Senior Associate Director of Development

The Nature Conservancy•Chicago, IL

22h•$116,500 - $125,000•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 gift prospects. The role manages a portfolio of qualified donors, builds relationships focused on the Chicagoland area, and solicits gifts for local and global priorities. The position involves discussing donor assets and opportunities for non-cash and planned gifts, supporting donor recognition and future giving, engaging partners in the field and at the Worldwide Office, and communicating Conservancy programs and legacy-giving opportunities. The Senior ADoD understands project budgets and may develop proposal budgets and proposals, build referral networks, and manage volunteer networks. The role uses the Conservancy’s donor database. The position manages 60–100 donors, including donors with capacity to give more than $250,000, and is responsible for 60–100 visits and 180–300 donor moves annually. The annual fundraising goal is $1,500,000 or more, as well as a goal for bequest notifications. The role may direct staff, manage budgets and deadlines, participate in negotiations, and supervise support or administrative staff. It requires frequent, sometimes short-notice travel and long, flexible hours as needed. This is a hybrid position reporting to the Chicago Field Office.

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, including capital campaigns, major gifts, or planned giving.
Valid driver’s license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program, including completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement; employment may include a motor vehicle record review.
Ability to travel frequently and on short notice and work long and flexible hours as needed.

Nice To Haves

Ability to design and manage fundraising plans, including individualized cultivation, solicitation, and recognition plans.
Ability to determine individuals’ interests, capacity, and potential to support the Conservancy and connect those interests with 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 strategies and plans for corporate, foundation, and individual gift prospects.
Manage a portfolio of 60–100 qualified donors and build strong donor relationships, with a focus on the Chicagoland area.
Make direct asks for local and global priorities and pursue gifts, including gifts of assets, planned gifts, and other non-cash gifts.
Create donor recognition opportunities and encourage future giving.
Engage appropriate field and Worldwide Office partners, keep them informed of donor interactions and issues, and address questions as needed.
Present Conservancy programs in detail and discuss legacy-giving opportunities.
Understand project budgets and potentially develop proposal budgets and proposals.
Develop referral networks and potentially manage formal or informal volunteer networks.
Use the Conservancy’s donor database.
Exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems, including acting in the 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, including directing staff work, managing budgets, and setting deadlines.
Potentially direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high-profile, or sensitive agreements and supervise support or administrative staff.
Persuasively convey TNC’s mission to important groups.
Manage 60–100 donors and achieve 60–100 visits, 180–300 donor moves, an annual fundraising goal of $1,500,000 or more, and a goal for bequest notifications.
Travel frequently and on short notice and work long and flexible hours as needed.