Principal Gifts Officer

The Nature Conservancy

About The Position

The Principal Gifts Officer (PGO) is responsible for the oversight, planning, and implementation of fundraising strategies and plans designed to raise funds for conservation priorities from a small portfolio of donors, primarily individuals and foundations, who can make philanthropic gifts of $5 million or more. The PGO is responsible for strategic discovery work that builds their portfolio and ensures new principal gift-level prospects are consistently brought into the organization. Reporting to the Director of Development, New York Global Market, they serve as relationship manager for key prospects. The PGO will collaborate closely with peer relationship managers from across U.S. and other global wealth markets to engage Principal Gift donors as the global citizens that they are, working to cultivate prospects across their international networks of business affiliations, residential properties, and travel and leisure destinations. The PGO understands and applies complex principles of developing donor strategies and builds strong relationships with new and current donors and prospects. They will coordinate the principal gifts functions for all donors in their portfolio to meet fundraising objectives, including donor research, qualification/identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. The PGO will be responsible for proposal development, working with conservation and development staff and donors to create complex gift opportunities to support the Conservancy’s priorities. They ensure the highest level of stewardship, including written reports, phone and in-person meetings, trips and events, as appropriate. They are capable of articulating all global priorities of the Conservancy. They bring creativity, enthusiasm, determination, and drive to TNC’s “Together We Find a Way” Campaign, a $12 Billion undertaking currently underway—the largest in the history of environmental NGOs. They will work to leverage peer networks to engage new prospects and deploy creative discovery tactics to expand their portfolio. They have a high degree of knowledge of assets and ownership structures, and an expert understanding of the factors influencing philanthropic giving. The PGO will staff Executive Leadership Team members as a moves manager as appropriate. They will be required to use the Conservancy’s donor database. The Nature Conservancy is seeking a Principal Gift Officer who is passionate about fundraising and has the energy, determination, and strategic philanthropic mindset to close principal gifts of $5 million or more. The PGO will be part of TNC’s global network of development officers, who work collaboratively to cultivate relationships and secure transformational gifts from our amazing donors. At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of Work You Can Believe In where you make a difference every day. In this role, you’ll cultivate some of the world’s most prominent philanthropists and manage a portfolio of global citizens who are dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the world. You’ll connect with peers across the globe and support conservation and climate efforts that drive change at a global scale. The position will be part of the New York Global Market team, raising funds for TNC’s global priorities within the New York metro area. The ideal candidate should have at least 8 years’ experience in philanthropic leadership and experience cultivating and closing gifts of $1 million or more.

Requirements

at least 8 years’ experience in philanthropic leadership
experience cultivating and closing gifts of $1 million or more

Nice To Haves

Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with individual principal gift donors. Foundation and corporate fundraising experience also of value.
Experience in asking for and closing gifts of $1,000,000 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

responsible for the oversight, planning, and implementation of fundraising strategies and plans designed to raise funds for conservation priorities from a small portfolio of donors
responsible for strategic discovery work that builds their portfolio and ensures new principal gift-level prospects are consistently brought into the organization
serve as relationship manager for key prospects
collaborate closely with peer relationship managers from across U.S. and other global wealth markets to engage Principal Gift donors
coordinate the principal gifts functions for all donors in their portfolio to meet fundraising objectives, including donor research, qualification/identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
responsible for proposal development
ensure the highest level of stewardship, including written reports, phone and in-person meetings, trips and events, as appropriate
articulating all global priorities of the Conservancy
leverage peer networks to engage new prospects and deploy creative discovery tactics to expand their portfolio
staff Executive Leadership Team members as a moves manager as appropriate
required to use the Conservancy’s donor database