Development Manager

Overview

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state, regional, national, and international programs, nature centers, and chapters have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. As a sentinel species, we recognize that the fate of birds is inextricably tied to the fate of us all.

Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the United States and seven countries in 17 state and regional offices, 41 nature centers, and 23 wildlife sanctuaries. Together as one Audubon, we aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged, with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary

The Development Manager, reporting to the Senior Development Manager, Major Gifts, will focus on the qualification of prospects in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Carolinas, and other places as assigned. Their primary responsibility is to identify and qualify a pool of prospective funders to determine whether they have the capacity to make a major gift ($10,000+ annually) that will help Audubon to achieve its ambitious local, state, and national goals. They will help develop and work with mid-level donors and prospects currently giving $500 + annually and capable of giving $10,000 + annually across the above states with the aim of creating a portfolio of consistent annual funders giving at the $10,000+ level. To do so successfully, they will work closely with members of the development team, the Vice President, Senior Director, Senior Development Manager, Executive Directors leading field offices in the above states, other colleagues throughout the assigned areas, and volunteer board leaders. The right candidate will have lived experience working with people and communities of color—and demonstrated ability in doing so. This position is a hybrid role, based in the Philadelphia metro region with dedicated work space at the Discovery Center in Fairmont Park.

Compensation:

$70,000 / year

Essential Functions

• Identify and grow a pipeline of mid-level donors and prospects who can help to grow philanthropic revenue, executing annual plans to qualify their interests and capacity using phone, email, personal visits, solicitations, regular stewardship communication, event invitations, etc.
• Build (over time) and manage a portfolio of no less than 150 donors based in the assigned territories making $10,000+ contributions annually to Audubon across all content areas including unrestricted gifts.
• Work with the Executive Directors, Senior Development Manager, Major Giving, and other regional staff to develop donor facing materials that highlight the breadth and depth of our work throughout the states and across Audubon.
• Ensure accurate donor data in Salesforce and regularly report on progress towards activity and revenue goals.
• Ensure gifts are coded, acknowledged, and stewarded appropriately.
• Serve as the primary staff liaison to state office advisory board development committees as assigned and support them and Executive Directors in the planning of cultivation and solicitation strategies, events, trainings, and other fundraising activities as appropriate.
• Design and implement cultivation, engagement, and stewardship events (both in person and virtual) to help strengthen relationships with existing supporters and potential prospects.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent lived experience required.
• The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 5 years of development/sales experience, with at least 2 of those years serving in a frontline fundraising/sales role. Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated experience building a funder pipeline for organizations without an established constituency.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team as well as to be self-directed with a high degree of accountability.
• Skilled at working cross functionally with stakeholders, and preferably high-level volunteers and boards.
• Ability to guide projects, establish and monitor priorities, maintain flexibility, and meet deadlines with little direct supervision.
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical skills, and attention to detail.
• Outstanding stewardship and relationship management skills.
• Knowledge about birds is not required, though experience with and a commitment to conservation is a positive.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is required; experience with fundraising databases (e.g. Salesforce) would be beneficial.
• Travel is required throughout assigned territories; potentially 30 percent of the time.

This position is a union eligible position and is represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

EEO Statement

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users.  If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

COVID Policy

All new hires must be fully vaccinated prior to their start of employment unless they are pre-qualified by HR for exemption.