Earthwatch Institute
Senior Director, Individual Giving
Boston, MA
September 2010
Earthwatch Institute is an international non-profit organization that engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. The Institute offers volunteers the opportunity to join research teams around the world thus helping to create a systematic change in how we live in balance with nature. In the face of today's most pressing environmental emergencies—climate change, declining ocean health, unsustainable resource management, and threatened cultures—Earthwatch is mobilizing like never before.
To support these compelling environmental needs and access a ripe prospect pool, Earthwatch has created a new fundraising position, Senior Director, Individual Giving. The new Senior Director will be an innovative leader reporting to the Chief Development Officer. She/he will oversee all facets of the individual program, manage staff, and carry a portfolio of major donors and prospects. In collaboration with executive leadership, this new position will help shape strategy, craft priorities, and develop and execute all individual giving long and short term plans.
The best candidates will be entrepreneurial fundraisers who possess a successful track record of cultivating, soliciting and closing 5- and 6-figure gifts; strong team building and staff leadership experience; working knowledge of best practices; and, exceptional ability to build and sustain key relationships. International fundraising experience is highly desirable.
About Earthwatch Institute
Earthwatch Institute brings science to life for people concerned about the Earth's future. Founded in 1971, Earthwatch engages people in scientific field research and education, offering volunteers the opportunity to join research teams around the world in order to promote the understanding and action needed for a sustainable environment. Its diverse community of world class scientists, educators, students, businesspeople, and volunteers work together to inspire and promote personal and organizational change. This unique model is creating a systematic alteration in how the public views science and its role in environmental sustainability.
Earthwatch, with its citizen science model, delivers programs across 40 countries and recruits close to 4,000 volunteers every year to conduct field research so that we may better understand climate change, ocean health, cultural heritage and management of our natural resources. Since 1971, over 100,000 volunteers have been inspired to join Earthwatch's vital conservation research projects in the field. Earthwatch receives over $20M in annual revenues with more than 85% supporting scientific research, education and engagement programs. Located in its Boston , Massachusetts headquarters with offices in nine countries, Earthwatch is supported by more than 150 staff members.
The Opportunity
The Senior Director, Individual Giving, is a new position and integral role that will report to Barbara Erickson, Chief Development Officer. The position was created to lead a growing individual giving program that currently raises over $7M annually in the Americas . Composed of volunteer outreach, major gifts, annual fund and membership, special events, and online fundraising, the individual giving program is being expanded and diversified to accelerate national philanthropic support.
As primary strategist for Individual Giving, the Senior Director will partner with the Chief Development Officer to craft and execute strategic and operational plans to identify, qualify, engage, cultivate, solicit, and steward high net worth donors and prospects. She/he will oversee an individual giving team of nine (some remote) with four direct reports demonstrating superior management and leadership skills; an ability to motivate and lead high performing teams; and the capability to support senior staff as well as mentor and coach junior staff.
The Senior Director will serve as a visible frontline fundraiser who will carry a select portfolio of key 5- and 6-figure prospects and donors. In his/her first year, the Senior Director's revenue target will be $500K, escalating to $1M in the second year.
Key Responsibilities
• Build and strengthen a comprehensive individual giving program;
• Oversee financial and operating performance of the individual giving program;
• Establish annual and monthly team and individual goals;
• Create strategic and operational plans for each facet of individual giving in order to meet or exceed revenue expectations;
• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors;
• Integrate the volunteer outreach “public” and individual giving programs
• Create and execute a strategic plan to improve annual fund & membership programs
• Collaborate with senior leadership and individual board members to prepare cultivation and solicitation briefings and attend cultivation and solicitation visits as appropriate;
• Supervise staff including hiring, training, leading, coaching, motivating and evaluating.
About 25% travel is expected primarily consisting of day trips along the east coast. Quarterly west coast travel and occasional international travel will also occur.
Qualifications
• Authentic interest in environmental issues and the ability to effectively communicate Earthwatch's mission and vision;
• Seven-ten years of development experience that includes supervision of development professionals and all aspects of an individual giving program;
• Demonstrated success developing and sustaining relationships with key donors, volunteer leadership, and senior staff
• Proven track record of personally cultivating, soliciting and closing major gifts at the 5- and 6- figure level;
• Superb oral and written communication skills;
• Exposure to online giving programs;
• Willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally.
International fundraising is highly desirable.
For initial inquiries, please contact:
earthwatch@developmentguild.com
Lisa Gell, SPHR
Senior Consultant
Development Guild/DDI
233 Harvard Street, Suite 107
Brookline, MA 02446-5017
For more information about the Eathwatch Institute, please visit www.earthwatch.org
|
