Job Details
SUMMARY:
Big Life Foundation USA (Big Life) is a holistic conservation nonprofit with on-the-ground operations in East Africa. While initially founded to stop the rampant poaching of elephants in the Greater Amboseli ecosystem, it has since grown in scope to include holistic wildlife protection, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, habitat protection, and community initiatives. Big Life was granted 501(c)(3) status in the US in 2010 and has charitable status in the UK and Canada. Operations in Kenya have been ongoing for more than three decades, formerly as the Maasailand Preservation Trust.
Big Life has experienced significant fundraising achievement in recent years. However, expanded operations and programs in East Africa now require significant revenue growth over the next three years and beyond. To help meet Big Life's ambitious goals, we are expanding our fundraising capacity, including adding new staff positions.
Based in the US, reporting directly to the Senior Director, Development & Partnerships and working in close collaboration with the Executive Team, the Individual Giving Manager (IGM) is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to increase individual donations to Big Life, with a focus growing Big Life's network of $10,000+ (mid and major) donors. This role focuses on cultivating relationships with individual donors, managing annual giving campaigns, and ensuring donor retention and growth.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Individual Giving Manager duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Lead fundraising efforts to identify, cultivate, and secure gifts from current and new individual donors, with a specific focus on the growth of Big Life's $10k+ giving community.
- Develop and execute comprehensive individual donor plan(s) in collaboration with colleagues to maintain and grow Big Life's individual donor network, including to specifically help move donor prospects from one giving level to the next.
- Work closely with the Senior Director, Development & Partnerships and other team members to integrate individual giving strategies into overall fundraising plans.
- With the development team, plan and execute annual giving campaigns, including direct mail, email, and online fundraising initiatives, as well as personalized communication and engagement strategies.
- Strengthen and expand Big Life's portfolio of individual donors by meeting with prospects, preparing written materials for prospects, researching prospect history and background, etc.
- Support organizational leaders and board members with donor cultivation and solicitation, including outreach, preparing briefing documents, and supporting additional follow up as needed.
- Ensure timely and appropriate recognition and stewardship of individual donors.
- Assist with major fundraising events and initiatives as needed.
- Manage special projects as requested by the Board of Directors and Fundraising Committee.
- Other responsibilities as determined by the Senior Director of Development & Partnerships.
QUALIFICATIONS & OTHER EXPECTATIONS:
The Individual Giving Manager is expected to be a self-starter and a proactive team player who has:
- At minimum, 5-8 years of relevant fundraising management work, including extensive experience in direct donor solicitation and donor relations, including securing five- and six-figure major gifts.
- Demonstrated ability to grow organizational giving and expand an organization's donor base.
- Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and implement major individual giving identification, cultivation, and solicitation strategies.
- Exceptional follow-through and attention to detail, with the ability to track and maintain multiple critical priorities.
- High level of professionalism and tact when dealing externally with Big Life donors and partners and internally with leadership staff and Board of Directors.
- Ability to work well in a fast-paced environment and multitask without sacrificing the quality of the work.
- Is based in the US and eligible to work in the US. This position is fully remote, but the candidate must reside, or be willing to relocate at their own expense, to one of the following states: Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Maryland, or Wisconsin.
- Preference for candidates who are experienced and have demonstrated success in working remotely full-time, including but not limited to being self-motivated, taking initiative, resisting distractions, and managing time responsibly.
- Adheres to the highest ethical standards of work and time efficiency.
- Consistently works the hours necessary to meet the demands of the position and achieve deliverables.
- Supports others within Big Life as needed, working as a team player.
- Demonstrates a strong understanding of and dedication to African wildlife conservation.
Submit application to ...@biglife.org by Friday, August 9th with the subject line “Individual Giving Manager Application – LAST NAME”
Please include a cover letter, resume, and recent writing sample.