Associate Director of Development

The Nature Conservancy
  • Location
    New York, New York
  • Sector
    Non Profit
  • Experience
    Mid Career
  • Posted
    May 16

Position description

The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The Associate Director of Development, Africa Region, (ADoD) is a senior-level fundraising position which develops, implements, and manages effective multi-year strategies and plans for the cultivation and solicitation of gift prospects, including individual, foundation and corporate donors across the globe.
The Associate Director of Development understands and applies complex principles of developing donor strategies and builds strong relationships with a portfolio of new and current donors and prospects. The ADoD will develop qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for donors and prospects interested in supporting TNC’s conservation efforts in Africa and globally and in collaboration with TNC’s conservation and fundraising leadership in Africa and globally and with TNC’s network of committed board members, donors, partners and friends. The donors managed by the ADoD will require sophisticated relationship management, a high degree of knowledge of assets and ownership structures, and an expert understanding of the factors influencing philanthropic giving. They will focus on long-range strategic priorities and be responsible for donor strategy and proposal development, working with conservation and development staff, as well as donors, to create transformational giving opportunities. They will manage assigned trustee relationships and/or volunteer engagement. They will incorporate blended gifts and gifts of assets in proposals to donors. They are capable of persuasively discussing the priorities of TNC in Africa. They understand organizational budgets and are proficient utilizing this knowledge to build proposal budgets. They will be required to use TNC’s donor database.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

Are you looking for work you can believe in? At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of work that you can believe in where you can feel like you are making a difference every day. We’re looking for someone with strong experience in working with a diverse, multi-disciplinary team and donors.

The ideal candidate should have exceptional communication and collaboration skills and experience with fundraising practices, managing relationships, and evolving trends in charitable giving. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing mission of conservation by directing and shaping the work of our team.

The ADoD reports to the Director of Development, Africa Region, and will be an integral part of the Africa Development Team and will work with various leadership and development staff, volunteer leaders, and donors across the organization. The position may supervise other development staff. The preferred location of this position will be in the New York metropolitan area in the United States.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE:
• Lead in the setting and meeting of fundraising objectives, evaluating results, and developing corrective strategies.
• Implement and lead multiple collaborative and complex projects, directing work of staff, managing budget, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability.
• Coordinate with conservation and fundraising staff and occasionally lead the preparation of donor proposals.
• Provide accountability for a minimum annual fundraising goal of USD $2 million+.
• Manage a portfolio of 40–75 donors, including donors with the capacity to give gifts over $500,000.
• Manage assigned trustee relationships and/or volunteer engagement.
• Direct and participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
• Persuasively convey the mission of TNC to diverse groups important to the organization’s overall prosperity.
• Advise on development of donor-oriented materials and stewardship reports.
• Exhibit discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.
• Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements; be alert to ethical compliance issues.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree and 7 years related experience.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating and ultimately stewarding the development of a pipeline of new donors.
• Experience in fundraising strategy development focusing on identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and principal gift level donors (donors able to give USD $500K or more).
• Experience in building donor specific strategies focused on high-net-worth individuals and private foundations.
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with major donors.
• 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.
• Must have the ability to travel domestically and internationally when necessary.
• Ability to work proactively and independently while seamlessly communicating with a team of professions across multiple time zones.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to travel frequently and on short notice, work long and weekends as needed.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Ability to determine an individual’s interests, capacity and potential for helping TNC meet its goals, and act appropriately to tie those interests with TNC’s work.
• Ability to educate and inform prospective and existing donors about appropriate giving vehicles.
• Advanced knowledge of complex charitable gift planning.
• Experience in asking for and closing seven figure gifts.
• Demonstrated experience using listening, diplomacy, and tact to build strong relationships and motivate donors and volunteers.
• Proven ability to negotiate complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.

Application instructions

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