Job Title: Director of Annual Fund
Department: Development
Reports to: Chief Development Officer
Position: Full time, salaried, exempt

Earthwatch Institute is an international, non-profit organization which engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.

Position summary:
Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Annual Fund will be responsible for leading and growing a strategic and effective annual fundraising and membership program. The Director will oversee all annual development efforts (excluding major gifts), achieving a $650,000 annual goal for FY10,  and overseeing a progressively increasing revenue goal.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead a comprehensive annual fundraising and membership program, including strategies targeting all constituencies through direct mail, e-campaigns, appeals, annual drives, alumni groups, premium offerings, group events, and volunteer cultivation.
  • Ensure a positive trajectory for new and renewal membership statistics.
  • Manage and grow all figures related to annual appeals, including current low and high level, as well as future project specific and segment testing.
  • Implement a strategic growth plan related to volunteer and alumni cultivation which includes donations, stewardship, volunteer experience and membership benefits.
  • Be a lead member in converting database of 85,000 past volunteers to annual supporters.
  • Work closely with the Chief Development Officer to develop overall fundraising strategies and integrate with other organization-wide efforts.
  • Provide leadership and direction to grow annual fundraising results through the direct mail program and annual events, growing and upgrading the donor base and continuing to build a prospect pipeline for major and planned gift cultivation.
  • Retrieve and prepare Annual Fund and Development team mailing lists from constituent and online databases.
  • Partner with, support, and mentor Earthwatch staff in developing active mail and web campaigns and segmentations.  Lead organization’s first initiative in project appeals, mini-campaigns, annual drives, etc.
  • Provide strategic leadership and oversight for donor communications, working closely with the Chief Development Officer and Director of Marketing to coordinate and integrate with organizational communication efforts.
  • Effectively manage and leverage current budgets, staffing, and resources and make recommendations on the policy, staffing, and budget necessary to accomplish future fundraising objectives related to membership and the annual fund.
  • Oversee budgets, progress, deadlines, objectives and creative initiatives related to Earthwatch development collateral, most notably organization’s annual report, membership collateral, and membership publications.  Responsible for redefining vision, implementing changes and tracking growth and response related to these publications.
  • Set, track, analyze, and consistently review progress toward all membership and fundraising goals and for all staff/volunteers engaged in fundraising activities.  Utilize results to enhance fundraising efforts.
  • Manage and grow “The Expeditioner Society,” an upper-level membership group.
  • Serve as an active prospect identifier by serving as an ambassador of the organization, and attending fundraising and stewardship events as necessary.
  • Serve as lead partner for a cultivation and stewardship strategy for organization constituents.  Together with the Director of Volunteer Programs, develop and implement measures related to volunteer interaction for the betterment of a supporter network.
  • Work with the Director of Major Gifts to recruit for and further develop the President’s Council, a $1,000+ donor group.
  • Maintain strong relationships with the program staff in order to best translate Earthwatch Institute’s mission and work to its donors and the public.
  • Manage Development Database Associate to ensure timely, accurate and efficient gift processing and acknowledgement. Troubleshoot and improve data management and analysis systems as necessary.

Qualifications/Skills required:

  • 5 years of progressively increasing responsibility in fundraising.
  • Experience in a multifaceted development program, building, growing, and moving a diverse donor base across a spectrum of annual and membership giving.
  • Experience in setting, tracking, reviewing, and meeting fundraising goals, holding oneself and others accountable, managing a budget, and allocating resources effectively.
  • Excellent communication and writing skills.
  • Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
  • Ability to develop and navigate tight deadlines and a fluctuating work load, i.e. year end.
  • Working knowledge of constituent databases and revenue coding and tracking principals.
  • Working knowledge of Excel and Word, including mail merge capability, or ability to learn.
  • A genuine commitment to the mission of Earthwatch Institute and the ability to passionately convey that mission to donors and prospects.

Salary range: $60,000 - $70,000.  Good benefits. 

Please indicate job title in subject line of email.  Send cover letter and resume to hr@earthwatch.org; fax 978-897-0935; mail HR Earthwatch Institute, P.O. Box 75, Maynard, MA 01754-0075.  Due to limited time and financial resources we are only able to accept applicants who are already eligible to work in the United States.  No phone calls please.