Senior Director, Leadership Giving

National Audubon Society•Oakland, CA

8d•$186,000 - $208,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Leadership Giving is a senior individual-giving fundraiser who collaborates with Development, Executive, and Senior Leadership Teams and represents Audubon’s hemispheric fundraising interests. Reporting to the Vice President of Leadership Giving, the Senior Director charts a path for growth in major and principal gifts supporting Audubon’s hemispheric conservation vision. The role also collaborates with the Gift Planning team to secure bequest intentions and non-cash assets from high-net-worth individuals. The position manages a portfolio of major and principal gift donors and prospects, supervises and develops frontline fundraisers and support staff, and partners with State and Center Directors and Strategic Leads to grow fundraising. Working with the Vice President of Leadership Giving, the Senior Director helps build an effective team that delivers sustained individual-giving revenue, with an emphasis on unrestricted and lightly restricted gifts, and helps develop and lead multi-year fundraising initiatives. The Senior Director works with advisory and fiduciary board members to engage them in identifying, cultivating, stewarding, and soliciting major, principal, and planned gifts. The role is hybrid, preferably based in Oakland, California; other California locations may be considered under Audubon’s “Where We Work” Policy. Hybrid employees work in an Audubon office every Monday and Tuesday, plus two additional days each month of their choosing, and must live within commuting distance of an Audubon office in Oakland, Palm Desert, or Sacramento. The role requires travel, potentially 25–50% of the time, and some evening and weekend work.

Requirements

At least 15 years of related work experience, including at least 5 years of leadership and management experience.
Prior major- and principal-gift fundraising experience in a campaign environment.
A proven record of closing gifts of $100,000 to $1 million or more.
Ability to manage projects, set and monitor priorities, remain flexible, and meet deadlines with little direct supervision.
Ability to communicate Audubon’s mission, goals, and programs effectively and persuasively.
Creativity in connecting Audubon’s mission and work to donor interests.
Ability to build strong relationships with people from varied backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives.
Excellent in-person, telephone, and written communication skills.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a distributed national team.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with colleagues outside the team and with volunteer leaders.
Willingness to travel, potentially 25–50% of the time, and work some nights and weekends.
Commitment to Audubon’s values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Spanish-speaking candidates are preferred.
Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

Responsibilities

Personally manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and generate at least $2 million–$5 million in annual revenue through personal solicitations.
Establish and enhance an individual major- and principal-giving program with support from a team of fundraisers.
Oversee a multi-year fundraising initiative built around Flight Plan, Audubon’s Strategic Plan.
Ensure direct reports successfully staff and activate Executive Directors and other regional field leaders in support of fundraising goals.
Ensure direct reports understand the organizational strategic plan and can explain how local programming connects to it.
Lead, coach, and supervise direct reports, including frontline fundraisers and support staff, and support their success in growing portfolios to generate $2 million–$5 million annually.
Work with the Vice President of Leadership Giving, Senior Development Directors, and development management to manage portfolios, provide strategic direction and coaching, and meet or exceed fundraising goals established with the supervisor and Chief Development Officer.
Partner with the Gift Planning team to secure bequest intentions and non-cash assets from high-net-worth individuals.
Collaborate with State and Center Directors, Strategic Leads, and organizational partners to grow fundraising operations and revenue.
Engage board members in identifying, cultivating, stewarding, and soliciting major, principal, and planned gifts.
Maintain and foster a culture of safety.
Travel and work some evenings and weekends for board and donor meetings, Executive Team development travel, and special events.