Development Manager

Overview

 

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state, regional, national, and international programs, nature centers, and chapters have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. As a sentinel species, we recognize that the fate of birds is inextricably tied to the fate of us all.

 

Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the United States and seven countries in 17 state and regional offices, 41 nature centers, and 23 wildlife sanctuaries. Together as one Audubon, we aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss.

 

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged, with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

 

Position Summary

 

The Development Manager, reporting to the Senior Director of Major Giving and Campaigns, will focus on the qualification of prospects in California, Washington, and Alaska. Their primary responsibility is to identify and qualify a pool of prospective funders to determine whether they have the capacity to make a major gift ($10,000+ annually) that will help Audubon to achieve its ambitious local, state, and national goals. They will help develop and work with mid-level donors and prospects currently giving $500+ annually and capable of giving $10,000+ annually. To do so successfully, they will work closely with members of the development team, the Vice President, Senior Director, Executive Director in all three states, other colleagues throughout the assigned programs, and volunteer board leaders. The right candidate will have lived experience working with people and communities of color—and demonstrated ability in doing so.

 

Essential Functions

 

• Work with the Vice President for Development, the Senior Director of Major Giving and Campaigns, Executive Directors, and volunteer leadership to identify and qualify a community of prospects who can help to grow philanthropic revenue.
• Work with the Executive Directors and other regional staff to develop donor facing materials that highlight the breadth and depth of our work throughout the states.
• Work with mid-level donors and prospects, executing annual plans to qualify their interests and capacity using phone, email, personal visits, solicitations, regular stewardship communication, event invitations, etc.
• Ensure accurate donor data in Salesforce and regularly report on progress towards activity and revenue goals.
• Ensure gifts are coded, acknowledged, and stewarded appropriately.
• Serve as the primary staff liaison to state office advisory board development committees as assigned and support them and Executive Directors in the planning of cultivation and solicitation strategies, events, trainings, and other fundraising activities as appropriate.
• Design and implement cultivation, engagement, and stewardship events (both in person and virtual) to help strengthen relationships with existing supporters and potential prospects.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Work with the Vice President for Development, the Senior Director of Major Giving and Campaigns, Executive Directors, and volunteer leadership to identify and qualify a community of prospects who can help to grow philanthropic revenue.
• Work with the Executive Directors and other regional staff to develop donor facing materials that highlight the breadth and depth of our work throughout the states.
• Work with mid-level donors and prospects, executing annual plans to qualify their interests and capacity using phone, email, personal visits, solicitations, regular stewardship communication, event invitations, etc.
• Ensure accurate donor data in Salesforce and regularly report on progress towards activity and revenue goals.
• Ensure gifts are coded, acknowledged, and stewarded appropriately.
• Serve as the primary staff liaison to state office advisory board development committees as assigned and support them and Executive Directors in the planning of cultivation and solicitation strategies, events, trainings, and other fundraising activities as appropriate.
• Design and implement cultivation, engagement, and stewardship events (both in person and virtual) to help strengthen relationships with existing supporters and potential prospects.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

• The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 5 years of development/sales experience, with at least 2 of those years serving in a frontline fundraising/sales role.
• 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, and preferably high-level volunteers and boards.
• Ability to guide projects, establish and monitor priorities, maintain flexibility, and meet deadlines with little direct supervision.
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical skills, and attention to detail.
• Outstanding stewardship and relationship management skills.
• Knowledge about birds is not required, though experience with and a commitment to conservation is a positive.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is required; experience with fundraising databases (e.g. Salesforce) would be beneficial.
• Travel is required; potentially 30 percent of the time.