Director of Development, North America Region

The Nature Conservancy • Arlington, TX

22h • $134,450 - $195,900

About The Position

What We Can Achieve Together: The Director has responsibility to both grow TNC’s donor pipeline and engage current TNC prospects and donors in a way that will inspire significant gifts. The Director is externally and internally focused with four main responsibilities. First, they will manage a small donor portfolio of current and prospective donors. Second, they are responsible for coordinating, networking, and partnering with fundraisers across TNC to both support existing work with donors and to identify new prospects for NAR and Global priorities. Third, the Director will partner with the Executive VP, North America, Caribbean, and Micronesia and other North America Region Program Leads to prioritize strategic fundraising activity. Finally, they are responsible for working across the fundraising network at TNC to mobilize an average of $10-12 million annually for the NAR budget. Specifically, the Director is responsible for: Working with Executive VP, North America, Caribbean, and Micronesia, other TNC leaders, and development staff to develop, execute, and communicate a development vision and fundraising plan for the NAR business unit that aligns with TNC’s global campaign and multi-year fundraising goals, Having a line of site on and raising, directly and indirectly through supporting fundraisers throughout the organization – $10-12 Million in gifts and pledges annually for the North America Region at the least restricted level possible. Setting an example for raising flexible funds supporting the Global Priorities of TNC, including those in NAR, by increasing the percentage of flexible funds raised by 10%. Leading and managing the NAR matrixed fundraising team, including one direct report and multiple indirect reports, to execute on the fundraising plan and support a networked approach to fundraising for NAR priorities. Managing an Associate Director of Development, who primary focus is fundraising for the Indigenous Right Relations Program, including the Buffalo Restoration Program. Motivating the efforts of a multi-disciplinary network of staff and volunteers in activities related to donor identification, cultivation, and solicitation, participating in some cases as the direct relationship manager and in other cases as an active team member to fundraisers across TNC. Partnering with Executive VP, North America, Caribbean, and Micronesia in prioritizing PG donor work – maintaining a “top 20+” list and ensuring these donor relationships are managed with excellence and the VP is deployed strategically. Growing the donor prospect pipeline for TNC and NAR. The pipeline goal in the first year will be to identify and begin relationships with 10-15 new individuals and foundations that can make 7-figure+ philanthropic gifts to TNC (some managed by Director and some managed by fundraising colleagues within the Principal Gifts team and/or Regions or State Chapters). Engaging key North America Cabinet members (volunteer leaders that are high major and PG level) and working with the key fundraisers on Cabinet member strategies and volunteer networking “work plans”. Partner with the Managing Director, Operational Excellence, NAR to develop the annual development plan for Executive VP and ensure strong linkages with the NAR Management Team, as well as appropriate engagement of NAR program staff (NAPGR, Climate Mitigation, IRR, Community and Equitable Conservation, and Leveraging Our Lands). Ensuring responsiveness to donors/prospective donors and to fundraisers throughout TNC related to engaging them in TNC global priorities. Partnering closely with the development operations team, ensuring the fundraising goals for the North America Team and the progress against those goals are clearly tracked and monitored. Leading the feasibility analysis related to the health of the donor pipeline and adjusting the fundraising plan and goals accordingly. Establishing and monitoring activity level benchmarks and measures of success pertaining to pipeline growth, donor engagement, # of solicitations, dollars raised annually. Serving as a liaison with the Principal Gifts fundraising team and network, the Global Priority Development Team, as well as other key relationship managers and senior conservation staff, to build the best and most robust donor strategies and solicitations – ensuring we represent and communicate the synergies between all the global priority areas to our donors. Serving as a liaison from Global Development to the North America Region to advance “best in class” data-informed strategies and decisions, supporting NAR’s partnership with Global Development across a number of dimensions, including how Leadership of the region encourages Division Directors, BU Leads, DOPs, etc. to understand and meet the fundraising objectives of the Campaign. Partnering with North America Leadership by contributing to the overall strategy and vision of NAR priorities, including alignment with management priorities, communications, and financial management and related systems. Partnering with Leadership to leverage their contacts, relationships and talents related to donor development, engagement and stewardship. Working closely with and managing relations with key stakeholders including senior management, internal teams, donors and volunteers to achieve program goals. Coordinating with, and influencing, a network of internal relationship managers to grow their understanding and awareness of NAR priorities to help advance flexible gifts for global priorities. Socializing our NAR program and priorities to fundraisers and key leaders throughout the organization. The DoD is a member of the Global Priorities Development Team (within Principal Gifts) and works directly with NAR Leadership. The Director reports to the Director of Global Priorities Development with a dotted line to the Executive VP, North America, Caribbean, and Micronesia. We’re Looking for You: At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of Work that You Can Believe in and where you can feel like you are making a difference every day. We’re looking for someone who can serve as a leader, develop donor strategies for successful solicitations and meet fundraising needs. Collaboration, maintaining long relationships and the ability to negotiate complex agreements are key in this role. We hope you’ll consider this position to apply your skills to support TNC’s success, and your own, with drive, compassion and being a part of a dedicated team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 years related experience.
• Experience managing staff, leading a development team and developing a fundraising plan - 5 years minimum.
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with constituents such as major donors and corporations.
• Experience building and executing fundraising plans for a program or an organization.
• Experience in asking for and closing major or planned gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Experience in managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
• Experience working with fundraising principles and practices.
• Experience, coursework or other training in current and evolving trends in charitable giving, particularly in the areas of capital campaigns, major gifts and planned giving.

