Director, Major Gifts Western Region

Company: Natural Resources Defense
Location: San Francisco
Posted on: June 2, 2025

Job Description:

OverviewThe Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a non-profit 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 our staff 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; Bozeman, Montana; India and China.NRDC is seeking a skilled Director of Major Gifts to join its Western Region Major Gifts Team, with a geographic focus on Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.Position SummaryThe Major Gifts Western Region Team is comprised of eight seasoned fundraisers - one Senior Regional Director, two Directors, and five Major Gifts Officers - in addition to one Development Manager to cover one of NRDC's most important fundraising markets. This full-time position will preferably be based at NRDC's San Francisco office or remote in Seattle, WA.The Director will personally manage a targeted high-value portfolio of donors with capacity to give at the high six- and seven-figure levels and is expected to execute prospecting and renewal strategies. This position will pursue new and lapsed donors and will take the lead on the relationships they are able to cultivate and bring to solicitation. The Director will also manage at least two staff members, including Major Gift Officers, and will be responsible for managing and mentoring staff and coaching fundraisers to increasing levels of success.The Director will work with a diverse range of development and program staff, including advocates, scientists and litigators, who work to fulfill NRDC's mission, as well as our Membership, Planned Giving, Action Fund and E2 teams.Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 80-100 individuals with the capacity to give at the high six and seven figure levels.
• Under the leadership of the Regional Director, manage and mentor fundraisers and/or development managers.
• Partner with the Regional Director to set strategic direction for donor engagement in the Northern California and Pacific Northwest geographies, contributing to goal setting and strategic planning.
• Contribute to the creation of fundraising materials and regular communications that will resonate with donors in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
• Establish strategies and timelines for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts, including strategic in person and/or virtual donor engagement.
• Partner with and 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.
• Work with the SpecialEvents, Planned Giving, and Membership teams to plan events in the region that maximize donor and prospect cultivation opportunities.
• Develop and maintain expert familiarity with programmatic needs, budgets, institutional priorities, and regional work.
• Adeptly manage Salesforce and other processes such as tracking donor gift projections and list management for your portfolio.
• Collaborate with NRDC's Action Fund to deploy effective fundraising tactics to raise non-deductible 501c4 funding.QualificationsThe Director, Major Gifts must be a highly skilled major gift fundraiser with a track record of successfully and strategically identifying, cultivating, and stewarding donors from $100k-$1M. Other desired skills and qualifications include:Education & Experience
  • Bachelor's Degree required.
  • 7+ years of fundraising experience with a proven track record of successfully and strategically identifying, cultivating, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors.
  • 3+ years of previous management experience desired. Ability to mentor, manage, and coach other members of staff, providing regular feedback and demonstrating a collaborative and supportive manner.Skills, Abilities, Competencies
    • 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 Salesforce or other CRM systems, and their application to performance management and fundraising metrics.
    • Collaborative and inclusive approach to inter and intra departmental work.
    • Professional demeanor when interfacing with NRDC donors and senior staff members.
    • Passion for the mission and goals of NRDC.
    • Willingness to travel to meet donors or engage in strategic internal meetings as the position demands.
    • Experience with political or 501c4 fundraising a plus.
    • Experience with advocacy or environmental groups a plus.
    • Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion required.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 employmenton the basis ofrace, 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 tothe 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 scaleandiscommensuratewith skills and experience.Internal equity will be reviewed andconsideredtodetermineafinal offer.For this position, the salaryrange is $145,000 to $170,000.NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employeesare required tocome to the office 8 days per month.As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to helpcontainthe 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 exemptionin accordance withstate and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine.In accordance withstate 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, visitwww.nrdc.org/careersand upload your r--sum-- and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload anyadditionalmaterials thatshowcaseyour 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 r--sum-- drop-offs.If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and needassistanceapplying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Careat1-800-889-4422.FormoreaboutNRDC,visitwww.nrdc.org.
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Keywords: Natural Resources Defense, South San Francisco , Director, Major Gifts Western Region, Executive , San Francisco, California