Senior Manager, Principal Gifts

How You’ll Contribute

The Advancement team cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals, as well as foundation, government and corporate partners who invest in the Society to drive impact through science, technology, education, exploration, and storytelling. The team collaborates with Society teams – and often works closely with Disney – to build transformative and impact-driven strategic partnerships. The team also produces global events that deepen connections and leverage the Society’s power to convene, and directs robust annual, major and planned giving programs empowering the Society with a broad base of public support.


Reporting to the Director of Principal Gifts, the Senior Manager, Principal Gifts will contribute to the growth and health of National Geographic Society’s Advancement program by supporting institutional revenue objectives. The Senior Manager will be responsible for building a principal donor pipeline, creating and implementing bespoke cultivation and stewardship strategies for new and existing principal donors, as well as soliciting major and principal gifts. Working closely with the Director of Principal Gifts, the Senior Manager will serve as a Principal Gifts resource and lead special projects to support the fundraising goals of our priority programs. This role will be primarily focused on midwest and west coast regions of the United States, but this is subject to change based on market results. Travel is required for this position and is expected up to 45%.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include 

Fundraising (80%):   

• Move a portfolio of 50 donors and prospects through quality, strategic contacts and face-to-face visits to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors to successfully close gifts in the $1M+ range;

• Work with Director of Principal Gifts to meet or exceed dollar and visit goals, with a focus on new, increased and multi-year gifts;

• Support the Director of Principal Gifts to develop, execute, evaluate, and refine strategies for the organization’s priority projects;

• Work with donors, and organizational leaders to position Advancement to take full advantage of related organizational events and networks;

• Participate in the planning and execution of regional events in each assigned market annually in partnership with the Global Specials Events team.

• Collaborate with the Major Gift Team, Annual Giving Team, Campaign Team, and Global Special Events team to engage donors and prospects regionally through pipeline movement, special events, and other engagement opportunities.

Administration (20%):

• Develop and maintain a thorough and accurate understanding of NGS programs and funding priorities in order to effectively connect donors and prospects to NGS priorities and content;

• Effectively communicate NGS priorities and successfully match donor’s philanthropic interests to funding needs;

• Provide support for the Vice President of Leadership Giving and the Director of Principal Gifts on developing or reviewing written materials, including proposals, strategy guides, solicitations, and acknowledgements in a quality consistent with NGS and Advancement team standards;

• Serve as a Point of Contact for the Advancement team with one or more programs, initiatives, or teams at NGS.

• Utilize and update the Raiser’s Edge database by recording activities, contacts, and strategies on an on-going basis consistent with department policies.

What You’ll Bring 

Educational Background

Bachelor’s degree required.

 

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

7+ years of advancement experience, including a proven track record of closing $500,000+ gifts and stewarding donor relationships.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills 

• Program management and high-touch stewardship experience. 

• Sophisticated communication skills and demonstrated ability to increase current donor support, and to attract new donors. 

• Success managing high-visibility projects in a fast-paced environment. 

• Self-motivated and capable of working proactively and independently.

• Strong oral and written communication skills are necessary with a demonstrated ability to write effectively for business/philanthropic communication