Development Officer

Position Summary

This is a full-time position with American Bird Conservancy (ABC). American Bird Conservancy is a fast-growing, results-focused nonprofit seeking employees with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to make a difference for birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. Inspired by the wonder of birds, ABC achieves lasting results for the bird species most in need while also benefiting human communities, biodiversity, and the planet’s fragile climate. With a positive atmosphere, fun and dedicated colleagues, and leadership that values transparency and innovation, ABC is an environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.

Primary Duties

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies, in coordination with program and development directors, to meet or exceed programmatic annual and long-term fundraising goals.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-net-worth individuals.
• Research and pursue grant opportunities from private foundations and corporate entities, and lead on submission of proposals and reports.
• Cook up donor communications, including updates on conservation impact, thank-you letters, and other personalized outreach.
• Cook up donor recognition efforts and stewardship/cultivation activities to build long-term engagement. This could include in-person meetings, field trips, and other special gatherings such as invite-only webinars with program representatives.
• Uphold the highest level of grant stewardship.
• Ensure compliance with gift acceptance, reporting standards, and donor intent.
• Track fundraising progress and maintain accurate donor and prospect records in ABC’s CRM (EveryAction), and other grant tracking systems.
• Help develop and maintain program budgets in coordination with program, finance, and other development team members.
• Stay informed about trends in philanthropy, conservation funding, and donor engagement best practices.
• Provide input into conservation planning and project implementation.
• Axle projects as requested.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and at least three years’ experience in major gifts and foundation fundraising.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills; particularly grant proposals and reports, and compelling donor updates.
• Familiarity with prospect research.
• Experience in moving donors from prospecting to solicitation to stewardship.
• Ability, willingness, and eagerness to contact donors and build relationships with a variety of funders.
• Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage deadlines and complex tasks, particularly as it relates to grant and donor stewardship.
• Proficiency with computers and software, including Excel and CRMs.
• Proficiency with Every Action CRM and Netsuite/PyanGo systems preferred.
• Experience working in conservation considered a plus.
• Willingness to travel, and work occasional nights and weekends, mainly for donor meetings, birding trips, and networking events (with the ability to take comp time).
• Proactive with high level of personal motivation, growth mindset, positivity, and a sense of urgency.
• Outgoing and flexible personality with an entrepreneurial outlook.
• Sense of humor.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Strategic thinker.
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully with a team, as well as independently, while maintaining deadlines.
• Ability to work with a wide range of people at all levels and a diversity of backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of donor information.

Benefits

• Excellent benefits package includes medical, dental, flexible spending accounts, and employer-matched retirement savings, flexible schedule, etc.
• Paid vacation days (starting at 15 days annually and increasing to 20 days after 1 year of employment), paid holidays (including both US holidays and additional ABC holidays) and sick leave.
• Lodging, meals, and transportation covered for work-related travel away from home where applicable.
• Rental vehicle or personal mileage reimbursement where applicable.