The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit organization that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Based in New York City, with offices throughout the United States and worldwide, the Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers. For more information, please visit http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about.
Commitment:
Full Time
Position Summary:
The Senior Major Gifts Manager is responsible for managing a portfolio of high level donors and prospects on behalf of the Rainforest Alliance through personal cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. S/he will engage with individual potential contributors to the organization and formulate philanthropic engagement strategies to meet the overall organizational unrestricted, restricted, and leverage fund goals. As a senior frontline solicitor on the major gifts team, s/he will develop strategic initiatives for increasing the major donor pool and upgrading individuals to higher levels of engagement. Along with the Vice President of Development and Director of Individual Giving, s/he will develop and carry out cultivation and stewardship strategies to secure four to seven figure gifts to meet our unrestricted, restricted, and campaign goals in support of the Vision 2020 Strategic Plan, manages the Rainforest Alliance’s Ambassador’s Circle, and will actively participate in the prospect development program.
Responsibilities:
Manage a personal portfolio and act as a senior frontline fundraiser by initiating contacts with potential major gift donors, developing appropriate cultivation strategies, moving potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure, meeting with donors and making solicitations when appropriate;
- Maintain stewardship contacts with new and ongoing contributors;
- Play a leadership role in the strategic management of the major gifts program, setting new priorities, developing and implementing new major gift projects and activities, and supervising staff;
- Manage all aspects of key campaigns, including the newly established Leverage Fund. Liaise with the development writing staff to create compelling proposals and reports for Leverage Fund contributors; oversee major gifts staff to ensure pledges are fulfilled in a timely manner; identify prospects, develop relationships, and create ongoing supporter stewardship opportunities to meet the major gifts team’s annual Leverage Fund goals as outline in the Vision 2020 strategic plan;
- Play an integral role in the Rainforest Alliance’s prospect development program by identifying, cultivating, and stewarding potential donors and working with major gifts staff to determine ask strategies and amounts; making portfolio and engagement recommendations; and identifying and oversee outreach to new Leverage Fund donors;
- Oversee relationship management of the Ambassador’s Circle, developing and implementing their engagement plans, working with board members to appropriately cultivate Ambassadors for philanthropic support, and reporting to the Nominating Committee on progress;
- Represent the major gifts team at all Rainforest Alliance cultivation and stewardship events throughout the year; and
- Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position may oversee staff.
Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
- Minimum of 10 years of proven experience in major gift fundraising, cultivating and soliciting prospects capable of four to seven-figure gifts;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to eloquently speak and write about Rainforest Alliance programs;
- Demonstrated leadership and experience with successfully managing staff;
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated in initiating contacts with potential donors;
- Ability to understand the needs and interests of major gift donors in order to develop relationships;
- Interest in the environment and a dedication to promoting the organization’s fundraising priorities through developing excellent relationships with program, development, and executive staff colleagues;
- Must have excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated record of meeting revenue goals;
- Written and verbal proficiency in Spanish preferred;
- Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office and Internet), including Salesforce or Luminate databases; and
- Willingness to travel 25% of the time.
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