Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the United States. Our mission is simple yet powerful: foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors. With a focus on protecting mountains, forests, waters, and trails throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, we envision a world where our natural resources are healthy, loved, and always protected, and where the outdoors occupies a place of central importance in every person’s life.

This position aligns both paid and unpaid staff to move AMC’s mission and four strategic priorities:

• Inspire joyous, meaningful outdoor experiences
• Protect critical landscapes for the well-being of people and the outdoors
• Cultivate and sustain a robust, diverse, and welcoming community
• Foster equity in the outdoors

Position Overview

The Donor Engagement Manager is responsible for enhancing AMC’s donor relations primarily through the planning and successful execution of engagement activities that help retain and incentivize giving to AMC’s giving programs, including a large focus on the President’s Society, the leadership giving program for donors who give $1000+ a year to AMC’s Annual Fund. Major components include successfully executing donor events and trips designed to engage prospects and steward donors, and donor communications that convey gratitude and communicate the impact of donors’ support.

Event types include but are not limited to: day and overnight trips known as President’s Society Adventures, receptions, virtual offerings, committee and board meetings, and special events. These events drive donor engagement and retention and build our community. Additionally, the Donor Engagement Manager will help plan and execute AMC’s donor stewardship communications and aid in the fulfillment of fundraising program benefits and other related operations. The role reports to the Director, Annual Giving and Donor Engagement with a dotted line relationship to the Campaign Director on Board of Advisors and certain stewardship and campaign projects. The Donor Engagement Manager will partner collaboratively with other Development staff as well. The Donor Engagement Manager will play a key role in AMC’s development department, joining a dynamic team during an exciting time of growth and possibility.

In this position you will play an active role in shaping the next chapter of the Annual Fund as part of AMC’s comprehensive campaign, currently in the planning stage. You will have access to

mentors who will work with you to improve your craft as a nonprofit development professional, and you will take ownership of different facets of engaging AMC’s donor community. This role will give you an experience of considerable breadth and depth that can be a next step in your career journey. Perhaps best of all, you will have a lot of fun in this role – AMC’s story is an exciting one to tell, with an incredibly important mission at a time of organizational growth (…and you will lead adventures in beautiful outdoor places with your AMC colleagues and our amazing donors!).

The ideal candidate will have nonprofit experience in events, program management, fundraising operations, and oral and written communications – however success in this role can be achieved through a passion for AMC’s mission combined with a deep desire to learn and improve.

What you’ll be doing at AMC

The essential job duties/responsibilities of the position are included in but not limited to the items listed below:

Donor Events

• Manage all aspects of AMC’s President’s Society Adventures program, including planning, event budgeting, preparation, communication with participants, logistics and day-of execution, follow up with participants, collection of contact notes, cataloging of next steps, and record-keeping among other tasks;
• Aid in the preparation and execution of key committee and Board of Advisors (BOA) meetings with duties similar to those listed above;
• Work closely with the individual gifts team to plan and execute donor receptions and fundraising events that are driven by host-donors, with duties similar to those listed above;
• Develop an annual schedule of events and opportunities to engage President’s Society and other campaign donors and prospects;
• Manage all risk management and code of conduct aspects of AMC’s development events, including ensuring relevant staff are properly trained and certified to guide outdoor adventures;
• Oversee accurate record of events, meeting invitations, and donor participation in the database;
• Create and update tools to support efficient and accurate oversight of events program.
• With the Director of Annual Giving and Donor Engagement, annually review existing donor recognition societies and associated events to maximize impact and effectiveness.

Stewardship Communications

• Implement an integrated and comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program that promotes interaction and connection with and recognition of donors at all levels.
• Draft copy for email and print messages and communications for segments of the donor audience (including e-news, print newsletter, and special updates) to support AMC’s donor communications strategy. Coordinate approvals with AMC colleagues;
• Liaise with marketing and communications colleagues on project management for publications such as Inside Outdoors, a newsletter for AMC’s leadership giving and planned giving society members;
• Craft communications to donors and prospects as requested for campaigns, special publications, and other special initiatives;
• Ensure the delivery of welcome packets and similar materials to recipients of AMC giving societies

Other

• Manage the promotion and fulfillment of donor program benefits, such as that of the President’s Society and corporate membership programs, among others;
• Manage stewardship projects for President’s Society, capital campaigns, Board of Advisors, and special projects as needed;
• Keep abreast of industry trends and innovative thinking related to donor stewardship strategies, to propose and consider implementation for AMC President’s Society and other donor giving circles within AMC;
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned as required.

