Investments & Partnerships Officer (major gifts officer)

Sequoia Riverlands Trust • Visalia, CA

65d • $75,000 - $95,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Investments & Partnerships Officer serves as a key ambassador and relationship-builder for Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT). Working closely with the Executive Director (ED), Chief Investments and Partnerships Officer (CIPO), leadership team, and Board of Directors, this position plays a vital role in helping SRT achieve its ambitious goals for growth and impact. The Investments & Partnerships Officer will cultivate and steward a diverse portfolio of corporate, foundation, and individual supporters to advance SRT’s conservation mission. This role leads a six-figure fundraising initiative and collaborates across the organization to strengthen engagement with individuals, foundations, corporations, agencies, and community partners—encouraging their investment of time, expertise, and financial support. The Investments & Partnerships Officer plays a proactive role in expanding Sequoia Riverlands Trust’s community of supporters. This position is responsible for identifying, researching, and cultivating new philanthropic prospects—including individuals, corporations, and foundations—whose interests align with SRT’s mission. The Investments & Partnerships Officer initiates and maintains relationships with donors and partners with the capacity to contribute $5,000 or more, crafting thoughtful cultivation and stewardship strategies that highlight the full range of SRT’s programs and impact. This includes developing targeted prospect lists, creating personalized engagement plans, and building long-term relationships that lead to increased investment in SRT’s work. In addition, this role develops solicitation plans, delivers meaningful follow-up reports, and helps strengthen the infrastructure, staffing, and systems needed to achieve SRT’s long-term fundraising objectives.

Requirements

• Strategic Thinking: Able to analyze data and donor trends to provide insights that inform fundraising strategies and drive meaningful results.
• Relationship Management: Skilled at cultivating and sustaining relationships with individuals, corporations, and philanthropic partners through trust, professionalism, and genuine engagement.
• Collaboration & Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across departments and communicate clearly with the Executive Director, CIPO, Board of Directors, and community stakeholders.
• Portfolio Management: Demonstrated ability to manage a diverse portfolio of donors, ensuring consistent outreach, follow-up, and stewardship tailored to each relationship.
• Database Proficiency: Comfortable using donor management or CRM systems to record activity, track progress, and generate reports with accuracy and efficiency.
• Organizational Skills: Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain organized systems for data and documents.
• Administrative Excellence: Reliable and thorough in handling the operational and logistical aspects of fundraising, including reporting, scheduling, and documentation.
• Adaptability: Flexible and resourceful, able to adjust to shifting priorities and emerging opportunities in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Mission-Driven Mindset: Passionate about SRT’s mission and motivated to advance the conservation of California’s lands and waters through philanthropy and partnership.

Nice To Haves

• Educational Foundation: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as communications, nonprofit management, business, or environmental studies; advanced degree or equivalent professional experience preferred.
• Fundraising Experience: Prior success in major gifts, corporate partnerships, or foundation relations within a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• CRM Expertise: Experience using donor management or CRM systems (e.g., Charity Engine, Virtuous, Bloomerang, Salesforce, or Raiser’s Edge) to track, analyze, and report fundraising activities.
• Storytelling Ability: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives that inspire donors and convey impact.
• Project Leadership: Demonstrated experience planning and executing multi-step fundraising or engagement projects, from strategy through implementation.
• Analytical Mindset: Comfortable interpreting data and metrics to inform decisions and measure outcomes.
• Team-Oriented Spirit: Collaborative, empathetic, and energized by working with colleagues, board members, and volunteers to achieve shared goals.
• Professional Poise: Confidence, discretion, and authenticity when interacting with donors, partners, and community leaders.
• Commitment to Mission: Genuine enthusiasm for SRT’s work to conserve and restore the lands, waters, and wildlife of California’s heartland, and a desire to connect others to that mission.
• Continuous Learner: Curious, proactive, and eager to grow in the field of philanthropy and conservation.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of current and prospective supporters, ensuring consistent, personalized engagement and stewardship.
• Identify and cultivate new donors and partners with the capacity to make donations of $5,000 or more.
• Provide timely and meaningful follow-up reports to donors on the impact of their support, tailored to their preferred communication style.
• Partner with the ED and CIPO to develop and refine the organization’s business plan and philanthropy dashboard, including goals, metrics, and financial strategies.
• Partner with the ED and CIPO to engage the Board of Directors in strategic discussions around relationship building, fundraising projections, and impact tracking.
• Communicate SRT’s goals and strategies to stakeholders and invite their feedback and collaboration.
• Serve as a liaison supporting the outreach and relationship-building work of the Board, ED, and CIPO with key leaders across philanthropy, business, government, and the nonprofit sector.
• Provide direct, proactive support to a subset of Board Members in their donor and partner engagement efforts.
• Record all donor and prospect interactions in the CRM system within 24 hours, maintaining accurate and up-to-date data.
• Prepare and analyze bi-weekly and monthly pipeline reports summarizing progress across individual, foundation, and corporate relationships.
• Co-lead planning and implementation for major giving and corporate partnership programs, including goal-setting and policy development.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of SRT’s fundraising and partnership goals.

Benefits

• SRT offers a competitive benefits package including employer-paid health insurance, a retirement contribution match, life insurance, short-term disability insurance, an employee assistance program, generous paid time off, and 15 paid holidays. In addition, voluntary life, dental, & vision insurance as well as other ancillary benefits are available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees