Senior Associate Director of Development

The Nature Conservancy•Chicago, IL

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Associate Director of Development works with the development team to plan, implement, and coordinate multi-year strategies for corporate, foundation, and individual prospects. The position manages a portfolio of qualified donors, builds relationships focused on the Chicagoland area, and makes direct asks for global and local priorities. The role includes identifying opportunities for gifts of assets and other non-cash gifts, including planned gifts and trade lands, and providing donor recognition that supports future giving. The Senior ADoD engages partners in the field and at the Worldwide Office, keeps them informed of donor interactions and concerns, answers questions, and presents Conservancy programs in detail, including legacy-giving opportunities. The role may develop proposals and proposal budgets, uses the Conservancy’s donor database, and may build referral networks and manage volunteer networks. The position manages a portfolio of 60–100 donors, including donors with capacity to give more than $250,000 once the portfolio is developed. Annual goals include 60–100 visits, 180–300 moves, fundraising of $1,500,000 or more, and bequest notifications. The Senior ADoD may act independently in a supervisor’s stead, manage multiple projects and budgets, direct staff work, and participate in complex or sensitive negotiations. The position is hybrid and reports to the Chicago Field Office. Frequent, short-notice travel and long, flexible hours may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 6 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination.
Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents.
Experience asking for and closing gifts of $50,000 or more.
Experience managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
Experience working with cross-functional teams, preferably in a large nonprofit.
Experience with fundraising principles and practices.
Experience, coursework, or other training in current charitable-giving trends in capital campaigns, major gifts, or planned giving.
Valid driver’s license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.
Completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include review of the prospective employee’s motor vehicle record.

Nice To Haves

Ability to design and manage fundraising plans, including individualized cultivation, solicitation, and recognition plans.
Ability to assess an individual’s interests, capacity, and potential for supporting the Conservancy and connect those interests to its work.
Ability to educate prospective and existing donors about appropriate giving vehicles.
Demonstrated listening, diplomacy, and tact in building relationships and motivating donors and volunteers.
Proven ability to negotiate complex, high-profile, or sensitive agreements.
Working knowledge of charitable gift planning.

Responsibilities

Plan, implement, and coordinate multi-year donor strategies and plans with the development team.
Manage a portfolio of 60–100 qualified donors and build strong relationships, with a focus on the Chicagoland area.
Make direct fundraising asks for global and local priorities, including gifts of $50,000 or more.
Identify opportunities for gifts of assets and other non-cash gifts, including planned gifts and trade lands.
Provide donor recognition and cultivate opportunities for future giving.
Engage field and Worldwide Office partners, keep them apprised of donor interactions and issues, and address questions.
Present Conservancy programs in detail and discuss legacy-giving opportunities.
Understand project budgets and develop proposal budgets and proposals as appropriate.
Develop referral networks and manage formal or informal volunteer networks as needed.
Use the Conservancy’s donor database.
Exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems, including acting in a supervisor’s stead as needed.
Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and donor, legal, and IRS requirements; handle confidential information sensitively.
Work within a budget, recommend and meet fundraising goals, and manage multiple projects, budgets, deadlines, and staff work.
Participate in or direct negotiations for complex, high-profile, or sensitive agreements.
Persuasively communicate TNC’s mission to important audiences.
Meet annual portfolio activity goals of 60–100 visits and 180–300 moves, and fundraising goals of $1,500,000 or more plus a bequest-notification goal.
Travel frequently and on short notice and work long, flexible hours as needed.