Director of Major Gifts

About NatureServe: 

For nearly 50 years, NatureServe has been the authoritative source for biodiversity data throughout North America. With an international network of over 60 natural heritage programs across the United States, NatureServe is the leading source of information on rare and endangered species and threatened ecosystems. To protect threatened biodiversity, NatureServe works with over 500 conservation scientists to collect, aggregate, and standardize biodiversity statistics, providing comprehensive data to the public for strategic conservation efforts. NatureServe and its network programs develop and manage the most comprehensive data for over 100,000 species and ecosystems, answering fundamental questions about what the critical elements of biodiversity are, where they are found, and how they are doing.  

Job Highlights:

• Remote-first work culture
• Excellent benefits and PTO accrual
• Mission-oriented work

The Role:

NatureServe is currently recruiting a talented, motivated, experienced, and entrepreneurial Director of Major Gifts to join our growing development team. This is a position we envision to be a key ingredient in unlocking our success in building sustainable philanthropic support. 

This individual will expand and implement our strategy for a comprehensive major giving and engagement program. The Director will be responsible for building a robust pipeline of philanthropic gifts from a portfolio including individual, foundation and corporate partners. The Director will also provide leadership to our efforts in identifying new prospects in each category and engaging mid-level donors as a segment and pipeline for future individual major gifts. 

The position reports to the Chief Advancement Officer and will collaborate with leaders across the organization to build effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans. 

This job is perfect for an ambitious and highly successful fundraiser who is a builder and a doer, proactive, productive, highly organized, able to work independently, data-driven, compassionately competitive, curious, and thoughtfully connects with donors and colleagues.  

The Work:

• Build and manage a diverse portfolio of 125-150 donors (individual, foundation, and corporate) to raise $500,000-$1M annually in contributed revenue.
• Implement and track data-driven, relationship-based, precision-fundraising engagement plans for each managed account.
• Collaborate with the board of directors, colleagues, Network partners, the Annual Fund and Database Manager, and communication and marketing colleagues.
• Provide support and strategic advice to leadership in their engagement with donors, including customized donor-centric presentation materials.
• Utilize SalesForce for donor tracking and planning.
• Strategize and manage mid-level donor engagement, cultivating donors as a pipeline for major gifts.
• Cultivate relationships with major gift donors, foundations, and corporate partners to enhance support
• Conduct prospect research to increase the overall number of major gift support to the organization. and create profiles for high potential individuals, foundations and corporate partners.
• Develop strategic approaches to securing foundation and corporate grants, including identifying several new funding sources and partnerships.
• Write compelling grant proposals that align with the organization’s priorities and requirements.
• Manage the grant application process from start to finish, including tracking deadlines and ensuring all requirements are met.
• Translate complex and technical science into compelling and inspiring messages for a lay audience.
• Collaborate with staff and board members to grasp program priorities and focus.
• Plan and execute virtual and in person special events designed to engage donors and prospective donors.
• Develop relationships with major gift individual donors and corporate partners with the goal of retaining and increasing support.
• Provide support and strategic advice to leadership in their engagement with donors, including customized donor-centric presentation materials
• Research and apply best practice cultivation efforts for donors in the $500  to $1,000 range, to cultivate mid-level donors as a segment and as a pipeline for future major gifts
• Utilize Salesforce to track and plan donor cultivation.
• Utilize iWave to create profiles and perform prosect research
• Utilize Foundation Directory Online to identify new foundation prospects
• Other duties as assigned.

Your Experiences:

• You have a passion for biodiversity, conservation, and nature.
• You have at least a Bachelor’s degree in social work, communications, business administration or another relevant field.
• You have 5+ years of fundraising experience with similar responsibilities.
• You understand dynamics of fundraising in a non-profit affiliate or network model.
• You have a demonstrated record of success in generating  commitments from donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
• You have knowledge and command in building relationships with current and prospective donors in-person and online.
• You enjoy writing and are organized.
• You are self-motivated and disciplined to regularly set and achieve work goals.
• You enjoy connecting with people and have strong interpersonal and networking skills with large groups as well as with individuals.
• You want to be part of a highly productive, collaborative and busy team.
• You can travel regionally and nationally and work extended hours, including weekends and evenings when necessary.
• You are proficient with MS Office and have Salesforce or similar CRM experience.

The Team:

You will join the ground floor of building our philanthropic strength. You will work closely and be supported by a team of two development professionals- the Annual Fund and Database Manager and the Chief Advancement Officer.  

Travel, Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• We prioritize work-life balance and support a flexible schedule. This is a full-time position, working 35 hours per week, ability to work 70% within Monday-Thursday, 9 AM – 5 PM eastern, and Friday 9 AM- NOON, eastern, preferred.
• The Director operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses digital communication mediums.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear and will require staring at a computer screen and/or documents for extended periods of time.
• Travel may be necessary to build strong donor and colleague relationships. Anticipated travel ranges 10-20%.
• This position is expected to regularly attend our meetings and training courses.
• As a condition of beginning and maintaining employment, this position is required to adhere to all NatureServe policies, including any COVID workplace and vaccination policies adopted.