Director, Gift Planning

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.  As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions.  

Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.).  

Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org 

NRDC is seeking a Director, Gift Planning to secure planned gifts by identifying and building relationships with those donors who have a propensity for making future gifts for the organization and manage two additional planned giving officers. As a member of the Gift Planning team, this individual will work closely with the Senior Director, Gift Planning, gift planning team and major and membership gift officers to conduct solicitations for planned gifts.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions:

• Create and execute front-line comprehensive strategy and workplan in line with department goals and increase planned giving donors nationally• Strategically manage a portfolio of prospects (200-300) with capacity and interest from• identification to securing planned gifts• Partner with membership gift officers to Identify, cultivate and motivate members to make significant gifts, assisting them with gift planning strategies to increase the number of planned gifts nationally• Strategize with Major Gift and Membership Gift Officers to identify planned giving prospects from their respective portfolios and increase the number of blended gifts to NRDC• Plan events that maximize donor and prospect cultivation opportunities• Cultivate prospects and current gift planning donors through in-person visits, phone calls, written correspondence • Develop a strong working knowledge of NRDC funding priorities and campaign objectives specifically to articulate a compelling case for support to all constituents• Manage and mentor a gift planning team by partnering, coaching, equipping and encouraging development staff to pursue planned gift opportunities, assisting them in the design and implementation of individualized strategies for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation and stewardship of planned, major and blended gifts as appropriate

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience required
• 7+ years of previous work experience in gift planning fundraising or related experience with proven success of 6-7-figure planned gifts
• 3+ years of previous experience in direct supervision or management of others

• Proficiency in Salesforce (or similar database) and PGCalc
• Creative problem-solving skills to engage and cultivate relationships with donors
• Efficient multi-tasker and flexible in working towards philanthropy goals
• Familiarity with financial, legal and investment topics relating to gift planning and the ability to communicate those topics in lay person’s language
• Enthusiastic, outgoing, and can handle simultaneous, ongoing projects
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• A commitment to continued education regarding gift planning and fundraising in general
• Keen interest in nature and the environment is preferred
• Management, functional buildout, and strategy development are expected to comprise approximately 50% of the role.
• Donor-facing activities are expected to make up approximately 40–50% of the role. This will include local, regional, and occasional national travel for in-person donor meetings, retreats, and time spent with NRDC staff.
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles is essential.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws.

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs.

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422.

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.