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National Audubon Society

Director, Prospect Engagement

National Audubon Society, New York, New York, us, 10261


Overview:The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.

North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary:Reporting to the Vice President of Development Operations & Donor Services (VP), the Director, Prospect Engagement will lead Audon’s major donor prospect discovery, qualification, and engagement efforts. The Director will work closely with members of the development and direct response teams, field office leadership, center leaders, and advisory board members from across Audubon to support a comprehensive funder pipeline development program.

Compensation:Salary range based on geo-differentials:

$120,000-$130,000/year = National

$130,000-$140,000/year = Alaska, CA (not San Francisco), Connecticut, D.C., Chicago, Oyster Bay, NY

$140,000-$150,000/year = NYC (not Oyster Bay), San Francisco, Seattle

Essential Functions:

Lead a team of engagement professionals, providing mentorship and coaching in support of their professional growth and success as members of the Audubon Prospect Engagement Team.

Design and expand prospect engagement strategies with the goal of increasing the major donor pipeline for Audubon via sources including but not limited to:

Leveraging introductions made by advisory board members.

Research of individual and institutional prospects individually and in collaboration with members of the Audubon research team.

Engaging with direct response program members to determine potential for increased giving.

Activating programming at Centers across the network.

Consult with Development Operations and Research on new analysis, scoring, modeling, and screening options to identify high potential leads across Audubon’s membership cohorts.

Both through management of team and via personal contributions, expand Audubon’s Canopy program and major/principal gift prospect pipeline via the following activities and more:

Conduct phone and face-to-face meetings and interactions strategically and with the purpose of qualifying, evaluating inclination, capacity, and affinity.

Solicit prospects for initial Canopy level gifts ($10,000), as a measure of capacity/inclination verification through a variety of techniques including phone, correspondence/email, digital platforms, and in person contact with a focus on increasing membership in the Canopy.

Communicate outcomes of qualifications with colleagues, making sure next steps are identified and successfully transitioning relationships to members of the leadership giving team.

Work independently to analyze data, prioritize outreach efforts, and execute annually established minimum number of phone and face-to-face qualification meetings and interactions.

Support and expand prospect engagement activities at Centers and in collaboration with current donors/advisory board members to increase opportunities for team member interactions with prospective funders.

Actively collaborate with colleagues across the organization including institutional and individual giving teams, direct response, gift planning, donor relations, and events and engagement, as well as centers and state, regional, and country offices to identify, develop, and implement strategies to maximize discovery and fundraising effectiveness.

Establish and monitor tracking systems and tools to ensure outreach volume, interactions, and activities meet the needs of Audon’s ambitious fundraising goals.

Utilize database of record (Salesforce) to record and update activities and opportunities, as well as interactions, outcomes, and next steps with prospects and donors. Contribute to research and accuracy of constituent records.

Qualifications and Experience:

Senior-level development professional with 10+ years of experience in organizations that have a reputation for strategic thinking, organizational excellence, and aggressive action. Bachelor’s degree also required. Equivalent work experience will also be considered.

A minimum of three years of leadership and management experience, with an aptitude for the facilitating of professional growth in direct reports.

Experience in working in partnership with teams managing donor relationships.

A self-starter with a positive attitude and demonstrated capability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

Keen attention to detail, with the ability to synthesize and carefully analyze information; follow best practices, trends, and support decision making for Audubon’s development operations and donor services programs.

Skilled at working cross functionally with leaders, as well as volunteers and boards.

Ability to drive, manage and execute project work; establish and monitor priorities and maintain flexibility while meeting deadlines.

Exceptionally strong communicator; superior interpersonal skills also a must.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, as well as navigating, analyzing, and reporting data from fundraising databases and other web-based tools. Knowledge of Salesforce a plus.

Ability to maintain confidentiality, while exercising discretion and personal judgment where appropriate.

A flexible approach to work, with the willingness to work some evenings and weekends and travel for events when necessary.

A commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

Interest, understanding, and commitment to the conservation of birds, other wildlife, and their habitat is critical, as is the ability to communicate Audubon’s mission, goals, and programs effectively and with the highest professional standards.

EEO Statement:The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement:The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

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