WASHINGTON’S NATIONAL PARK FUND
MAJOR GIFTS POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
Title: |
Major Gifts |
Reports to: |
Laurie Ward, Chief Executive Officer |
Start Date: |
September 2019 |
Location: |
Washington’s National Park Fund, 1904 Third Avenue, Suite 400, Seattle, 98101 |
OVERVIEW OF WASHINGTON’S NATIONAL PARK FUND
Washington’s National Park Fund (herein referred to as “the Fund”) is the official fundraising partner with Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks. We’re raising more and, most importantly, awarding more to the parks each year for their top priority projects. We work closely with Park leadership, rangers and scientists throughout the year. As an employee of the Fund, you will have a highly unique opportunity to positively impact these public lands as well as interact with passionate park supporters on a regular basis.
The Fund has an outstanding full-time employment opportunity and is seeking that “just right”, enthusiastic, major gifts extraordinaire. We are looking for someone who is highly skilled and passionate about this type of work. You must be comfortable with asking for major gifts. If you bring a sincere sense of joy to the office environment for the work that you do, we want to meet you today. And if you want to be a part of a dynamic organization as it prepares for significant strategic growth, that desire to meet is even stronger!
OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION
Washington’s National Park Fund is seeking a hard-working, parks-passionate person who isn’t afraid to invite donors to make major gifts for our national parks. The projects you will put before donors are identified and come directly from the parks. Major gift donors love the fact that they can direct their gifts to specific projects.
This NEW POSITION is poised for success and has all the makings for solid and substantial growth. Central components to the position include:
•Being responsible for soliciting major gifts in support of Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks
•Managing a portfolio of prospective donors and responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding gifts
•Working collaboratively with and in support of volunteers, the Chief Executive Officer, Board members and other volunteers to cultivate and solicit donors for priority projects in all three of Washington’s national parks
•Monitoring all prospect contacts to ensure positive and purposeful prospect and donor relations
•Bringing a highly energetic level of professionalism with a track record of building donor relationships and closing gifts in the five- and six-figure plus range
•Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer
•Working collaboratively and strategically with park leadership, board leadership and members, staff and community volunteers
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Key components within the position include:
•Managing a portfolio of prospects with diverse priorities within multiple national parks
•Managing prospect activity in the national parks
•Traveling throughout the state of Washington as needed
•Participating in all aspects of the donor engagement cycle:
oInitiate contacts with potential leadership and major gift donors.
oDevelop appropriate cultivation strategies for them, including working with volunteers. Move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and
closure.
oMake solicitations when appropriate.
oMaintain stewardship contacts with donors.
oAdhere to the highest ethical standards. Demonstrate empathetic disposition and perseverance; reflect optimistic and positive attitude, and convey sensitivity to the needs of our donors.
•Being familiar with Raiser’s Edge; must have a history of working with this database system; also, some knowledge of the key role prospect research plays within a nonprofit is a must
•Offering prospect strategy counsel to the park superintendents, WNPF Chief Executive Officer, WNPF board leadership and others; must come with self-initiative
•Focusing solely on securing support for a set of priorities across all three national parks
QUALIFICATIONS
The top candidate will possess these qualifications:
•Bachelor’s Degree preferred
•Three to five years successful experience in major gift fundraising
•Ability to understand the needs and interests of leadership and major gift donors in order to develop relationships between them, the Fund, and the national parks
•Interest in all aspects of the national parks; direct experience within is most helpful as well
•A dedication to promoting park priorities and developing excellent relationships with donors, board members, volunteers, community leaders and the leadership and staff of the national parks
•Ability to work independently and with little supervision…must be self-starting,self-disciplined, and internally motivated to exceed your own expectations
•Successful experience in making cold calls as well as developing cultivation and solicitation strategies
•Must have excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated record of completing assignments
SALARY/BENEFITS
The following are offered as a part of the employment package:
Salary Range: $70,000 minimum
•Personal Time Off (PTO) 30 days (holidays, vacation, sick leave and personal time off combined). Hour do not accrue (the individual must use them by his/her anniversary date or they expire)
•Volunteer Days Two paid days/year to volunteer at a Fund-related organization
•Office space The position has a dedicated office space at Third and Stewart in Seattle
•Health Insurance coverage Medical and dental coverage provided once you’ve established yourself
•Retirement plan Position qualifies for a matching retirement plan after one year of service
•Transportation Washington’s National Park Fund covers the cost of a bus pass
•Opportunity to work with and in Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks
•Opportunity for telecommuting from time to time on an as-needed basis
•Mileage reimbursement when traveling to parks and in/around town for work-related business
•Fundraising Climb participation Take part in a Fund climb at no cost
•Continuing education for specific related duties (i.e., Raiser’s Edge, prospect research, etc.) provided as needed
•Membership in a local organization of your choice; must pertain to the mission of the organization and/or the role of the position
•We provide the most up-to-date technology aimed at increasing the ease and efficiencies of the work at hand: MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint, Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge/Research Point,
Passageways/OnBoard, etc.
•We believe in life balance and honor long days spent working on Fund activities with time away to refresh/regenerate
•This position is an exempt position meaning that the individual will not be paid overtime for any hours the individual puts in over 40 hours/week
TO APPLY
Interested? Intrigued? Submit your credentials!
•Submit your thoughtful and creatively compiled resume and cover letter to laurie@wnpf.org
•The more thoughtful/creative the cover letter, the better
•Please note in the subject line: Major Gifts
•Standard submissions from generic sites highly discouraged
•Position will remain open until that just right person comes along
•Washington’s National Park Fund is an EEO employer
Please: No phone calls or direct contact until interviews begin