Jobs and Careers
About the role
Job Title: Program Assistant Director, Chapter FundraisingDepartment: Membership GrowthLocation: Remote (anywhere in US). This position requires an ability to travel. Reports To: Senior Director, Chapter FundraisingSupervises: 3-4 staff
Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.
Scope: Each of our 64 local chapters is responsible for raising the majority of their annual budget. The SPARC (a Strategic Path for Advancing Relationships through Coaching) Program is a new approach to support chapters with their larger dollar fundraising through project management and coaching. The SPARC Program Assistant Director plays a crucial role in helping Sierra Club Chapters raise the money they need by helping manage their mid and major gift level program. More than anything else, they will:
1) Supervise, manage, and support 3-4 SPARC Program Regional Strategists who will serve as lead coaches/project managers of an assigned portfolio of chapters on their mid to major gift fundraising program.
2) Serve as the coach/project manager to an assigned portfolio of chapters focused on their mid to major gift fundraising program. Their support to individual chapters will help build effective, efficient fundraising programs focusing on building authentic relationships with mid to major gift level funders.
3) Coordinate closely with major gift officers in their region to support strategies for major gift level donors.
4) Work closely with the Senior Director on mid to major gift fundraising strategy for chapters.
In order to be successful, the SPARC Program Assistant Director must be an experienced fundraiser with a strong understanding of how to effectively cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts of $1,000-$25,000+ from individuals, enhance a fundraising program’s efficiency, and coach individuals with little to no fundraising experience how be effective fundraisers. This position will serve as a major point of contact for staff involved in all aspects of Chapter fundraising, will interact with many departments across the Sierra Club, and will meet with external funders. This role may manage a portfolio of donors when there is a gap at chapters and may also support the chapter with grants by identifying prospects and creating a strategy for the foundation, working collaboratively with Chapter Grant Writers.
This position requires an ability to travel. While not extensive, you need to be willing to travel occasionally for on-site Chapter visits or meetings.
Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.
Scope: Each of our 64 local chapters is responsible for raising the majority of their annual budget. The SPARC (a Strategic Path for Advancing Relationships through Coaching) Program is a new approach to support chapters with their larger dollar fundraising through project management and coaching. The SPARC Program Assistant Director plays a crucial role in helping Sierra Club Chapters raise the money they need by helping manage their mid and major gift level program. More than anything else, they will:
1) Supervise, manage, and support 3-4 SPARC Program Regional Strategists who will serve as lead coaches/project managers of an assigned portfolio of chapters on their mid to major gift fundraising program.
2) Serve as the coach/project manager to an assigned portfolio of chapters focused on their mid to major gift fundraising program. Their support to individual chapters will help build effective, efficient fundraising programs focusing on building authentic relationships with mid to major gift level funders.
3) Coordinate closely with major gift officers in their region to support strategies for major gift level donors.
4) Work closely with the Senior Director on mid to major gift fundraising strategy for chapters.
In order to be successful, the SPARC Program Assistant Director must be an experienced fundraiser with a strong understanding of how to effectively cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts of $1,000-$25,000+ from individuals, enhance a fundraising program’s efficiency, and coach individuals with little to no fundraising experience how be effective fundraisers. This position will serve as a major point of contact for staff involved in all aspects of Chapter fundraising, will interact with many departments across the Sierra Club, and will meet with external funders. This role may manage a portfolio of donors when there is a gap at chapters and may also support the chapter with grants by identifying prospects and creating a strategy for the foundation, working collaboratively with Chapter Grant Writers.
This position requires an ability to travel. While not extensive, you need to be willing to travel occasionally for on-site Chapter visits or meetings.
Job activities include but are not limited to:
- Coaching chapter leaders with strategic and tactical advice to improve fundraising performance. Consults and supports chapter leaders on fundraising strategy and program implementation at individual chapters. This may include site visits and in-person coaching.
- Leading the effort to develop and execute chapter fundraising plans. Facilitate the creation of and execution of chapter fundraising plans, meeting with chapters regularly to ensure the completion of fundraising activities specifically related to mid to major gifts.
- Coaching chapters on ways to leverage volunteer involvement with fundraising. Works with volunteers and staff leaders to create opportunities for volunteers to participate in fundraising—particularly at the board level.
- Coaching chapters on grant strategy. When needed this role by helping to identify potential grants, support the chapter with grant strategy, and work collaboratively with Grant Writers.
- Meet with external funders. This role may need to manage a portfolio of donors if there is a gap at chapters, by cultivating relationships, making asks, and stewarding donors.
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