What AMC is looking for:

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We will invest in your growth as a nonprofit professional and in return know that you will help take our organization to new heights.

The successful candidate will be an energetic and enthusiastic development professional. The Donor Engagement Manager will be an excellent project manager with strong writing and organizational skills, experience with event planning, and ability to handle competing priorities and manage multiple projects concurrently that are at different points in their respective timelines. Must have polished customer-service orientation, be at ease interacting with high-net-worth individuals and have strong interpersonal skills. Must have exceptional attention to detail and strong written and oral communication skills. The ability to work independently as well as part of a team is important.

The ideal candidate’s qualifications would include:

• Two to five years of fundraising, donor relations, event planning or equivalent experience;
• Demonstrated success in coordinating and planning stewardship and cultivation events;
• Experience working in fundraising and interacting with high-level donors;
• Outstanding creative writing, proofreading, and copyediting skills;
• Strong oral communication skills;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software;
• Accuracy and proficiency with constituent relations management (CRM) databases, with the ability to learn and retain complex data entry and report procedures and systems. Familiarity with Salesforce a plus;
• Commitment to creating an equitable, inclusive, and culturally relevant environment for AMC employees, donors, guests, visitors, volunteers, and other constituents.
• Strong interest in outdoor recreation and a willingness to be trained in outdoor leadership skills. Interest in environmental/conservation, outdoor education, and policy issues a plus;
• Aptitude to communicate AMC’s mission and programs with sincerity, persuasion, and passion.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, especially relating to donor information.
• This position requires coordination and possible participation in 6-8 overnight/weekend trips annually, often to backcountry locations requiring ability to ski, snowshoe, or hike comfortably up to 7 miles in difficult terrain in all weather conditions, carrying loads of up to 20 pounds. Availability for evening and weekend work to set up and participate in events. Note that events are scheduled well in advance.
• Valid driver’s license.
• This position will work in the office 2-3 days/week.

What AMC Can Offer You

Salary: 55,494 – 74,879

We are committed to equitable compensation practices. The initial salary represents our starting point, and our compensation philosophy is designed to reward and recognize the contributions of our employees as they grow within the organization. External candidates typically begin their journey with us at the starting point of the salary range. The final compensation offer will be based on factors such as experience, education, competencies, and geographic differential relevant to the position, and will be discussed during the interview process.

Benefits

• Health Plan: Generous employer contributions through Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts with optional vision and dental.
• Other Insurance: 100% employer paid life insurance, AD&D insurance, long-term disability.
• Career Progression: The potential to have annual compensation reviews commensurate with performance and effort.
• Retirement: 403(b) with 4% matching employer contributions and a vesting schedule. This benefit increases with tenure.
• Paid Time Off: up to 4 weeks of Paid Time Off and up to 11 paid company holidays at hire. This benefit increases with tenure.
• Other Team Member Perks:
• 30% discount on AMC Merchandise Free Annual AMC Membership
• 10 Free nights at AMC locations
• Educational Assistance
• Pro deal discounts on equipment & gear and more!

To Apply:

Please apply here and include a resume and letter of interest. No phone calls or agencies please.

AMC welcomes all qualified candidates to apply, and we invite the full participation of all individuals currently underrepresented in the outdoor community. This includes but is not limited to, individuals from racially and/or ethnically diverse communities, individuals with disabilities, individuals from LGBTQ+ communities, and individuals who experience intersectionality with one or more of these identities.

The Appalachian Mountain Club has zero tolerance for child abuse or placing children in danger. The AMC requires all employees who work in a program or facility that serves children, disabled persons, or the elderly to have a criminal background record check performed on their name annually with employment contingent upon satisfactory results.