Vice President, Philanthropy & Marketing

Position Title: Vice President, Philanthropy & Marketing

Location: Remote USA – preferred proximity to DC office or major fundraising market (Bay Area, NYC)

Salary: $180,000 - $230,000, Commensurate with Skills & Experience

Status: Full-time, salaried, exempt

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

ABOUT US:

Since 1988, Rainforest Trust has been safeguarding imperiled tropical habitats and saving endangered species by supporting rights-based conservation measures such as affirming and securing rights to Indigenous or Traditional Territories, recognizing Conserved Areas (OECMs), and establishing traditional Protected Areas, including those with co-management of Indigenous or local communities. Working in partnership with local organizations and communities, we have protected more than 56 million acres of vital habitat across Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Rainforest Trust is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that relies upon the generous support of the public to successfully implement our important conservation action.

HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR MISSION:

• Develop, implement, and report on progress of a fundraising and marketing strategy to meet Rainforest Trust's 2030 strategic objectives.
• Through effective leadership and strategy setting, you will double our annual fundraising by 2030 to meet the objectives of our emerging 2026-2030 strategic plan. This includes identifying the gaps in resources necessary to make this fundraising goal happen.
• In collaboration with the Major and Principal Donor Team, attract and retain at least one new principal donor (>$1M) each year and personally steward a small portfolio of Principal donors.
• Nurture and build sustainably high-performing Philanthropy and Marketing teams, including the direct management of 3-5 Director level reports.
• As a member of the Executive Team, you’ll help lead the organization toward meeting our 2030 strategic objectives by partnering with the other senior leaders and the board while modeling our values.
• Help to shape Rainforest Trust’s Board by assisting the board's Nominating Committee with recruitment and development of members to help us develop and sustain a high-powered board.

TO SUCCEED IN THIS ROLE, YOU’LL HAVE EXPERIENCE IN:

Strategic Planning & Execution

• A demonstrated ability to turn a strategic vision into a concrete implementation plan, including staffing, timetables, and budgets, and then implement it effectively.
• Proven experience successfully developing fundraising strategies--whether at the organizational, departmental, or program level.
• Strong understanding of successful nonprofit marketing strategies.
• Track record of driving substantial fundraising growth.
• A demonstrated commitment to using data-driven decision making, including how to design strategies and monitor results, to drive strategy.
• Previous experience quickly learning and adapting to the nuances of a new organization and what makes it special.

Departmental Leadership

• Broad knowledge of fundraising, marketing, and donor services.
• A track record of effective leadership and management of teams yielding high impact.
• Prior experience successfully developing and supporting staff using strong management skills, with the ability to apply these skills to managing and developing managers.
• Successful experience managing a team to keep workload sustainable and focused as organizational priorities shift.
• Experience supervising others in a supportive, empowering manner with appreciation for identity, in a way that values unique identities, approaches, and perspectives.
• Experience cultivating or participating in an organizational culture of constructive feedback, where all team members give and receive with respect and honesty.

Principal & Major Donor Fundraising

• A track record of repeated success cultivating major donors (>=$50K), and ideally principal donors (>=$1M).
• Demonstrated experience effectively building a network by thoughtfully developing and maintaining relationships.
• Knowledge of the principal donor landscape in international conservation or proven experience quickly learning the donor landscape in a new field.
• Ability to pitch the cause of international conservation while projecting sincerity and commitment.
• Successful experience impartially analyzing and reporting on fundraising results and drawing lessons from them.

Organizational Leadership & Collaboration

• Steward positive relationships between the Philanthropy team and the rest of the organization by communicating executive level decisions to the team with respect.
• Tendency and experience of placing the good of the organization and quality of executive relationships above personal and departmental objectives.
• Ability to provide strategic, constructive counsel to the CEO and with other executives around organizational decision making with appreciation for perspectives of leaders from other functions, and with the ultimate best interests of the organization in mind.
• Ability to inspire confidence in a high functioning board of directors.

Values-Driven Leadership & Mission Alignment

• Commitment to and enthusiasm for Rainforest Trust’s mission and respect for our core values: Nature & People; Efficiency; Transparency; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Partnerships & Collaboration; Science & Innovation. Previous experience quickly learning and adapting to the nuances of a new organization and what makes it special.
• Commitment to modeling values and strong leadership by asking for help when needed, monitoring workload and maintaining healthy boundaries, etc.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Rainforest Trust values the diversity of our planet and environment and wants our team to reflect the richness of the global population we serve. We believe that striving to maintain a demographically diverse workforce where employees are treated equitably and feel a strong sense of inclusion is not only an ethical imperative but also a key driver of innovation and excellence, enhancing our ability to fulfill our mission of conserving and protecting our natural environment.

We put this belief into action by striving to apply this lens to every aspect of employment, from how we hire and recruit, to how we determine compensation and benefits, to the training and development we offer, and the working conditions we create.

If you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single qualification, please still get in touch. We'd love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit!

We are an equal-opportunity employer and give all qualified applicants consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Rainforest Trust is a remote first organization and the incumbent will be expected to work primarily from home with an excellent internet connection, though part-time office space may be available in Washington DC.

Requires willingness and ability to travel domestically up to 15% of time for organizational meetings, donor engagements, special events and similar business purposes. Occasional national and/or international travel may be required for organizational meetings and other events.

Please note that we are committed to ensuring the safety of all staff, especially considering political and public health conditions in the places we travel to and from. Any staff may refuse at any time to participate in any travel that they feel may endanger their health and safety. Travel will only be required when it is deemed safe by both the employee and the organization.

ANTICIPATED SALARY

The salary range for this position is $180,000- $230,000 commensurate with experience. This range applies to U.S based hires. This base compensation range represents the anticipated low and high range of wages for this position. Salaries will vary and will be based on various factors, such as candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. Information on other benefits may be found on our Careers Page.