Major Gifts Officer

Natural Resources Defense Council • Santa Monica, CA

1d • $100,000 - $120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions. Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, London, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.). Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org NRDC is seeking a Major Gifts Officer to work with our Development team in our Santa Monica office. The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) will manage a portfolio of donors and potential supporters who have the potential of giving five to six figure gifts. This position will specifically focus on identification and qualification, while building up a portfolio of existing, new, and lapsed donors in the greater Los Angeles area including Santa Barbara and other Southwest markets. They will also manage the relationships they are able to cultivate and bring to solicitation. The MGO will work with several staff across NRDC, including advocates, scientists and litigators, who work to fulfill NRDC’s mission, as well as our Membership, Planned Giving, Action Fund and E2 teams. The position you are applying for is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035 ).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience.
• 4-7 years of professional frontline fundraising and donor engagement experience
• Strong writing skills and the ability to communicate in a regular, compelling manner with donors.
• Collaborative and inclusive approach to inter and intra departmental work.
• Professional demeanor when interfacing with NRDC donors and staff members.
• Familiarity with Salesforce or other CRM systems, and their application to performance management and fundraising metrics.
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles
• Ability to travel locally (within LA County and Santa Barbara) approximately 30% annually (occasional travel within the US may occur for departmental activities).
• Ability to comply with NRDC's Hybrid Policy: ability to work in-person 8 days per month (this can be a combination of in-office work, fundraising events, and donor meetings as required by the role).

Nice To Haves

• Experience with political or 501c4 fundraising a plus.
• Experience with advocacy or environmental groups a plus.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop a pipeline of new major gift prospects, in close partnership with Research and other fundraising colleagues.
• Manage a major gifts portfolio of approximately 100-130 donors and prospects, with a giving capacity of $25,000 to $500,000+, with a specific focus on identification and qualification, while also managing the relationships they are able to cultivate and bring to solicitation, with average gift sizes at $25,000 - $100,000.
• Working closely with Director and Senior Director, implement strategies and timeliness for the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of gifts, including strategic in person and/or virtual donor engagement.
• Ensure that the portfolio is routinely updated regarding donor strategy, projections, contact reports, moves management, and documentation of other key milestones in the donor’s relationship with NRDC.
• Support NRDC’s leadership with respect to cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts, using their time and talents appropriately; ensure their effectiveness as representatives of NRDC.
• Deploy fundraising materials and regular communications that will resonate with donors.
• Work with the Donor Engagement, Planned Giving, and Membership teams to plan events in the region that maximize donor and prospect cultivation opportunities.
• Develop and maintain familiarity with programmatic needs, budgets, institutional priorities.
• Adeptly manage Salesforce and other processes such as tracking donor gift projections for your portfolio.
• Collaborate with NRDC’s Action Fund to deploy effective fundraising tactics to raise non-deductible 501c4 funding.

Benefits

• We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits , and a supportive working environment.
• Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience.
• Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level