Senior Director of Institutional Giving

Stand.earth is experiencing unprecedented growth, more than doubling in size since 2019. As we enter a new era of our organization's history, we are seeking an experienced, senior-level fundraising professional to lead operations, communications, and engagement activities for a growing portfolio of international, national, and regional foundation investors.  Stand.earth’s institutional giving program generates more than $10M in revenue from 120 active foundation relationships and represents approximately 80% of the organization’s total revenue.  

If you’ve got solid experience in building and implementing philanthropic visions for mid-to large-size non-profit organizations, generating six-to seven-figure grants from foundation partners, and you get excited about leading fundraising teams and establishing industry-leading fundraising standards, then this might be the perfect job for you. You will be joining an international team of strategists, negotiators, campaigners, and activists that achieves outsized results and is bursting with creativity, innovation, and untapped potential. 

Stand.earth is committed to engaging in the process of decolonization. We also have long standing commitments to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI). These commitments touch all of our programs. The Senior Director of Institutional Giving will be expected to understand and embrace these concepts and incorporate them into the design and execution of our expanded work with internal stakeholders and funders. Your work will be guided by Stand.earth’s Cultural Principles and a strong donor-centric orientation. Consistency, honesty, transparency, follow-through, justice, service, dedication, creativity, and innovation. If these keywords resonate, then Stand.earth might be the right place for you. 

We encourage applicants to apply by May 6th, 2022. This position is open until filled.

About Stand.earth

Stand.earth is a nonprofit environmental organization working to create a world where respect for people and the environment comes first. Our campaigns challenge destructive corporate and governmental practices, demand accountability, and create solutions that support all of us — and the environment and climate upon which we depend. Stand’s strategic approach and fierce determination have yielded extraordinary results: Since 2000, we’ve secured the protection of 65 million acres of wilderness, shifted billions of dollars of corporate purchasing toward responsible options, and transformed the environmental practices of more than 100 major U.S. corporations. Stand.earth operates in the United States and Canada.

Stand recognizes and respects the sovereignty of First Nations and tribes, as well as the rights of Indigenous Peoples and frontline communities. These communities are often first and most directly impacted by environmental pollution and climate change, and they provide critical leadership in developing solutions.

Pollution, climate change, and corporations’ bad behavior disproportionately hurts the most marginalized people in society — including people of color, people from working class backgrounds, people with disabilities, women and LGBTQ+ people. To develop transformative solutions, these communities must be centered in the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other historically marginalized communities. If you require assistance applying to this opportunity, please contact equalopportunity@stand.earth.

The Position

Reporting to the Development Director, Stand.earth’s Senior Director of Institutional Giving is responsible for developing, planning and executing fundraising strategies to maintain and increase foundation funding.  This role ensures that processes and systems are in place to effectively support the portion of Stand’s development operations directed at the foundation markets, which includes supervision and  effective stewardship of 400+ foundation accounts as well as establishing and meeting annual foundation revenue goals (including annual reforecast and related cash flow processes).

The Senior Director of Institutional Giving is an integral member of Stand’s highly skilled team of professionals and supervises a team that includes a full-time development associate, a full time grant writer/researcher and two part-time grant writers, as well as other 3rd party contractors when necessary.

This is a full-time exempt position with excellent benefits. Salary will be commensurate with experience and location, and will likely be within the range of $90,000 to $110,000 USD or $100,000 to $128,700 CAD.  Stand.earth also offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package including excellent health, dental insurance (covering full premiums for US employees and their dependents), flexible health spending accounts, 3 weeks paid vacation in the first year (increases in future years), 20 paid holidays, 4.5-day work week, and a 3-month paid sabbatical after 7 years continuous full-time employment.

Ideally this role will be based in the US or Canada and candidates who are comfortable working Pacific, Mountain or Eastern time zones.  To start, the role will be remote from the comfort of the candidate's own home. There may also be the option to work out of one of our hub offices.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Vision -  Define and determine the strategic direction of the institutional giving program; manage all aspects of foundation giving program in the US & Canada; provide strategic leadership on lead development and cultivation of funders; supervise grants calendar and complete quarterly audit of foundation records; supervise, manage, and mentor grants team and broader campaign staff to ensure efficient workflows and to optimize team performance and morale; implement project management tracking systems (e.g. Asana and Salesforce); set agendas and facilitate regular team meetings to ensure effective foundation relations; and supervise knowledge management systems and processes for the institutional giving program.  

Narrative Development - Supervise the creation and editorial development of all narratives for foundation program; ensure the creation and management of boilerplates for use by all staff; conduct interviews with campaign and executive staff (as necessary) to update and create new content related to organization-wide and campaign-specific activities, and structure pitches to meet the needs of Stand as well as new and existing foundation prospects.  

Account Management, Lead Development and Prospecting -  Design and steward all moves management with institutional accounts to ensure timely engagement with funders  in advance of all known deadlines; direct all aspects of research and prospect activities for Stand’s foundation program, with an emphasis on supervising prospect research  and analysis, the regularly scheduled review and updating of Stands database of 400+ foundation records, supervision of the creation of briefing documents for foundation meetings and conferences, recruit and manage contract research support, innovate new lead development strategies based on current campaigns and trends in the field, provide strategic recommendations for foundation cultivation activities, and other lead development projects, as needed.

Revenue Planning and Reporting - Lead all aspects of foundation program revenue planning and stewardship; including org-wide budgeting and reforecasting; cash flow and reconciliation; dashboards; supervision of financial controls and submissions to foundation partners including project budgets and reports.   Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Seven to 10 years experience in nonprofit development/foundation work or similar applicable professional experience. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to navigate conflict skillfully. Demonstrated ability to manage highly sensitive information and maintain confidentiality; operate with discretion and diplomacy at all times. Proven ability to think strategically and tactically while also managing details. Strong time management skills. Proven track record in building, managing, and mentoring a highly effective, diverse team, as well as demonstrated success with generating funding from corporate and foundation sources. High degree of organization. Ability and willingness to operate across a continuum of activities, from the strategic to the routine. Excellent communication and exceptional writing skills as demonstrated by the ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents; ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.  Computer proficiency in basic computer applications, including spreadsheet, word processing and internet.  Comfortable working in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment.

Personal Characteristics

Enthusiasm and passion for Stand.earth’s mission  Thrives in a rapid response environment and enjoys working with a dynamic team Possesses self-awareness, confidence and creativity Committed to the values of equity, belonging, authentic communication and collaboration Sense of humor

To Apply

Please send a 1-page cover letter,  resume or CV, and a combination of three redacted fundraising writing or presentation samples (e.g. a brief, solicitation letter/pitch, concept note or proposal, presentation, meeting briefing, or planning documents; please limit each sample to four pages or less) to workwithus@stand.earth with your name in the subject line and on the file name of each attachment.  In your cover letter, tell us what’s motivating you to apply for this position and what you would bring with you to advance the mission and community of Stand.earth. Please also make sure to let us know how you heard about this position. The recruitment and interview process includes a time-bound anonymous skills assessment and three rounds of interviews. No phone calls, please. Only those who will be interviewed will be contacted.