Associate Director of Development/Major Gifts
Location: Audubon California
Immediate Supervisor:
Division/Department:

Summary of Position

The Associate Director of Development/Major Gifts is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and acknowledging individual major gifts in Southern California for Audubon California.  Participates in setting annual development performance goals.  Manages a caseload of approximately 150 prospects, primarily generated from annual fund and “friends of” efforts in conjunction with our Debs Park Center in Los Angeles,  Starr Ranch Sanctuary in Orange County, and Kern River Preserve in Kern County.  Reports to Director of Development to ensure effective cultivation and closure of major gifts, including developing cultivation strategies and plans.  Participates in additional support activities of state development department including special events, annual planning retreats, and other meetings as necessary.

This position reports to Audubon California’s Director of Development and is based in our Los Angeles office. Requires 25% travel throughout southern California; some evenings and weekends required.

 Achieve annual major gifts goals as part of performance objectives, by:

• Initiating contact and establishing rapport with new prospects, recent and lapsed donors, board members, community leaders, and others who may have an interest in Audubon’s mission;
• Engaging prospects in conversations about Audubon programs and activities while identifying their specialized interests;
• Working with Audubon development and program staff to create strategies and approaches to elicit, match, or enhance donor giving as part of the cultivation and/or solicitation process;
• Managing a caseload of 150 individuals with varying charitable capacities and motivations to move them toward successful gift closings;
• Collaborating with program and marketing/communications staff in addition to development team. Tracking and reporting monthly on identification, cultivation, and closing of gifts in the context of annual performance goals;
• Participating in development team planning of cultivation and stewardship activities 
• Builds and maintains consistent communications to key constituencies (statewide staff, center directors, staff and volunteers) as well as prospects and donors; 
• Attends appropriate meetings in person or via conference call;
• Creates reports of donor visits and assists in the maintenance of accurate donor records; 
• Stays abreast of current legal, financial, and organizational developments in philanthropy;
  Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• At least five years of professional development experience, including prior major gift solicitation;
• Commitment to conservation is desirable.
• Self-starter, and quickly create a positive network of relationships out in the field;
  Strong analytical, research and writing skills;
• A can-do attitude and tolerant, friendly personality with a great sense of humor are essential;
• Be comfortable and productive in a fast-paced, team, results oriented environment while being responsible for attaining own annual performance goals;
• Be articulate and engaging, possessing interpersonal skills that can engage and be receptive to donor interest and perspectives;
• Be well-organized and able to handle details while pursuing overall goals; must be able to adapt quickly to a new organization;
• Will represent Audubon’s mission, goals, and philosophies with the highest professional standards;
• Knowledge and familiarity with Southern California’s diverse culture, emerging markets, and philanthropic community;
• Computer literate; knowledge of Word, Excel, Access, Power Point desirable;
• Bachelors degree required.
• Salary commensurate with experience. Audubon offers a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package.

The mission of Audubon California is to conserve and restore California's natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. By connecting people with nature, Audubon California is an emerging leader in creating a powerful California voice for the environment, deeply rooted in and broadly drawn from all parts of our population.

Audubon promotes a diverse workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the National Audubon Society to employ the person best qualified for the job regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability (handicap) or marital status.