Associate Director of Philanthropy

The Nature Conservancy • Minneapolis, MN

1d • $82,700 - $95,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

What We Can Achieve Together: As the Associate Director of Philanthropy, you will join a high-performing fundraising team that focuses on major and principal gifts as well as planned giving. You will be responsible for building and managing a portfolio of 75-125 qualified donors, including donors with the capacity to give over $100,000. You will have an annual fundraising goal of $750,000 or more, along with a target for bequest/planned giving commitments. To reach these goals, you will conduct 75-125 donor visits, and 225-375 donor moves each year. As our Associate Director of Philanthropy, you will understand and be able to apply complex principles of developing donor strategies in your work. You will share information about the Conservancy’s mission, vision and priorities in broad terms and encourage donors to make flexible gifts. You will also listen for gifts of assets or other non-cash gift opportunities, such as planned gifts and trade lands. You will be required to use the Conservancy’s donor database and develop funding proposals in partnership with our team’s donor communication specialist. This position will work in a hybrid environment (2 days in our Minneapolis office and 3 days remote). The preferred candidate will be based in the Twin Cities area with an ability to travel across Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota as needed for donor visits (roughly 3-4 weeks per year). Additional travel outside of our chapter (MN, ND, SD) will also be expected for training opportunities and may include exceeding 40-hours a week as needed. The position allows for some flexible hours to better encourage a healthy work-life balance. The work environment may involve infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain. We’re Looking for You: While this position primarily supports the Minnesota-North Dakota-South Dakota Chapter, we partner frequently with colleagues across the globe to implement direct asks that maximize overall giving to the Conservancy. This role will qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota donor prospects, primarily focusing on individuals and foundations. So, we're looking for a collaborative, self-starter with proficiency and comfort utilizing multiple channels of communication, including making phone calls to qualify and disqualify prospects. If you thrive performing mission focused work and making a positive impact, apply now! By joining the MN, ND, SD team, you will become part of a group that is a force for nature and people that make a difference every day! Our team consists of a dedicated group who are leading the conservation effort on multiple fronts and who expertly bring strategy and action together. The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation leader and one of the top fundraising charities in the United States.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years related experience or an equivalent combination.
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents.
• Experience in asking for and closing gifts of $25,000 or more.
• Experience in managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams.
• Experience, coursework, or other training in fundraising principles and practices.
• This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.
• Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers."
• Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in fundraising strategy development, focusing on identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating a pipeline of new donors.
• Experience with Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) software (i.e. Blackbaud, Raiser’s Edge, etc.)
• Understanding of project budgets and building that information into donor proposals.
• Ability to educate and inform prospective and existing donors about appropriate giving vehicles.
• Working knowledge of the basics of charitable gift planning.
• Knowledge of current trends in the charitable giving in the areas of capital campaigns, major gifts or planned giving.
• Ability to determine an individual’s interests, capacity and potential for helping the Conservancy meet its goals, and act appropriately to tie those interests with the Conservancy’s work.
• Demonstrated experience using listening, diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships with donors, volunteers, and staff.
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Proven ability to negotiate high profile or sensitive agreements.

Responsibilities

• building and managing a portfolio of 75-125 qualified donors
• conducting 75-125 donor visits
• conducting 225-375 donor moves each year
• sharing information about the Conservancy’s mission, vision and priorities
• developing funding proposals in partnership with our team’s donor communication specialist
• qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota donor prospects

Benefits

• TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level