Major Gifts Officer, Northeast

National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), the nation’s oldest and largest national parks nonprofit advocate, has an exciting opportunity open to join our Development Department as the Major Gifts Officer, Northeast. This position will report to the Senior Managing Director, Major Gifts.

The Major Gifts Officer, Northeast develops and executes a strategic fundraising plan to identify and cultivate individual donors for programmatic, operating and campaign support. This self-starter leads all aspects of donor relationship management for a growing portfolio of high-net-worth prospects. They serve as the primary relationship manager, partnering with Development Leadership, Executive Office, regional program staff, and the Board of Trustees as needed. Working as part of the national development department, they collaborate closely with senior development professionals and volunteers to increase support at the $10,000+ level, with specific focus on six and seven-figure donors and prospects in the Northeast region. The role emphasizes building relationships through in-person cultivation and offers significant autonomy to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.

Location: New York City or Boston Area

Grade: N

Salary: up to $100k; commensurate with skills, experience, and location.

Work Status: Full-time (32 hours per week); Exempt

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package for this role including a four-day, 32-hour work week, paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and paid sabbaticals for staff after seven years of service. Learn more about our benefits at npca.org/jobs.

Essential Functions:

% of Time

Create and execute a strategic major gifts plan to grow and manage a portfolio of donors giving at the $10,000+ level, focusing on six- and seven-figure gifts, with the goal of building the portfolio to generate seven figures+ annually:

• • Through prospect qualification and cultivation continue building a major donor portfolio of 120-150 donors;
  • Develop meaningful relationships with major donors and prospects to ensure they feel special, valued, and connected to NPCA’s mission;
  • Work with NPCA staff, Board of Trustees, former Board, and Regional Council members to develop and execute strategies, using moves management principles for ongoing cultivation and stewardship of major donors and prospects;
  • Prepare briefing documents for members of the Executive Team, program staff, and board members to use in major gift cultivation and solicitation;
  • Represent major donor interests and perspective inside NPCA and in national and regional publications;
  • Serve as staff liaison to donors and board members in their fundraising efforts as needed.
  • Write proposals and concept papers for major donor prospects describing funding opportunities for NPCA regional activities and national programs;
  • Provide program reports and updates for major donors showing the impact of their contributions.
  • Act as an NCPA representative and spokesperson and effectively network in various venues and in front of a wide range of audiences;
  • Actively participate as a member of the major gifts team;
  • Travel is expected 30% of the time to achieve a face-to-face visits goal and to experience or visit national park sites in the Northeast. 70%

Ensure success of regional special events in terms of donor engagement and increases support:

• • Develop and staff cultivation, solicitation, or stewardship events as appropriate, including NPS site tours, donor briefings with NPCA program staff, and house parties. 10%

Perform major gifts administrative task to ensure strengthened relationships with major donors and prospects are documented and reflected in ongoing outreach:

• • Manage portfolio donor moves and interactions in Revolution Online donor database system;
  • Provide logistical and communication support for meetings and appropriate follow-up by filing timely contact reports and appropriate correspondence;
  • Participate in annual budgetary process to inform and help create an annual operating budget for the development function and manage activities within the allocated resources. 20%

Total 100%

Other:

Respect employees regardless of their position or background. Participates in developing department goals, objectives, and systems. Participates in administrative staff meetings, organization-wide meetings, staff committee meetings, training programs, and attends other meetings and seminars as designated by the supervisor. Assists in evaluation of reports, decisions, and results of department in relation to established goals. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position.

Minimum Work Schedule: Monday – Thursday, 9am – 6:00pm (1 hour for lunch). NPCA generously offers a four-day (32 Hour) work week.

Minimum Scope of Position:

The Major Gifts Officer interacts with and relies on the national office’s membership team, communications staff, the regional office staff, and development operations staff. The Major Gifts Officer must perform routine administrative duties associated with development. The Major Gifts Officer helps develop and report on the revenue budget for her/his/their portfolio.

Minimum Qualifications, Competencies, Skills, Education, and Traits:

• Bachelor’s degree and 5-6 years of experience in a similar role, with at least five years proven experience in major gifts fundraising.
• Strong personal commitment to national park system protection, with experience in conservation/environment or related field preferred.
• Demonstrated success in managing a major gift portfolio, working with high net-worth individuals, securing six-figure contributions and setting the stage for seven-figure gifts.
• Demonstrated success working with and engaging volunteers in philanthropy.
• Excellent writing and oral communications skills and ability to prepare funding proposals.
• Ability to work with a wide range and diversity of constituents and to travel 30% of the time throughout the territory.
• Enjoys calling and visiting donors and prospects in-person and must be willing to work as part of the national development team.
• Ability to set priorities, coordinate multiple projects, handle details, and work effectively under pressure with minimum supervision.

Core Values

Live, honor and own NPCA’s Core Values:

• Commitment. We are passionate about NPCA and dedicated to achieving excellence through our work and mission. We seek to improve our performance by taking opportunities for professional and personal development and encouraging reasonable risk-taking and innovation.
• Inclusion. We value diversity of thought, background, experience, and opinion. We create a culture of empowerment by welcoming and encouraging meaningful participation from all people and promoting an environment that embraces different perspectives.
• Integrity. We hold ourselves accountable to each other, our members and partners, and our mission. We evaluate the impact of our work and strive for honesty and transparency across the organization. We operate ethically in the organization’s best interests.
• Respect. We collaborate in results-oriented teams based on trust and consideration for each other. We promote harmony between our work and our personal lives. We foster a healthy and positive workplace culture and work collaboratively with external partners.

Physical Effort and Dexterity: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is typically required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; talk or hear. The employee may lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job may include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Physical Environment: Typical office setting and home office

Employer’s Rights: NPCA reserves the right to revise this position description at any time. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the NPCA and employee and is subject to change by the NPCA as the needs of the NPCA and requirements of the job change. The above is in no way an exhaustive list of the requirements for the position. NPCA is committed to diversity among its employees and hiring practices. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.