Associate Director of Development

About the role

The Nature Conservancy's Massachusetts Chapter is looking for an Associate Director of Development, a full-time hybrid position based in Massachusetts with the option to work from home or the Boston office (at least 3 days per week in the office or on donor/partner visits). The role develops and manages multi-year strategies for cultivating and soliciting gift prospects, mainly individual donors and potential corporate, foundation and institutional funders, with a focus on six- and seven-figure gifts. It sits in a 10-person team and focuses largely on discovery and qualification.

Key responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of 50-85 donors and prospects able to give at least $100,000, with 40-75 visits and 150-250 moves annually, and an annual fundraising goal of $2,000,000 or more once the portfolio matures.
• In years one and two, deliver discovery-based metrics such as annual qualifications and quarterly outreach goals.
• Convey the organization's mission to key groups and exercise sound judgment in donor strategy and relationship management.
• Directly ask for gifts and participate in negotiations for complex, high-profile or sensitive agreements.
• Manage trustee relationships and/or volunteer engagement, and staff chapter leadership as a moves manager as appropriate.
• Use the donor database, discuss assets and non-cash gifts such as planned gifts and gifts of real estate, and incorporate blended gifts into proposals.
• Ensure compliance with policies and donor/legal/IRS requirements, maintain confidentiality, and escalate complex issues appropriately.
• Periodic regional travel, sometimes at short notice, and occasional long hours and weekends.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree and 7 years of related experience.
• Demonstrated success building and managing a pipeline of six- and seven-figure prospects and donors, and with high-net-worth individuals.
• Experience asking for and closing six- and seven-figure gifts, including planned and blended gifts, and managing multiple prospects at once.
• Experience collaborating with fundraisers and senior leaders in a complex, matrix organization.
• Training in charitable giving trends, especially capital campaigns, major gifts and planned giving.
• Valid driver's license and compliance with the Auto Safety Program; employment is contingent on a Vehicle Use Agreement.

Desired qualifications

• Multilingual skills and cross-cultural experience.
• Ability to design fundraising strategies (cultivation, solicitation, recognition) and to educate donors on giving vehicles.
• Advanced knowledge of charitable gift planning and proven negotiation skills.

What we offer

• Starting pay range of $114,000-$132,000 for USA-based candidates.
• Health care, flexible spending account, 401(k) with 8% employer match, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance and disability coverage.
• Flexible work environment.