Organization Description:

Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has served as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, collaborating with the Presidio Trust, partners, donors, and the community to support the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The GGNRA stretches across three Bay Area counties, north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge, and includes iconic places such as Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Mori Point, Lands End, and the Presidio of San Francisco.  

The Parks Conservancy engages at the intersection of national park sites, local communities, social justice, and climate resilience. Collaborating with partners, our staff are dedicated to enhancing public awareness and providing volunteer and educational opportunities in the parks. We are park builders, caretakers, ambassadors, and educators, all working to connect people to parks, in support of our vision Parks for All Forever. Join us.

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Philanthropy is a senior leadership position within the Parks Conservancy’s Development and Membership Branch, overseeing all individual giving strategies, staff teams, and volunteer committees.

This role manages the following areas of major donor fundraising:

• The People and Parks Forever Fund, a philanthropic campaign to raise $15M to support park programming for people from historically underrepresented communities; increase access to the parks; support youth, family, and community participation in the Parks Conservancy’s activities; and create deeper collaborations with Bay Area non-profit organizations. 
• One Tam, a partnership which mobilizes the resources of the National Park Service, California State Parks, Marin Municipal Water District, Marin County Parks, and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy to ensure a vibrant future for Mt. Tamalpais.
• Parks Conservancy Leaders Circle, which is a group of individuals and families who support the Parks Conservancy with annual gifts of $1,000-$25,000+.

This work includes working with the Chief Development Officer, Parks Conservancy executives, and trustee/volunteer leadership to set financial goals, develop fundraising strategies, and provide excellent customer service to our major donors in all points of the individual donor lifecycle. In addition, the Director will oversee all major donor pipelines, including portfolio assignments and the moves management process. The Director will supervise two associate directors, one manager, and an associate. Finally, the Director will manage a portfolio of major donor gift prospects with the goal of raising contributions above $25,000. 

A successful Director of Philanthropy is enthusiastic about the Parks Conservancy’s mission, has a strong belief in the importance of philanthropy, and can build strong relationships with major donors that will be critical to the organization’s success. This position requires exceptional leadership skills and the ability to think strategically and operate independently. The Development & Membership Branch values professional entrepreneurship and a willingness to go above and beyond for our community.

This position is based in the Parks Conservancy’s headquarters at Fort Mason. Work is performed in an office setting, including a mix of telework and on-site.  The Conservancy currently requires a minimum of 4 full days per month onsite; however, in many instances it would require more onsite days either in the office or visiting park sites in order to meet the essential requirements of the position. This role is expected to work on-site at Fort Mason for two days per week.   

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Develop relationships leading to gifts in the $25,000 - $100,000 range and manage an active portfolio and work with assigned prospects to cultivate, solicit, and steward their support.
• Establish ongoing relationships with individual donors and prospects through personal visits, virtual visits, phone calls, and meaningful contacts.
• Create, recommend, and implement revenue and expense budget, track and report on results regularly through the fiscal year.
• Initiate and oversee the Trustee Fund solicitation of the Board of Trustees for their annual gifts; report to and work with the Development Committee Co-Chairs and Chair of the Board of Trustees as appropriate on message, asks, acknowledgments, and follow-up reminders.
• In collaboration with the Director of Special Events, create and implement an annual stewardship plan for the Trails Forever Dinner, Culinary Feast, Fireside Chat, and other special events for donors to strengthen their connection to and support of the Parks Conservancy.
• Provide staff support for the Executive Management Team and high-level volunteers.
• Work closely with colleagues in Communications, Finance, Operations, and other branches to align overall fundraising goals and activities.
• Stay informed on current fundraising initiatives and activities and engage in the community life of the organization and parklands.
• Serve on internal committees as available and appropriate.
• Supervise the individual giving team, comprised of an Associate Director for the Parks Conservancy Leaders Circle, an Associate Director for One Tam, a Development Manager for the People and Parks Forever Fund, and a Development Associate; 4.0 FTEs total; serve as a role model for professional and support staff.
• Provide occasional support to the Chief Development Officer, including drafting, editing, and proofreading solicitation and acknowledgment letters, and drafting or editing grants proposals or reports as needed.
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief Development Officer.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strategic skills to craft and implement successful fundraising plans for multi-year development goals, including restricted and unrestricted solicitations.
• Demonstrated managerial talent in guiding major gifts efforts; experience recruiting, evaluating, mentoring, and developing staff.
• Proven ability to confidently guide team members in meeting fundraising goals and in managing and balancing donor and trustee relationships.
• Ability to lead and motivate others; be at ease with colleagues at all levels, executives, and community leaders, gaining their respect and confidence.
• Ability to work well with staff members regardless of position in any office hierarchy; willingness to share credit.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in prospect identification, relationship-building, and solicitation. Ability to prioritize cultivation and solicitation strategies focusing on donor-centered philanthropy to maximize potential gifts.
• Ability to keep a sense of urgency in gift discussions; adaptable, achievement-oriented, and confident.
• An aptitude for creativity, innovation, and flexibility, including the ability to adapt in a rapidly changing environment and a tolerance for ambiguity.
• Ability to take information from many sources and distill it to core messages that are communicated succinctly to different audiences.
• Ability to speak passionately and authentically about the history, achievements, and future direction of the Parks Conservancy; ability to effectively articulate that vision to a diverse audience.
• A commitment to promoting and supporting an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrated experience engaging and motivating groups of diverse individuals, including strong volunteer management skills.
• Superior written and oral communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to articulate a compelling case for philanthropic support programs.
• Advanced ability with Microsoft Office suite.

• Must be available to work on evenings and weekends; in-person work at Fort Mason two days per week.

Education and/or Experience:

• Impressive fundraising track record with successful solicitation of $25,000+ gifts.
• Bachelor's degree and seven years of relevant fundraising and management experience, preferably in a place-based nonprofit, or a combination of education and relevant professional experience.

Certifications or Licenses:

• California driver’s license.
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) highly desired.

Health and Safety:

It is the goal of the Parks Conservancy to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace. We work to mitigate hazards and risks that may cause harm to employees, consistent with state and federal laws. Employees play an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace and are expected to comply with all applicable health and safety rules.

Based on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parks Conservancy requires all employees to be vaccinated and to provide proof of such vaccination as a condition of employment.

Physical Requirements and Work Environments:

• Work is performed in an office setting.
• Work is primarily performed sitting, standing, and/or walking.
• Must be able to sit at a desk 6-8 hours per day
• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds.

Salary/Benefits:  $115,000 to $135,000 (Grade 22), depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits include a competitive suite of medical, dental, and vision plans, up to 3 weeks of paid vacation; holiday, personal, and sick days; a 403(b) retirement plan, Employee Assistance Program, employee discounts, and more.

Application Deadline Date:  Application reviews will begin immediately and end on July 31, 2023.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Recruitment, placement and promotions are conducted without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical handicap, veteran status or sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, and local laws & ordinances.  We will consider qualified candidates with criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.