Senior Development Officer: World Wildlife Fund

Donation Places; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

World Wildlife Fund, Inc. seeks a Senior Development Officer in the Washington, DC area with responsibility for managing major donor relationships and developing individualized giving strategies.

The role supports fundraising from donors capable of significant contributions, including travel and collaboration with program teams. The position is full-time, based in DC with consideration for the NYC metro area, and involves overseeing a donor portfolio and generating substantial philanthropy

Qualifications

• Six years in major gifts knowledge.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Ability to develop tailored donor strategies and proposals.

Responsibilities

• Manage roughly 75–100 donor relationships and portfolios.
• Develop individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Submit 12–18 tailored proposals each year.
• Build philanthropic revenue and maintain donor pipelines.
• Record donor activity in the CRM.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor relationships

Proposal development

Communication

Project management

Tools

CRM

Job description

World Wildlife Fund, Inc. is hiring a Senior Development Officer in Washington, D.C. The full-time position pays $95,600 to $119,500 per year and also considers candidates in the New York City metro area. The officer manages major donor relationships, develops individualized giving strategies, and builds philanthropic revenue.

Role: Senior Development Officer

Employer: World Wildlife Fund, Inc.

Location: Washington, DC; New York City metro area also considered

Employment type: Full-Time

Salary: $95,600 to $119,500 per year

World Wildlife Fund's Conservation Work

World Wildlife Fund works to help people and nature thrive by conserving biodiversity, supporting resilient communities, addressing climate change, protecting wildlife, and conserving vital habitats. The organization's work also advances sustainable solutions.

Major Gift Portfolios And Donor Plans

The officer manages roughly 75 to 100 individual and family donor relationships and prioritizes prospects capable of giving $100,000 or more. Each relationship receives an individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategy connected to the organization's priority initiatives.

• The work combines donor research, relationship planning, proposal development, and direct solicitation. Donor interests are matched with program priorities through collaboration with Development colleagues, program staff, and organizational leadership.
• Maintain a prospect pipeline for gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Record donor engagement and relationship activity in the CRM.
• Submit 12 to 18 tailored proposals or solicitations each year.
• Generate a three-year rolling average of $1 million to $2 million in new and renewed philanthropic revenue.
• Complete 8 to 10 meaningful annual interactions for each donor or qualified prospect.

Washington And New York Work Locations

Washington, D.C. is the listed location for the position, and the New York City metro area is also under consideration. Work mode is Not provided by employer. The role includes approximately 40 percent travel, with the posting naming donor and professional activity as part of the position's operating scope.

The officer works with Development colleagues, program staff, and leadership to align donor interests with priority initiatives. Team strategy and shared learning are part of the role, along with other duties assigned by the employer.

Six Years In Major Gifts

Major-gifts knowledge, customer service, sales skills, and conservation knowledge are required. The position also calls for strong written and verbal communication, project management, prioritization, deadline management, consensus building, and collaboration.

The employer requires legal authorization to work in the United States and does not provide employment visa sponsorship. The posting also identifies flexibility, responsibility, self-motivation, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to inclusion as part of the desired profile.

Revenue And Stewardship Measures

The role's measurable work includes proposal volume, donor interaction frequency, portfolio size, prospect-pipeline development, and philanthropic revenue. CRM documentation keeps donor activity connected to strategy, reporting, and follow-through.

The position also carries a shared-learning component within the Development team. Donor stewardship, major-gift solicitation, and program collaboration connect individual relationships with conservation priorities and community resilience.

The role's donor strategy uses a defined portfolio, repeat contact, tailored proposals, and measurable revenue goals. Its operating standards give the senior officer a clear connection between relationship management and annual fundraising performance.

Application deadline, start date, and application instructions are Not provided by employer. The live application page is the official destination for the current opening.