Major and Planned Giving Officer

Are you passionate about climate change and environmental justice?

Join Earthworks’ 6-person philanthropy team in raising $8M+ annually from foundations and individual donors to support Earthworks’ mission.

We are looking for someone who has high quality standards and pays strong attention to every detail of your work. You should have a successful track record with helping donors to fulfill their passions through giving to nonprofit organizations. If you are a self-motivated strong communicator and great listener who understands the importance of teamwork while being able to collaborate effectively with other staff across the organization, this may be the role for you.

The Major and Planned Giving Officer (“MPGO”) supports the Philanthropy Director, staff and board members to build strong donor relationships and secure the resources that advance Earthworks’ mission. The MPGO provides opportunities for donors to fulfill their philanthropic interests and passions, encourages them to give, and makes sure that as many as possible are retained and upgraded in their giving and involvement over time.

This position plays a central role in:

• Major Gifts

  • Qualify caseload of donors from larger group of Earthworks donors and manage a portfolio 75-100 people, with a goal of raising $700-1M+ annually

  • Create individual goals for each donor on the caseload based on the donor’s giving history and Earthworks’ knowledge of that donor’s potential

  • Create a cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plan for each donor that takes into account the individual donor’s passions, interests, motivations, giving patterns and ask preferences so that individuals are retained and upgraded over time

  • Secure from program and communications staff appropriate project information, including budgets, and create offers, proposals, and asks that will be used with donors on the caseload to secure gifts and report back on how their giving is making a difference

  • Perform other major donor activities as needed, including reporting on caseload activity and performance

• Planned Giving

  • Develop a comprehensive planned giving program, strategy, revenue goals, and supporting collateral

  • Build a strong planned giving prospect pipeline from Earthworks’ supporter base

  • Manage a portfolio of prospects, including creating and implementing a plan for each person on the caseload driven by the donor’s passions and interests while addressing their estate and financial planning needs

  • Develop creative prospect engagement strategies, including a legacy society structure

  • Implement a stewardship strategy for donors who have pledged to leave a legacy

  • Build expert knowledge of the range of planned giving vehicles and secure partnerships to manage complex financial instruments

  • Prepare gift proposals, sample bequest language, gift agreements, and maintain relevant compliance documentation

  • Secure planned gifts that lead to revenue growth and Earthworks’ long term financial sustainability

• Culture of philanthropy

  • Identify opportunities to grow staff and board members’ philanthropic networks and bring new high value prospects to the organization

  • Coach board and staff members to build their skills to develop strong donor relationships throughout the gift cycle

  • Develop donor engagement and stewardship opportunities such as webinars and events that deepen connection to the mission

  • Make periodic presentations and conduct trainings on topics related to major and planned giving

  • Participate in strategic planning related to fundraising and support the philanthropy team as needed to meet overall revenue goals

The Major and Planned Giving Offer (MPGO) reports directly to the Philanthropy Director.

Earthworks is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting communities and…