Washington, DC

The Organization

The Wilderness Society (TWS) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. We believe public lands belong to and should benefit all of us. We strive to ensure our organization and work embodies the cultures and perspectives of people and communities across our nation, and connects and inspires people to care about the outdoors.

Position Overview

General Description

Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Philanthropy, the Senior Regional Philanthropy Officer, Eastern Region is responsible for managing relationships and securing support from a portfolio of major gift prospects (capable of making $100,000 over three years) to support the mission of The Wilderness Society. Responsible for managing a personal portfolio of between 75-125 donors, prospects, and suspects, and working closely with the Senior Director of Philanthropy, TWS philanthropy staff, program staff and volunteers to secure support for TWS’ campaign priorities. The Senior Philanthropy Officer focuses on identifying, qualifying and growing the pipeline of major gift donors, as well as prospecting and cultivating new donors to TWS in with interests in various regions of TWS’ work across the country.

This position plays an important role in supporting 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 and the Senior Philanthropy Officer will integrate these priorities throughout our major gift work. Across our team, we aspire to be campaign oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Qualifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards a portfolio of 75-125 major donors, prospects and suspects.
• Participates fully in the development of Four Year Defense Fund including qualifying suspects recognized by our wealth screening.
• Initiates, manages, attends and follows up on philanthropic special events.
• Conducts 16-24 personal visits with suspects, prospects and donors per month, and participates in at least 30 strategic solicitations per year.
• Raises a minimum of $1,500,000 per year, and develops a regional budget based on qualified suspects, prospects and MG donors with the Senior Director of Philanthropy
• Gathers data, assesses prospects, and develops strategies designed to realize the current and life-time giving potential of individual prospects.
• Develops written strategies and plans for cultivation, stewardship and solicitation meetings with donors.
• Coordinates and participates in suspect, prospect and donor meetings, visits and trips.
• Supports the Major Gift philanthropic activities of the Conservation program staff in the Northeast and Southeast.
• Works closely with Sr. Mid-level Giving Officer to identify and cultivate Advocates who have the capacity to move to a major gift and/or planned giving strategy.
• Works closely with the Senior Director of Legacy Giving to identify planned gifts to The Wilderness Society, and develop an understanding of the principals and techniques associated with planned giving and financial and estate planning.
• Gathers, records, and properly stores information about suspects, prospects and donors utilizing the Prospect Tracking System in TWS’s database of record.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience, Competencies, and Education

• 10+ years’ professional fundraising experience required.
• Development office, major gifts and/or planned giving experience required.
• Experience working with and writing about conservation issues strongly preferred.
• Previous work engaging high-level volunteers desirable.

• Exceptional writing and editing skills. Ability to understand, interpret, and synthesize complex programmatic information.
• Strong organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to establish schedules, set priorities, and meet deadlines. Must be able to balance and complete multiple projects and daily responsibilities.
• Must be able to communicate with key program and executive staff, and possess the capability of motivating volunteers, professional staff, and donors.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to use problem solving skills for resolving donor questions and issues. Demonstrated businesslike manner and ability to function efficiently in a busy work environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

• Advanced skills in Team Approach, Raisers Edge or other related development databases.
• Track record working successfully in teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives—across race and gender.

Desired Characteristics

• A personal and or professional commitment to the protection of public lands and water.
• An independent and proactive fundraiser, with the ability to work seamlessly as a member of the national Philanthropy team.
• Energetic, creative analytical problem-solver with careful attention to detail.

• Willingness and ability to travel both nationally and regionally to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors on behalf of TWS.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member in a changing environment with initiative and flexibility.