Responsibilities

• Working with Executive VP, North America, Caribbean, and Micronesia, other TNC leaders, and development staff to develop, execute, and communicate a development vision and fundraising plan for the NAR business unit that aligns with TNC’s global campaign and multi-year fundraising goals
• Having a line of site on and raising, directly and indirectly through supporting fundraisers throughout the organization – $10-12 Million in gifts and pledges annually for the North America Region at the least restricted level possible.
• Setting an example for raising flexible funds supporting the Global Priorities of TNC, including those in NAR, by increasing the percentage of flexible funds raised by 10%.
• Leading and managing the NAR matrixed fundraising team, including one direct report and multiple indirect reports, to execute on the fundraising plan and support a networked approach to fundraising for NAR priorities.
• Managing an Associate Director of Development, who primary focus is fundraising for the Indigenous Right Relations Program, including the Buffalo Restoration Program.
• Motivating the efforts of a multi-disciplinary network of staff and volunteers in activities related to donor identification, cultivation, and solicitation, participating in some cases as the direct relationship manager and in other cases as an active team member to fundraisers across TNC.
• Partnering with Executive VP, North America, Caribbean, and Micronesia in prioritizing PG donor work – maintaining a “top 20+” list and ensuring these donor relationships are managed with excellence and the VP is deployed strategically.
• Growing the donor prospect pipeline for TNC and NAR. The pipeline goal in the first year will be to identify and begin relationships with 10-15 new individuals and foundations that can make 7-figure+ philanthropic gifts to TNC (some managed by Director and some managed by fundraising colleagues within the Principal Gifts team and/or Regions or State Chapters).
• Engaging key North America Cabinet members (volunteer leaders that are high major and PG level) and working with the key fundraisers on Cabinet member strategies and volunteer networking “work plans”.
• Partner with the Managing Director, Operational Excellence, NAR to develop the annual development plan for Executive VP and ensure strong linkages with the NAR Management Team, as well as appropriate engagement of NAR program staff (NAPGR, Climate Mitigation, IRR, Community and Equitable Conservation, and Leveraging Our Lands).
• Ensuring responsiveness to donors/prospective donors and to fundraisers throughout TNC related to engaging them in TNC global priorities.
• Partnering closely with the development operations team, ensuring the fundraising goals for the North America Team and the progress against those goals are clearly tracked and monitored.
• Leading the feasibility analysis related to the health of the donor pipeline and adjusting the fundraising plan and goals accordingly.
• Establishing and monitoring activity level benchmarks and measures of success pertaining to pipeline growth, donor engagement, # of solicitations, dollars raised annually.
• Serving as a liaison with the Principal Gifts fundraising team and network, the Global Priority Development Team, as well as other key relationship managers and senior conservation staff, to build the best and most robust donor strategies and solicitations – ensuring we represent and communicate the synergies between all the global priority areas to our donors.
• Serving as a liaison from Global Development to the North America Region to advance “best in class” data-informed strategies and decisions, supporting NAR’s partnership with Global Development across a number of dimensions, including how Leadership of the region encourages Division Directors, BU Leads, DOPs, etc. to understand and meet the fundraising objectives of the Campaign.
• Partnering with North America Leadership by contributing to the overall strategy and vision of NAR priorities, including alignment with management priorities, communications, and financial management and related systems.
• Partnering with Leadership to leverage their contacts, relationships and talents related to donor development, engagement and stewardship.
• Working closely with and managing relations with key stakeholders including senior management, internal teams, donors and volunteers to achieve program goals.
• Coordinating with, and influencing, a network of internal relationship managers to grow their understanding and awareness of NAR priorities to help advance flexible gifts for global priorities.
• Socializing our NAR program and priorities to fundraisers and key leaders throughout the organization.

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.
• We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

What This Job Offers

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