Institutional Giving Officer

Organizational Overview: Waterkeeper Alliance is a global movement uniting more than 300 community-based Waterkeeper groups around the world, focusing citizen action on issues that affect our waterways, from pollution to climate change. We collectively patrol and protect nearly six million square miles of rivers, lakes, and coastlines in the Americas, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. For more information, please visit our website.

Position Summary: The Institutional Giving Officer will lead all fundraising activities related to private and corporate foundations. This self-motivated, confident, and experienced fundraiser must demonstrate success and a proven track record of donor retention. They will identify, cultivate, solicit, and secure gifts from corporations and private foundations. The successful candidate will bring a thorough knowledge of grant writing and reporting, as well as a keen interest in building relationships with institutional funders and prospects through outreach and partnership with organizational and volunteer leadership. This role focuses on building lasting relationships with institutional partners while fostering collaborations that align donor goals with the organization’s mission. The ideal candidate will skillfully navigate a dynamic funding landscape and develop strategies that align the Waterkeeper movement’s priorities with those of its funders.

This role is ideal for a strong communicator and exceptional writer who thrives independently and is passionate about advancing a global movement dedicated to protecting and restoring waterways for the benefit of communities, ecosystems, and future generations. The Institutional Giving Officer reports directly to the Development Director.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Create and manage a robust portfolio of corporate and foundation donors, cultivating deep relationships through strategic collaboration, personalized outreach, and stewardship plans.
• Conduct thorough research on current donors and promising leads, developing strategic cultivation plans for past, current, and future supporters. Meet, qualify, and solicit institutional donors and prospects whenever possible.
• Develop impactful proposals and materials that showcase the organization’s mission, results, and funding opportunities.
• Build strong collaborative relationships across internal teams to identify and develop compelling funding opportunities. Demonstrate a deep understanding of Waterkeeper Alliance’s work to donors.
• Work closely with the Advocacy, Legal, and Membership Services teams to understand and communicate organizational initiatives, ensuring proposals and reports accurately reflect programmatic impact.
• Partner with the Development Director and Communications and Marketing team to expand a corporate sponsorship program that includes clear vetting guidelines, program alignment analysis, and tailored engagement opportunities.
• Work with volunteer leadership to identify, cultivate, and solicit leads within their network. Create opportunities for volunteer leaders to assist in donor cultivation and stewardship activities—draft correspondence, board reports, and committee meeting minutes, as needed.
• Enter and maintain up-to-date donor records in Salesforce, including coding, strategy, and interactions/moves. Additionally, manage and update the institutional giving pipeline in project management software, ensuring all activities and timelines are accurately tracked.
• Assist with data entry as needed, and ensure all institutional giving records, both physical and electronic, comply with organizational retention policies.
• Engage in other tasks assigned by the Development Director.

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of demonstrated experience in fundraising, sales, communications, marketing, or related fields;
• A bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience;
• Proven ability to develop and manage complex funding pipelines and meet ambitious fundraising goals in a fast-paced environment;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including research and organizational abilities;
• Strong follow-through with the ability to analyze complex challenges, propose solutions, and present effectively;
• Self-motivated and resourceful, with an entrepreneurial approach and a willingness to “roll up your sleeves;”
• Highly collaborative, communicative, and transparent, with the ability to build strong and effective internal and external relationships;
• Sincere commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) within an organization, across initiatives, and through navigating complex interpersonal and donor relationships;
• Ability to manage multiple projects as priorities change, with an exceptional eye for detail and accuracy;
• Demonstrated success in meeting deadlines and performance goals;
• Proficiency in Salesforce or similar fundraising databases;
• Passion for Waterkeeper Alliance’s mission; and
• A positive attitude and sense of humor.

Job type: Full Time

Salary range: $80,000-$90,000 annually. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Please note that it is uncommon for an individual to be hired at or near the upper end of this range. The final offer is based on the candidate's relevant experience and our dedication to maintaining internal equity. We regularly review global compensation to ensure competitiveness and fairness in the market.

Culture & Benefits: Our staff and Waterkeepers are the heart of our mission, and we are committed to pursuing the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) as we move forward to a more equal and just future as an organization. We aim to create and sustain a workforce that reflects the hundreds of global communities we strive to protect in our fight for clean water, and we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply to join our team!

We offer a competitive industry salary, excellent benefits including 15 vacation days, sick time, paid parental leave (after required period of employment), a hybrid work environment, and a healthy work-life balance to all members of our team.

Start Date: ASAP. This position will remain open until filled.

Applications: Send resume and cover letter to careers@waterkeeper.org with the subject line "Institutional Giving Officer. " No phone calls, please.

Waterkeeper Alliance is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment and is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

Waterkeeper is a registered trademark of Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc.