Development Relations Lead, Interdisciplinary and Engaged Science

ABOUT AGCI

Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance global change science and solutions. AGCI seeks to improve understanding of human and Earth systems, catalyze solutions at speed and scale, and nurture integrated communities across research and practice. We convene events, conduct research, provide advice to decision-makers, and develop innovative initiatives, including re-granting and fiscal sponsor ships, for implementation through a wide network of partners.

Running through AGCI’s DNA is a strong institutional commitment to excellence in science that is actionable and accessible. For more information visit agci.org.

AGCI was founded in 1989 and is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) organization that supports staff and partners working to implement a mission that is international in scope yet grounded in local contexts and problem domains. As an "Institute Without Walls," AGCI staff and consultants are based in a variety of locations across the United States.

The Development Relations Lead, Interdisciplinary and Engaged Science supports AGCI’s fundraising and strategic partnership cultivation efforts across three primary areas: core organizational support, AGCI’s workshop series, and its engaged research program. Reinforcing AGCI’s 37-year history as a trusted, influential node in the ecosystem of global change researchers, decision-makers, and funders, this individual will build on decades of successful federal and philanthropic fundraising efforts by AGCI to grow and diversify and expand the organization’s donor base.

The Development Relations Lead, Interdisciplinary and Engaged Science will ensure AGCI's value and impact are clearly communicated and championed by strategic partners and funders.

This is a hands-on role for an experienced professional eager to act on new organizational development challenges and opportunities, both on their own and in collaboration with organization leadership. The Development Relations Lead, Interdisciplinary and Engaged Science will cultivate and solicit funders alongside program leads while running the day-to-day machinery of development. They will draw on AGCI’s organizational strategy and associated narratives to build compelling, funder-ready asks.

This role is ideal for someone who can synthesize complexity into a powerful case for investment, build trusted long-term relationships, and help architect a strong foundation for AGCI’s future.

As part of its forthcoming strategic plan, AGCI is looking to grow core operating and program support by an additional $5M per year, from a broader and more diverse mix of funding sources and fundraising approaches. This target would build on AGCI’s existing budget of approximately $50M / year to leverage synergies across program areas and deep impact in emerging priority areas.

• Own the development operating strategy for AGCI’s core operating support, Workshops series, and Engaged Research portfolios (e.g. annual fundraising plans, targets, prioritization frameworks) in coordination with AGCI’s Senior Leadership Team, Director of Strategic Advancement, and Advancement and External Relations Lead (Climate Reserve). Coordinate across a complex, multi-program organization across a diversity of internal stakeholders.
• Exercise experience-based judgement and intuition on funding opportunities and outreach based on AGCI’s priorities and capacities, advising program and senior leadership on where to focus fundraising efforts.
• Own the moves management process end to end: set and maintain the cadence of funder and donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation.
• Conduct prospect research and qualification to identify institutional and high net worth individual prospects capable of first-time gifts ranging from five to seven figures.
• Manage a portfolio of ~50-100 institutional and individual donors and prospects. Directly cultivate and solicit roughly half of this portfolio, carrying relationships autonomously, and support AGCI leadership in relationship management for the remaining half.
• Draft and maintain consistent communications with funders and prospects.…