Director of Individual Giving
About Climate Central:
Climate Central is an independent group of scientists and science translators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and how it affects people’s lives. We use science and tech to generate thousands of local storylines and compelling visuals that make climate change relevant and show what can be done about it. We address climate science, sea level rise, extreme weather, energy, and related topics. We collaborate with journalists, TV meteorologists, and other respected messengers, reaching broad audiences through local voices in the US and 150 nations. Our research and visuals appear in thousands of TV spots and tens of thousands of other news stories each year, and our impact is growing.
About the role:
Climate Central seeks a Director of Individual Giving to join a dynamic team at a time of new leadership and opportunity. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director will be a key frontline fundraiser who will lead a strategic major gifts fundraising program that grows and sustains the number of annual donors and the size of individual donations. The Director will be responsible for the strategic direction of the major gift fundraising program, including maintaining a portfolio of 75-100 individuals and supervising the Annual Fund Manager.
The successful candidate will possess a donor-centric orientation and utilize demonstrated analytical skills to advance and build relationships with Climate Central’s supporters. They will apply exceptional initiative and organizational skills to manage multiple responsibilities in an entrepreneurial fashion.
Strategy and Major Gift Fundraising
In consultation with the Chief Development Officer, advance and manage an overarching integrated individual giving strategy that is in alignment with organizational funding priorities.
Identify, cultivate, and solicit a dynamic portfolio of 75-100 major gift prospect relationships (with the capacity to make five- and six-figure gifts), driving cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
Meet or exceed annual fundraising metrics: prospect meetings and touchpoints, new prospect identification, gift commitments, and donor retention.
Expand Climate Central’s annual giving strategy (mid-level donors, sustainer donors, etc.) to expand the donor base. Supervise the Annual Fund Manager’s implementation of the strategy.
Re-energize and advance a purposeful, planned giving program, including a planned giving society.
Collaboration and Program Management
Collaborate closely with Program teams to produce compelling messaging and integrate content into marketing and fundraising activities.
In partnership with the Chief Development Officer, oversee budget development and monitoring for any and all major gifts fundraising activities.
Support the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts of the Executive Leadership Team and senior leaders so that they are properly prepared for each donor interaction, including donor profiles, briefing materials, talking points, and follow-up.
Lead the development team towards building and maintaining robust, data-driven systems to support dynamic development operations.
Accurately project revenue, track progress towards goals, and produce regular internal and external reports to management, staff, and solicitors regarding projected and achieved goals.
Ensure timely and accurate maintenance of prospect, cultivation, solicitation, and pledge/gift data.
Mentor junior development staff on how to effectively track prospects and solicitors.
Encourage a culture of philanthropy across Climate Central, investing staff and assisting them in defining their role in advancing our mission through engagement and stewardship.
Relationship Management
Communicate regularly and effectively with executive leadership, board members, and top funders.
Travel to meet face-to-face with individuals, family foundations and/or their representatives.
Create and execute appropriate stewardship opportunities for the full spectrum of donors throughout the year.
Manage a discrete portfolio and maintain significant knowledge of and input on the portfolios of others who engage with individual donors.
Oversee research on potential new donors and propose and execute strategies to engage them.
Strategically move donors through the pipeline in a systematic, scalable way.
Provide analysis and strategy to determine which prospective donors are best aligned with supporting programs; develop and execute plans to engage and monitor them through face-to-face visits, special appeals and campaigns, events, and planned giving.
Communicate persuasively through personal visits, written proposals, and appeal letters and report the important case for giving to Climate Central.
Ensure timely donor acknowledgement, including appreciation and recognition, to ensure a high-quality donor experience.
Participate in planning special cultivation and fundraising events.
Represent Climate Central at workplace events and other speaking engagements as applicable.
Other duties may be assigned as needed.
Required Skills and Experience:
Skills and Experiences
At least ten (10) years of nonprofit development experience.
Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts with a focus upon gifts of $100,000+.
Demonstrated success in increasing the number of donors and/or investors in a portfolio of prospects, along with the scale of contributions, outside of a natural core funding base such as alumni, families, or former patients.
Understanding of and/or enthusiasm to learn about climate science, environment, and communications space and increasing revenue to support social enterprises. Experience in one or more of these spaces is a plus.
Creative, flexible, and entrepreneurial approach, with an orientation toward results and comfort establishing clear metrics and driving results according to plan.
Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, orally and in writing.
A proven track record of success developing, managing, building, and sustaining complex donor relationships.
Experience effectively engaging and supporting an Executive-level staff and Board Members.
Experience in a supervisory capacity, leading and supporting a team.
Extensive understanding of how development operations, systems and processes support individual giving.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, including effectively engaging and managing executive leadership.
Willingness to travel nationally and occasionally work outside of normal business hours.
Proficiency with Salesforce required.
Attributes and Competencies
Strategic thinker, ready and eager to further develop and drive the strategy for individual giving.
Well-suited to leadership in an entrepreneurial, collegial setting; excited to be part of a “roll-up-your-sleeves” culture.
Autonomous and thoughtful approach to problem-solving.
Collaborative, flexible, and innovative leadership and managerial style.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Energetic, positive outlook.
Unquestionable integrity and commitment to professional ethics, and the ability to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
Ability to instill upbeat team culture and manage staff with shifting responsibilities.
Compensation: The expected base salary range for this position is $115,000-$145,000. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Climate Central offers generous benefits including:
Medical benefits
Dental/ Vision benefits
More than 7 weeks of paid vacation and holidays available annually
12 weeks of paid family leave
401k with up to 12% matching
Partial college tuition for children of employees who qualify
Location and employment eligibility: This position can be mostly remote, in accordance with Climate Central organizational policy. Presence at headquarters or other U.S.-based locations is required for periodic team and organizational meetings, events and convenings. Climate Central’s headquarters are in Princeton, NJ. Candidates must be eligible for employment in the United States.
Equal Employment Opportunity at Climate Central: Climate Central is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment or employee on the basis of race, color, religious creed, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other classification protected by applicable discrimination laws.
How To Apply: Please apply via this link. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; candidates are encouraged to apply by August 15th.
Please note that our application process requires the submission of a resume only. We are intentionally not asking for a cover letter, so please do not send one with your application.
When including your education history in your resume, please remove the name of your school from your resume. You may leave your degree (e.g., “B.A. Communication”), but please remove any undergraduate or graduate school names. This is one part of our effort to assess candidates against the essential qualifications for this role and to mitigate bias in the decision making process.
Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, Climate Central is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate.