Sr. Manager, Institutional Giving

Overview

About The Wilderness Society

The Wilderness Society (TWS) is the leading conservation organization working to protect America’s wild places and public lands for the health of local communities, wildlife, and climate.  Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 111 million acres of wilderness and to ensure the sound management of America’s public lands. TWS is scaling up its work to address the existential threat of climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and deep inequities with access to the benefits of nature.  TWS is working to achieve four major collective impact results: protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030, transitioning off of fossil fuel development on public lands to well-sited renewable energy, securing equitable access to public lands and their benefits, and building a critical mass of support for conservation of public lands.

 

The Wilderness Society recognizes the historic and ongoing injustices perpetrated against Indigenous peoples, particularly those perpetrated by traditional conservation organizations and is committed to being more conscientious and inclusive in our work. This includes working directly with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities to support conservation outcomes that respect the priorities and concerns of Tribes to ensure a more just and equitable future.

 

General Description

The Senior Manager is part of a three-person team that is responsible for securing ambitious financial resources from institutional funders to achieve organizational revenue goals. Reporting to the Senior Director, Leadership Giving & Impact for Institutions, the Sr. Manager is responsible for managing a portfolio of existing funders and working with the team to identify new potential funding opportunities for TWS.

 

This position plays a critical role in establishing and reinforcing an inclusive organizational culture that is grounded in trust and accountability to shared goals and outcomes. TWS has made diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic priorities for the organization. This leader will integrate these priorities throughout our work, from expanding our partnerships to bringing an equity lens to all facets of donor prospecting and solicitation as well as inclusivity in team management. Across our team, we aspire to be nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.

 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

·       Works with Senior Director of Institutional Giving & Impact, Program staff, and other Giving & Impact staff to identify funding opportunities, supporting the development of high-level strategies for institutional funders in order to achieve revenue targets for the channel.

·       Collaborates with both Program and Finance staff to execute successful donor strategies to renew and increase grants as well as secure new funding for the organization.

·       Manages a portfolio of institutional funders and prospects, developing meaningful touch points and executing donor engagement plans, including preparing and directing other TWS staff or Governing Council members for donor visits and calls, and leading and managing proposal and reporting processes.

·       Writes, edits, and proofreads grant proposals, concept papers, letters of inquiry, and reports to foundation donors; tracks deadlines; and maintains donor database records for donors in portfolio.

·       Works with Sr. Director, Institutional Giving & Impact and Sr. Manager, Events to shape and execute two core funder events a year.

·       Performs other related duties as assigned.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience, Competencies, and Education

·       Minimum 7 years professional fundraising experience, including minimum of 2 years working with foundations.

·       Excellent interpersonal skills required. Ability to communicate and work effectively with internal and external constituents at all levels of authority.

·       Proven ability to think creatively to engage new funders and manage the relationship development process, resulting in a successful solicitation.

·       Experience organizing successful fundraising or informational events, and demonstrated success with face-to-face donor interactions.

·       Excellent writing and editorial skills. Ability to understand, interpret, and synthesize complex programmatic information and to communicate effectively, tailoring messages and communication style to the audience.

·       Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills with an emphasis on program and project management.

·       Track record working successfully in teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives—across race and gender.

 

The preferred location for this position is Washington, DC. Other TWS office locations may be considered. The salary range for this role is $85,000 – $102,000 based on location. To be considered, please submit your resume & cover letter through the online application system by January 12th.

 

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of this position and it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of experience, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

 

The Wilderness Society offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; sick and vacation leave; a sabbatical program; and a retirement plan.  TWS is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair treatment of our employees and constituents across culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, veteran status or sexual orientation.

 

As an organization, we aspire to being inclusive in the work that we do, and in the kind of organization we are.  Internally this means working as a team that listens to different points of view, recognizes the contributions of every employee and empowers each employee to bring their whole selves to work every day.  Externally this means ensuring that public lands are inclusive and welcoming, so that our shared wildlands can help people and nature to thrive.  We are committed to equity throughout our work, which we define as our commitment to realizing the promise of our public lands and ensuring that all can share in their universal benefits.

 

To learn more about our commitment, please see http://wilderness.org/our-commitment-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-wilderness-society