Manager, Prospect Engagement

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Director, Prospect Engagement (Director), the Manager, Prospect Engagement (Manager) will support Audubon’s major donor prospect discovery, qualification, and engagement efforts. Their primary responsibility is to identify and qualify a pool of prospective funders to determine whether they have the capacity to make a major gift ($10,000+ annually) that will help Audubon to achieve its ambitious local, national, and hemispheric goals. They will help develop and work with mid-level donors and prospects currently giving $500+ annually and capable of giving $10,000+ annually. The Manager 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.

This is a remote position based in Oakland, CA; Los Angeles, CA. Candidates need to live in one of these locations.

Compensation:

Salary range based on geo-differentials:

• $84,000-$100,000/year = Oakland, CA

• $80,000-$90,000/year = Los Angeles, CA

Essential Functions:

• Work with the Director, Prospect Engagement; Directors, Leadership Giving; Directors, Donor Relations; Direct Response; Executive Directors; Center Directors; and volunteer leadership to identify and qualify prospects who can help to grow philanthropic revenue for the National Audubon Society.

• 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.

  • Researching 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.

  • Responsible for onsite engagement of prospective funders at events, in collaboration with Center staff, at locations as assigned across the network .

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

• Expand Audubon’s Canopy program and major/principal gift prospect pipeline via the following activities and more :

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

  • Soliciting 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.

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

• Work with mid-level donors and prospects, executing annual plans to qualify their interests and capacity using phone, email, personal visits, solicitations, regular stewardship communication, event invitations, etc.

• Ensure accurate donor data in Salesforce and regularly report on progress towards activity and revenue goals.

• Ensure gifts are coded, acknowledged, and stewarded appropriately.

• Design and implement cultivation, engagement, and stewardship events (both in person and virtual) to help strengthen relationships with existing supporters and potential prospects.

• Collaborate with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work.

Qualifications and Experience:

• The ideal candidate will have a minimum of five years of development/sales experience, with at least two of those years serving in a frontline fundraising/sales role.

• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team as well as to be self-directed with a high degree of accountability.

• Skilled at working cross functionally with stakeholders, and preferably high-level volunteers and boards.

• Ability to guide projects, establish and monitor priorities, maintain flexibility, and meet deadlines with little direct supervision.

• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical skills, and attention to detail.

• Outstanding stewardship and relationship management skills.

• 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.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is required; experience with fundraising databases (e.g. Salesforce) would be beneficial.

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

• Must be able to meet with potential donors thus reliable transportation is required.

• Travel is required; potentially 30 percent of the time.

• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

This position is represented by the Communication Workers of America (CWA).

National Audubon Society Competencies: This role will also be accountable to apply and develop the following competencies.

Fostering Relationships: Build trust, mutual respect, and understanding through regular and genuine interactions while promoting a positive and inclusive environment. 

Analytical Thinking: Recognize and value diverse perspectives and experiences in data analysis to foster a more comprehensive and equitable approach to problem-solving. 

Creativity and Innovation: Leverage creativity and imagination to generate new insights and solutions while embracing diverse ideas and approaches that foster innovation. 

Facilitating Change: Work with others to explore innovative approaches to problem-solving while promoting inclusivity, equity, accessibility, and belonging in the change process. 

Team Leadership: Communicate vision and engage others or the team to solve problems while valuing diverse perspectives and fostering inclusivity. 

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.