Director, Leadership Giving

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Director, Leadership Giving, the Director, Leadership Giving will partner with Audubon leadership to grow the leadership giving program for the National Audubon Society. This position will manage a portfolio of current donors with identified growth potential and new prospects with potential for giving at the 5-6-figure level and above, securing commitments totaling between $2MM-$5MM each year. The Director will work with development colleagues, field leadership, and advisory board members to help chart a path of ambitious growth in major and principal gifts to support Audubon’s hemispheric conservation vision, as well as collaborate with the Gift Planning team to secure bequest intentions and non-cash assets from high-net-worth individuals.

They will accomplish this in the following ways:

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 100 – 150 leadership giving donors and prospects capable of giving $10,000 + annually.
• Communicate Audubon’s ambitious goals, milestones, and programs to inspire new $10,000+ annual gifts, multi-year commitments and grow the gift size of current donors to 6- and 7-figures.
• Partner with volunteer leadership, field partners, and engagement team colleagues to develop and implement moves management strategies and high-level prospective donor activities.

The right candidate will have lived experience working with people and communities of color—and demonstrated skill in doing so. They must also have exceptional written and oral communication skills and demonstrate a commitment to a collaborative work style.

Key metrics for results will include donor engagement (number of personal meetings with prospect and volunteers) and revenue (value of gifts; the number of solicitations; success rate of solicitations; and achievement of contributed revenue goals). The successful candidate is an entrepreneurial, results-driven, development professional who is adept at closing six and seven-figure gifts.

This position requires up to 50 percent travel in the assigned territories with occasional evening and weekend travel.

The preferred location for this role is on the West Coast. Ideally Northern or Southern California.

Compensation:

Salary range based on geo-differentials:

• $115,000-$125,000/year = National
• $127,000-$137,000/year = Alaska, CA (not San Francisco), Connecticut, D.C., Chicago, Oyster Bay, NY
• $145,000-$155,000/year = NYC (not Oyster Bay), San Francisco, Seattle

Essential Functions

• Independently manage an active portfolio of 100 – 150 people capable of making major gift level commitments (defined as giving a minimum of $10,000 annually)
• Create and implement personalized cultivation/briefing/ask strategies for all assigned prospects, based on philanthropic focus to enhance philanthropic giving to Audubon.
• Coordinate and guide program leaders and volunteers to help them effectively carry out their responsibilities related to fundraising.
• Fully brief volunteers, executives, and program staff for all interactions with donors, including research information, goals of meeting and talking points.
• Regularly review portfolio and planned strategies with Senior Director and field leadership to help convey alignment of Audubon’s work with donor priorities. Align prospects interests with emerging priorities.
• Collaborate with engagement team on identifying and engaging new leadership giving donors.
• Identify regional philanthropic leaders who demonstrate affinity for similar causes and develop engagement strategies.
• Develop and maintain a deep knowledge of local, state, and national priority projects and core initiatives.
• Help advance the skills of other fundraising staff as a leader and mentor on the development team.
• Using the fundraising database (Salesforce), create and record timely reports on all donor interactions.
• Help in the identification of new local, state, and national board members.
• Adhere to the highest ethical standards, demonstrate empathetic disposition and perseverance, reflect optimistic and positive attitude, and convey sensitivity to the needs of donors.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent lived experience required
• A minimum of ten years of client portfolio management experience, either in the non-profit sector or a transferable field (sales, marketing, communications, etc.)
• Ability to lead and motivate partners within a matrixed organization to achieve results
• Experience with complex organizations that have a reputation for strategic thinking, organizational excellence, and bold action
• Demonstrated track record of forming donor relationships that result in annual gifts in the five and six- figure range, and experience soliciting multi-year commitments and seven-figure gifts preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team as well as to be self-directed with a high degree of accountability
• Skilled at working cross-functionally with stakeholders, as well as high-level volunteers and boards
• Ability to manage projects, establish and monitor priorities, maintain flexibility, and meet deadlines with little direct supervision
• Ability to drive, manage and delegate project work; establish and monitor priorities and maintain flexibility while meeting deadlines
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical skills, and attention to detail
• Outstanding stewardship and relationship management skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is required; experience with fundraising databases (e.g. Salesforce) is preferred
• Commitment to further Audubon’s efforts to create a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment.
• Interest, understanding and commitment to the conservation of birds, other wildlife and their habitat is critical; as is the ability to communicate Audubon’s mission, goals, and programs effectively and with the highest professional standards
• Ability to travel approximately 50% of the time