Major and Planned Giving Officer

Earthworks • Washington D.C., WA

7d • Remote

About The Position

The Major and Planned Giving Officer (MPGO) supports Earthworks’ Philanthropy Director, staff, and board members in building strong donor relationships and securing resources to advance the organization’s mission. The role helps donors fulfill their philanthropic interests, encourages giving, and works to retain and upgrade donors’ giving and involvement over time. The position is part of a six-person philanthropy team raising more than $8 million annually from foundations and individual donors.

For major gifts, the MPGO qualifies donors from Earthworks’ broader donor group and manages a portfolio of 75–100 people, with an annual fundraising goal of $700,000–$1 million or more. The officer sets donor-specific goals and develops cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans based on each donor’s interests, motivations, giving patterns, and ask preferences. The officer works with program and communications staff to gather project information and budgets, then develops donor offers, proposals, and asks, and reports to donors on the impact of their gifts.

For planned giving, the MPGO develops a comprehensive program, strategy, revenue goals, and supporting materials; builds a prospect pipeline; and manages prospects with plans that reflect their interests and estate and financial planning needs. The officer develops prospect engagement approaches, including a legacy society, and stewards donors who have pledged legacy gifts. The role also builds expertise in planned giving vehicles, develops partnerships to manage complex financial instruments, prepares proposals and gift documentation, maintains compliance records, and secures planned gifts that support revenue growth and long-term financial sustainability.

The MPGO also helps build a culture of philanthropy by expanding staff and board members’ donor networks, coaching colleagues on donor relationships, creating donor engagement and stewardship opportunities, presenting and training on major and planned giving, and participating in fundraising strategy and the philanthropy team’s overall revenue goals. The position reports directly to the Philanthropy Director.

Earthworks is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting communities and the environment from adverse impacts of mineral and energy development while promoting sustainable solutions. Its staff of approximately 50 work primarily remotely across more than 20 states and Washington, DC. The position is remote within the United States. Some travel is required, including approximately 4–6 annual trips within the United States to visit donors, in-person staff meetings as needed, and occasional evening or weekend work. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. The position is part of Earthworks’ bargaining unit, represented by Earthworkers Unite/Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).

Requirements

• At least 10 years of experience in major gifts and planned giving.
• Strong track record of relationship building throughout donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Expertise in charitable gift planning, including some knowledge of gift structures and financial planning concepts.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, attention to detail, storytelling ability, and skill in translating complex information into clear, engaging donor materials.
• Strong verbal communication skills and emotional intelligence, including the ability to ask questions, listen, empathize, and give and receive constructive feedback.
• Organized and able to manage multiple simultaneous deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently, including in a virtual office environment.
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential donor information, with a commitment to high ethical standards.
• Ability to anticipate and solve problems, and a learning orientation focused on continuous improvement.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• Experience with donor-management CRMs, preferably Salesforce, and familiarity with prospect research tools such as iWave/Kindsight.
• Comfort and competency using Apple computing environments, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Slack, and Trello or other project-management software.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree.
• Experience qualifying donor leads and developing donor pipelines.
• Experience fundraising for 501(c)(4) organizations.
• Strong knowledge of financial and legal requirements of planned giving.
• Demonstrated experience working with mature populations.
• Track record of implementing strategies and plans that substantially increase revenue through planned-giving vehicles.
• Strong public-speaking skills.
• Demonstrated success building strong working relationships and trust with donors and colleagues.
• Ability to travel to visit donors, attend in-person staff meetings as needed, and work occasional evenings or weekends.

Responsibilities

• Qualify donors from Earthworks’ larger donor group and manage a major-gifts portfolio of 75–100 people, with an annual goal of raising $700,000–$1 million or more.
• Create individual goals for each donor based on giving history and Earthworks’ knowledge of the donor’s potential.
• Develop and carry out donor-specific cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans to retain and upgrade donors over time.
• Work with program and communications staff to obtain project information and budgets, and create donor offers, proposals, and asks.
• Report to donors on how their giving is making a difference and report on caseload activity and performance.
• Develop a comprehensive planned giving program, strategy, revenue goals, and supporting collateral.
• Build a planned-giving prospect pipeline from Earthworks’ supporter base and manage prospects with individualized plans.
• Develop planned-giving prospect engagement strategies, including a legacy society structure.
• Implement stewardship for donors who have pledged to leave a legacy.
• Build knowledge of planned-giving vehicles and secure partnerships to manage complex financial instruments.
• Prepare gift proposals, sample bequest language, and gift agreements, and maintain relevant compliance documentation.
• Secure planned gifts that contribute to revenue growth and Earthworks’ long-term financial sustainability.
• Identify opportunities to expand staff and board members’ philanthropic networks and bring high-value prospects to Earthworks.
• Coach staff and board members in developing donor relationships throughout the gift cycle.
• Develop donor engagement and stewardship opportunities, such as webinars and events.
• Give presentations and conduct trainings on topics related to major and planned giving.
• Participate in fundraising strategic planning and support the philanthropy team in meeting overall revenue goals.

Benefits

• Employer-paid medical, vision, dental, life, and disability insurance.
• Unlimited paid leave.
• Paid parental leave.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% match after one year of employment.
• After five years of employment, eligibility for a 12-week fully paid sabbatical.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed