Job Description

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 towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.

North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds \xe2\x80\x93 and our planet \xe2\x80\x93 are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.

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 brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President of Gift Planning, the Director of Gift Planning will assist in growing and stewarding Audubon\xe2\x80\x99s gift planning program primarily in the Pacific Flyway, cultivating new members for the Grinnell Legacy Society from Audubon\xe2\x80\x99s 2 million members. They will do so through direct solicitation of Audubon members and managing a portfolio of legacy society donors and prospects, as well as collaborative fundraising efforts with other development and leadership professionals across the Audubon network.

Key metrics for results will include the number of new planned gifts committed annually, donor engagement activities (number of personal meetings), and current-year gifts secured.

The Director must have exceptional written and oral communication skills and demonstrate a commitment to working collaboratively with others. The ideal candidate is an accomplished fundraiser, experienced in creating and managing planned gifts, including work with non-cash assets and executing donor contracts. They are adept at closing six and seven-figure gift commitments and discussing blended gifts, with demonstrated experience maintaining successful relationships with major donors and increasing fundraising revenue year-to-year.

This is a non-supervisory position.

This role is remote based out of the California Bay Area. This position requires up to 30 percent travel with occasional evening and weekend travel.

Compensation:

Salary range based on geo-differentials:

• $120,000-$130,000/year = National
• $130,000-$140,000/year = Alaska, CA (not San Francisco), Connecticut, D.C., Chicago, Oyster Bay, NY
• $140,000-$150,000/year = NYC (not Oyster Bay), San Francisco, Seattle

Essential Functions

• Build and manage a portfolio of 100+ planned gift donors and prospects with potential to make planned and/or blended gifts of $100,000 and up.
• Solicit $100,000+ in annual gifts from within the Grinnell Legacy Society pipeline.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert in funding gifts with non-cash assets, and understanding relevant tax, probate, trust and financial/estate planning information to apply this knowledge to address individual donor needs and goals.
• Assist the VP of Gift Planning in advancing the skills of other development staff in setting and meeting gift planning goals, through 5-10 quarterly small-team and 1:1 sessions with fundraisers.
• Advance Audubon\xe2\x80\x99s culture of philanthropy by engaging other Audubon development teams, program leaders, volunteers, advisory board members, and board alumni to deepen relationships with donors and secure blended gifts.
• Maintain relationships with key gift planning service providers, including investors and consultants (State Street Global Advisors, PG Calc, Charitable Solutions).
• Respond to donor inquiries and produce appropriate contracts and paperwork associated with planned gifts, including well-written request letters, donor proposals, and other correspondence.
• Manage workflow, records and data using Audubon\xe2\x80\x99s Salesforce database, creating timely reports on all donor interactions.
• With the VP of Gift Planning, collaborate with other Audubon development and marketing teams to cultivate legacy society members for increased annual gifts.
• Participate in implementing the stewardship plan for Grinnell Legacy Society members.
• Develop and maintain a deep knowledge of Audubon\xe2\x80\x99s local, state, and national priority projects and core initiatives.
• 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

• Proven fundraiser demonstrating progressively increasing responsibility, with 10+ years of experience in gift planning preferred. An equivalent combination of education and work experience in related fields (such as financial or estate planning) will also be considered.
• Bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree or specialized training in financial or estate planning disciplines.
• Experience implementing strategic fundraising plans, with proven success in securing $1,000,000 or more annually in bequest intentions, life income, and blended gifts.
• Experience working with donors making gifts of non-cash assets.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is required; experience with fundraising databases (e.g. Salesforce, Blackbaud) and specific knowledge of gift planning software (PG Calc, GiftWrap, Crescendo) is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team while coaching and inspiring others, as well as to be self-directed with a high degree of accountability and attention to detail.
• Excellent writing skills and demonstrated success in proposal development and/or donor communications. Strong planning, organization, time management, and communication abilities.
• Commitment to further Audubon\xe2\x80\x99s 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 essential, as is the ability to communicate Audubon\xe2\x80\x99s mission, goals, and programs effectively and with the highest professional standards.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 30% of the time, including occasional weekends and evenings.

EEO Statement

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement

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National Audubon Society