World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s leading conservation organization, seeks a Senior Director, Strategic Communications and Stewardship at our Washington, DC office. WWF aims to better leverage organizational relationships with individual donors, Board and National Council members, foundations, private-sector corporations, US government institutions, and bi- and multilateral institutions to raise resources at the scale that our mission demands.
Working collaboratively with senior staff and across the organization, the Senior Director is responsible for the overall coordination, implementation and monitoring of an integrated funding plan and related fundraising campaigns, consistent with defined strategy and goals.
Develops an overall strategic plan for an integrated resource mobilization model that supports the mission of the organization involving resources and program (“goal”) staff and volunteer leadership in the strategic development process, to utilize their expertise and cultivate their support.
Establishes vision and strategic direction for donor/funder/influencer communications and messaging, particularly in support of WWF’s conservation priorities and resource mobilization campaigns.
Direct supervision for WWF’s Development communications and stewardship strategies in support of fundraising goals. Provides internal communications leadership and support for Development. Creates communications platforms for various donor audiences. Directs the benefits programs for Annual Giving (Partners in Conservation) and Gift Planning (WWF Legacy Circle). Manages a team that supports Development’s cultivation, solicitation and stewardship efforts, including production of fundraising collateral, case statements, donor proposals, stewardship reports, and programmatic materials. Responsible for the Donor Communications budget.
As the leader of the Resource Mobilization Core Team, works directly with the Fundraising Steering Committee and the office of the Chief Conservation Officer to plan and coordinate the preparation for a significant resource mobilization effort across the organization. Integrate this work across Influence and Programmatic teams in service of priority initiatives.
- Understand scope, signature programs and organization of all Goal teams to ensure conservation priorities drive fundraising.
- Formulates immediate and long-range plans, designs and implements the activities to achieve revenue goals and advance the efforts of the Resource Mobilization effort. Evaluates strategies regularly and adjusts as needed to achieve goals.
- Manage the development and coordination of the communications which articulate the Goal portfolios, both within WWF-US and as needed within the larger WWF Network.
Donor Communications: Develops and oversees the integrated communications framework for priority initiatives and fundraising campaigns. Creates messaging strategies for the Development program and oversees all Development communications.
- Designs and oversees the use of a donor communications plan and all related activities by audience with a focus on building a successful donor pipeline. This plan is used to provide direction for the creation and design of donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship communications, both general communications and customized communications to support individual fundraising plans.
- Monitors and oversees proposal writing and stewardship reporting processes. Oversees the creation of e-newsletters, program collateral, fundraising campaign materials, and other materials as needed.
- Collaborates actively with Marketing and Communications, Media Relations, and Goal communicators to assure WWF core messages are reflected in Development collateral and that institutional materials reflect Development’s needs.
Stewardship and Recognition: Works with Strategic/Regional Philanthropy, Annual and Planned Giving to establish and implement stewardship and recognition guidelines.
- Oversees stewardship operations, including the creation of acknowledgement and receipting for all Development-level individual gifts. Works with Program Operations to ensure revenue allocations follow donor intent.
- Collaborates with Development leadership to advance institutional cooperation in ensuring a donor-centric approach is adopted and consistently delivered.
- Directs Major Donor recognition efforts and the individual giving benefits programs for Partners in Conservation and the WWF Legacy Circle. Refines the programs regularly to ensure they provide maximum benefit to WWF donors and support Development’s fundraising goals.
Internal Communications: Supports the department’s internal communication needs and serves as a repository for organizational information.
Development Systems: Works with Development’s Systems Specialist and other partners to ensure core WWF systems meet Development’s communications and stewardship needs. Helps craft Development policies and processes.
- Develops and manages Donor Communications expense budget.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Working Relationships
- Internal: Works closely with executives and senior staff across Program (“Goal”) and “Influence” departments to advise, develop, and execute plans and activities. Liaises with Program Operations to acknowledge and steward donors by ensuring that donor funds are allocated and spent in accordance with donor intent. Interacts regularly with other department heads, directors, and key staff to recognize conservation goals and maximize revenue opportunities, increase public recognition and support, and coordinate efforts.
- External: Interacts with major donors and members of the Board of Directors and National Council and maintains regular contact with representatives from peer organizations, colleagues in the WWF network, and personal professional networks. Directs outside consultants and contractors in specific assignments.
Supervisory Responsibility
- Directly oversees the selection, performance and evaluation of staff of the Donor Communications and Stewardship team (seven FTEs). Hires and trains new staff, outlines and communicates job requirements and other expectations, and reviews and evaluates the quality of work.
- Candidate must have demonstrated success developing, managing and overseeing marketing and fundraising activities.
- Experience with mission-oriented brand marketing, and success as a creative and effective manager essential.
- Proven ability to lead a professional staff, direct complex programs, manage development of cutting-edge communication materials, and engage a broad array of individuals.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. Strong commitment to mission, goals, and values of WWF.
- Requires marketing and/or communication experience and strong project management skills. Capital/Fundraising campaign experience, a plus.
- Must be familiar with donor databases and list management
- Demonstrated creative and problem-solving skills.
- Able to multi-task and deal effectively with a variety of projects and people.
- Budget management and supervisory skills.
- Knowledge of conservation and environmental issues is preferred.