Senior Development Officer

World Wildlife Fund, Inc.•Washington, DC

4d•$95,600 - $119,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Development Officer will manage a portfolio of individual and family donor relationships to secure significant philanthropic support for WWF-US’s strategic priorities. This role focuses on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors through a relationship-based approach, contributing to sustained revenue growth and long-term donor engagement.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree with 6+ experience in major gifts fundraising
Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and best practices of non-profit major gifts development (or a closely related relationship management process).
Strong customer service and sales skills.
Passion for WWF’s mission and knowledge of conservation issues.
Must be flexible, responsible, and able to balance a variety of activities and work as an effective member of a team.
Ability to succeed within a consensus-building culture: self-motivation, collaboration, and strong written and verbal skills are essential at WWF.
Proven ability to manage projects, set priorities, and work within deadlines.
Ability to travel approximately 40% of the time
Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: COURAGE, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, COLLABORATION.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Nice To Haves

Intellectual curiosity and sense of humor highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of approximately 75–100 individual and family relationships, prioritizing donors with capacity and inclination to give at the $100K+ level.
Develop and implement individualized engagement strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors in alignment with WWF’s fundraising priorities.
Achieve and maintain a three-year rolling average of $1M–$2M in new and renewed philanthropic revenue, with a focus on securing and growing gifts at the $100K+ level.
Maintain an average of 8-10 meaningful interactions per year with each assigned donor or qualified prospect, encompassing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
Submit at least 12–18 tailored proposals or solicitations annually, with an emphasis on securing major gifts of $100K and above.
Demonstrate consistent progress in identifying, qualifying, and advancing new prospects, with a focus on building a pipeline of $100K+ opportunities.
Ensure effective stewardship, timely follow-up, and accurate documentation of donor engagement in CRM.
Partner with colleagues across Development and program teams to align donor strategies and support broader fundraising goals.
Work closely with program staff and leadership to align donor interests with WWF’s highest-priority initiatives and funding opportunities.
Actively participate in team strategy discussions, contribute to a collaborative fundraising environment, and support shared learning and best practices.
Other duties as assigned.