Major Gifts Officer, Eastern Region - Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.

Overview

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, advocacy and the support of 3.1 million members and activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our staff of more than 800 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and internationally from our offices in New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Santa Monica; San Francisco; India; and China. 

Position Summary:  

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is seeking an experienced Major Gift Officer (MGO) to join its Major Gifts Eastern Region Team. This Team consists of six seasoned fundraisers, including one Senior Regional Director, two Directors, and three Major Gifts Officers, supported by one Development Manager. Collectively, they manage NRDC’s most significant philanthropic market and generate over $40 million in contributed income annually. 

This full-time position is preferably based near NRDC’s offices in either New York or Washington, D.C., or remotely within the Northeast. The MGO will be responsible for implementing prospecting and renewal strategies aligned with NRDC’s programmatic growth. The role requires extensive travel, with at least 30% of the year spent engaging donors throughout its defined geographic focus area. 

The MGO will manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors who can contribute at the major gift level ($25,000 to $1 million or more). They will pursue new and lapsed donors and will take the lead on the relationships they are able to cultivate and bring to solicitation 

The MGO will collaborate with a diverse range of development and program staff – including advocates, scientists, and litigators – who work to advance NRDC’s mission across the United States and around the world. The role will also involve coordination with the Special Events, Membership, and Planned Giving Teams as well with NRDC’s affiliate organizations, the NRDC Action Fund and E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs). Although this is not a management position, the Eastern Region team values collaboration and strategic input from all its members. 

Responsibilities

• Oversee a portfolio of approximately 100 H/UHNWIs and family offices with the capacity to contribute at the five, six, and seven-figure levels.
• Develop and implement moves management strategies and timelines for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of grants. This includes intentional in-person and virtual donor engagement.
• Work closely with programmatic leadership to drive the growth of NRDC’s efforts, especially in the MGO’s defined geographic focus area.
• Formulate a comprehensive strategy to expand and diversify NRDC’s funding base in the MGO’s defined geographic focus area.
• Contribute to the creation of compelling fundraising materials and regular communications tailored to resonate with donors and prospects.
• Partner with and support NRDC’s leadership in their cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts. Ensure their time and talents are effectively utilized as representatives of NRDC.
• Collaborate with the Special Events, Membership, and Planned Giving Teams to organize events in the region, maximizing donor and prospect cultivation opportunities.
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of programmatic needs, budgets, institutional priorities, and regional initiatives.
• Proficiently manage Salesforce and other systems, including tracking donor gift projections and ensuring strong data hygiene.
• Work with the NRDC Action Fund to deploy effective fundraising tactics to raise non-deductible 501(c)(4) funding.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate must be a highly skilled major gift fundraiser with a proven track record of successfully and strategically identifying, cultivating, and stewarding philanthropists contributing $25,000 to $1 million or more. Other desired skills and qualifications include:  

• 7+ years of major gifts fundraising experience. 
• Eagerness to pursue new potential high net worth supporters with significant capacity. 
• Strong writing skills to communicate in a regular, compelling manner with donors. 
• Familiarity with philanthropic communities across the Northeast. 
• Collaborative and inclusive approach to inter and intra departmental work. 
• Professional demeanor when interfacing with NRDC donors and colleagues.  
• Passion for the mission and goals of NRDC. 
• Willingness to travel 30%. 
• Experience with political or 501(c)(4) fundraising a plus. 
• Experience with advocacy or environmental groups a plus. 
• Bachelor’s degree and a commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion required. 

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).  

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

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. For this position, the salary range is $142,000 to $157,000.

Our offices are open and we are operating in a hybrid model. We offer NRDCers flexibility, and we ask them to come into the office and spend meaningful time there in collaboration with their colleagues. We call this purposeful presence. 

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws. 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. 

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.LI-MLM