The Development Officer, Loyal Donors (Loyal Donor Officer) is a member of the Loyal Giving Program Team and is responsible for the ongoing cultivation, bequest solicitation and essential stewardship of California’s 33,000+ identified, non-managed loyal donors. S/he conducts exploratory meetings with donors for the purposes of recognizing their loyalty to TNC, identifying giving potential and asking for bequest commitments. S/he keeps a portfolio of gift planning bequest prospects for future solicitation. The Loyal Donor Officer creates ongoing opportunities for contact with current loyal donors to develop meaningful relationships through group activities such as meetings, luncheons, and field trips. The Officer will have a goal of 30 new bequest intentions per year and $600,000 in bequest substantiations. Position can be located in Santa Cruz or San Francisco, California offices.
The Loyal Donor Officer is responsible for thanking, stewarding and cultivating the loyal donor constituency in northern California with a primary goal to verify/secure bequests. The Officer will work with California’s Loyal Giving and Marketing teams to strategically plan and execute a variety of activities to steward and solicit donors including meetings, trips, events, and other activities. The Officer will work on a variety of communication activities including providing detailed program information to loyal donors and drafting personalized correspondence and acknowledgments. The Officer uses TNC’s donor database and spreadsheets to organize and update donor information, produce reports, perform analysis, and track and cultivate donors, and collaborates with Blackbaud CRM specialists to create/integrate loyal donor data requirements. S/he actively collaborates with World Office Gift Planning and Membership direct marketing teams to coordinate the loyal donor outreach. The Loyal Donor Officer understands the basics of planned gifts and general fundraising practices, the influencing factors on donors and the types of assets that may be used for the donor’s giving. They apply this knowledge to interactions with donors and bequest asks. The Officer actively collaborates with gift planning staff to identify leads for complex planned gifts and works with individual giving staff to identify potential major donors within the loyal donor pool of prospects. They may work to establish a formalized recognition program for California's loyal donors.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- Act independently within broad program goals to prioritize tasks in the absence of specific instructions and exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems.
- Annual goal of 30 new bequest notifications and $600,000 in bequest substantiations.
- May identify opportunities to upgrade outright annual gifts.
- Skillfully employ donor database and spreadsheets to organize and update donor information, produce reports, perform analysis, and track and cultivate donors
- Does not supervise any staff but may manage work of peers on departmental project teams.
- Actively collaborate with southern California Loyal Donor Officer and the Loyal Giving team
- Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements.
- Manage projects with multiple variables, set realistic deadlines, manage a timeline, and ensure accountability.
- Persuasively convey TNC’s mission to diverse groups who are important to the organization’s overall prosperity.
- Travel throughout northern California up to 50% of time; and work overtime as needed.
- Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.
- Work is diversified and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines.
- Work within scope of Loyal Giving Program’s strategic goals.
- Experience building relationships with donors, volunteers, and staff.
- Experience generating reports, and organizing, analyzing and interpreting the data.
- Experience in managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
- Experience working across departments.
- Experience, coursework, or other training in fundraising principles and practices.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Ability to determine an individual’s interests, capacity and potential for helping TNC meet its goals, and act appropriately to tie those interests with TNC’s work.
- Working knowledge of the basics of charitable gift planning.
- Ability to implement and coordinate fundraising plans, including individualized cultivation, solicitation, and recognition plans.
- Demonstrated experience using diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships and motivate staff and donors.
- Direct fundraising experience.
- Knowledge of current trends in charitable giving.
- Strong negotiating and organizational skills.
- Demonstrate interest in environmental issues and conservation.
- Ability to utilize current technology in communication, database management and Microsoft Office suite.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.