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Vice-President, Philanthropy

Employer
The Student Conservation Association
Location
Virginia, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Closing date
Feb 24, 2022
Vice-President, Philanthropy  

The Student Conservation Association is seeking a VP-Philanthropy with exceptional drive and insights to lead the strategy and implementation of integrated philanthropy programs to ensure a diverse and sustainable revenue portfolio to meet institutional objectives. Reporting to the CEO, the VP will develop and effectively execute a comprehensive philanthropic fundraising strategy and annual plan that promotes our mission, financial sustainability, and growth. The preferred location for this position is in our Arlington, VA office, remote options considered.

 

About SCA SCA conserves lands and transforms lives. Through hands-on service in the great outdoors, the Student Conservation Association (SCA) co-powers young leaders from all backgrounds to protect our nations irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures. As they make these vital contributions to our public lands, SCA members gain the skills and insights necessary to launch conservation careers. Indeed, 70% of SCA alumni are currently working or studying in an environmental field. Yet no matter their vocation, these alums help forge a more resilient world through continued stewardship and leadership.

 

Independent research shows SCA experiences spur character development and help young adults prosper long term. Pre- and post-program studies show SCA participants feel they matter more, report greater self-confidence and esteem, improve their teamwork and practice a higher level of civic engagement, key skills that enhance one's readiness for school, work, and life.

 

SCA prioritizes the values of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion and is working on a multi-pronged strategy to ensure these values are at the core of its programming and operations. Our definition of success requires SCA to broaden the reach of all its programs, with special emphasis on its Urban Green initiative, a decades-long effort to engage formerly underrepresented people in implementing sustainability initiatives in the communities where they live. Funded for the past five years by the JPB Foundation and other funders, this initiative is poised to reach more people in more communities in the decade ahead.

 

SCA was founded more than 60 years ago by Liz Putnam, then a young college graduate concerned by reports that America's national parks were at risk of being loved to death. Liz knew young people could make a difference on our lands and waters, and SCA has since expanded to aid hundreds of federal, state, and municipal sites each year. In the process, SCA launched a youth movement which we continue to advance today. Conservation begins here.

 

About the Position The Vice President is a member of the Executive Team, shaping and guiding the course and policies of the institution. The VP will provide internal guidance and direction to a nationally distributed team, ensuring completion and delivery of goals related to achieving strategic and annual philanthropic development targets. Externally, the VP will represent SCA as a national leader in the youth conservation movement.

The Vice President will be responsible for leading and directing an experienced and effective national team in the development and implementation of coordinated fundraising strategies for national and state- level fundraising, and support the SVP-Program in creating a team of city directors responsible for city- level fundraising.

They will collaborate closely with other senior executives to ensure that philanthropy strategies are closely aligned and mutually supportive of Finance, Marketing, Recruiting and Program strategies to effectively achieve overall organizational goals and revenue objectives.

 

Responsibilities: Strategy development and oversight of all aspects of fundraising, alumni, direct marketing, annual fund, major gifts, planned gifts, corporate donations and sponsorship, foundation giving, and philanthropy operations. Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization that engages and inspires staff and board to achieve SCAs highest philanthropic potential. Directly manage a portfolio of donors and a personal fundraising goal, and work with the CEO on their portfolio. Work with the team to steward all donors and cultivate new prospects, consistent with a culture of growth. Work with the Systems Advancement Team to maintain streamlined donor and prospect records, ensuring data and reporting integrity. Ensure cross-departmental collaboration with marketing/communications, program, finance and other teams to achieve SCAs goals. Establish relationships, negotiate contracts, and manage effective working relationships with donors, vendors, and consultants. Personally manage a portfolio of national level donors and meet annual fundraising targets. Prepare timely and accurate budgets, informed revenue projections and relevant reports and dashboards on the status of fundraising for both the Board and Executive Team, along with analysis of trends and future implications with recommendations for SCA. Contribute to organizational and departmental strategic and operational planning, policies, and procedures. Participate in and/or coordinate various organizational projects at the direction of the CEO.   Qualifications

The successful VP-Philanthropy will have many of the following qualifications and attributes. Business Development:

Minimum of ten years of senior management experience directly supervising individual, corporate and foundation giving ($10M+ revenue; 10+ years preferred) A strong understanding and demonstrated experience with the range of philanthropy programs at SCA, philanthropic trends and insights into future opportunities. Strong written and verbal communication skills to support the mission of SCA, lead and inspire confidence, establish credibility and positively influence others thinking and behavior. Experience working at a senior level to design and implement growth strategies resulting in greater mission impact and financial success. Management:

Experience leading a comparably-sized unit within a complex organization, with multiple operating locations, diverse stakeholders and various funding streams. Commitment to building and supporting diverse teams and to fostering a culture that prioritizes justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion organization-wide. Track-record leading teams through transitions and change, including confidence making difficult choices and establishing clear decision-making processes and channels. Ability to effectively manage a distributed team, set priorities, juggle competing demands within established budgets and overall organizational priorities. Experience cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with a governing board. Facility with technology, including Microsoft Outlook, Teams and Zoom platforms. Knowledge of and effective use of Raisers Edge and SalesForce is highly desirable. An undergraduate degree is required and an advanced degree is preferred. Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification is preferred. Cultural:

The highest integrity, wisdom, humor, emotional intelligence and can-do attitude; adept at conflict management; even-keeled and calm when leading through challenges. A commitment to SCAs values and demonstrated capacity leading with those values. Passion for the environment and youth development demonstrated through professional experience or volunteer service. Conditions of Employment Required to demonstrate full vaccination status for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized or FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine; OR Receive from SCA a reasonable accommodation granting an exemption from vaccine requirements based on a medical disability or because of a sincerely held religious belief. Additional information and instructions regarding how to request a reasonable accommodation will be provided at the time of selection.

The Student Conservation Association, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

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