistance, and accountability. Successful coaching skills are a must. You must be able to inspire and instill confidence to fundraise in the chapters you are assigned to.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills. The highly collaborative nature of this position requires exceptional interpersonal skills. You may also meet with external funders, so your ability to present information verbally and in writing is essential.
• Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
• Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.
• Project management and logistics skills. You will be asked to create and oversee projects at an assigned portfolio of chapters all at once. You need to be comfortable designing tools that help you manage this complexity and see projects through to completion. Demonstrated ability to prioritize and meet deadlines and fundraising goals.
• Demonstrated skill using tact and diplomacy with confidential and sensitive matters. Deep understanding of the importance of remaining confidential when working with donor information.

Preferred Skills and Competencies

• Passion for environmental issues and local, grassroots activism
• Experience with Salesforce
• Experience with fundraising operations and/or project management

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.

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