Senior Manager, Principal Gifts

How You’ll Contribute

The Advancement team cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals, as well as foundation, government and corporate partners who invest in the Society to drive impact through science, technology, education, exploration, and storytelling. The team collaborates with Society teams – and often works closely with Disney – to build transformative and impact-driven strategic partnerships. The team also produces global events that deepen connections and leverage the Society’s power to convene, and directs robust annual, major and planned giving programs empowering the Society with a broad base of public support.
Reporting to the Director of Principal Gifts, the Senior Manager, Principal Gifts will contribute to the growth and health of National Geographic Society’s Advancement program by supporting institutional revenue objectives. The Senior Manager will be responsible for building a principal donor pipeline, creating and implementing bespoke cultivation and stewardship strategies for new and existing principal donors, as well as soliciting major and principal gifts. Working closely with the Director of Principal Gifts, the Senior Manager will serve as a Principal Gifts resource and lead special projects to support the fundraising goals of our priority programs. This role will be primarily focused on midwest and west coast regions of the United States, but this is subject to change based on market results. Travel is required for this position and is expected up to 45%.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include 

Fundraising (80%):

• Move a portfolio of 50 donors and prospects through quality, strategic contacts and face-to-face visits to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors to successfully close gifts in the $1M+ range;

• Work with Director of Principal Gifts to meet or exceed dollar and visit goals, with a focus on new, increased and multi-year gifts;

• Support the Director of Principal Gifts to develop, execute, evaluate, and refine strategies for the organization’s priority projects;

• Work with donors, and organizational leaders to position Advancement to take full advantage of related organizational events and networks;

• Participate in the planning and execution of regional events in each assigned market annually in partnership with the Global Specials Events team.

• Collaborate with the Major Gift Team, Annual Giving Team, Campaign Team, and Global Special Events team to engage donors and prospects regionally through pipeline movement, special events, and other engagement opportunities.

Administration (20%):

• Develop and maintain a thorough and accurate understanding of NGS programs and funding priorities in order to effectively connect donors and prospects to NGS priorities and content;

• Effectively communicate NGS priorities and successfully match donor’s philanthropic interests to funding needs;

• Provide support for the Vice President of Leadership Giving and the Director of Principal Gifts on developing or reviewing written materials, including proposals, strategy guides, solicitations, and acknowledgements in a quality consistent with NGS and Advancement team standards;

• Serve as a Point of Contact for the Advancement team with one or more programs, initiatives, or teams at NGS.

• Utilize and update the Raiser’s Edge database by recording activities, contacts, and strategies on an on-going basis consistent with department policies.

What You’ll Bring 

Educational Background

Bachelor’s degree required.

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

7+ years of advancement experience, including a proven track record of closing $500,000+ gifts and stewarding donor relationships.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills 

• Program management and high-touch stewardship experience. 

• Sophisticated communication skills and demonstrated ability to increase current donor support, and to attract new donors. 

• Success managing high-visibility projects in a fast-paced environment. 

• Self-motivated and capable of working proactively and independently.

• Strong oral and written communication skills are necessary with a demonstrated ability to write effectively for business/philanthropic communication purposes. 

• High level of attention to detail, organized and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously. 

• Ability to maintain high standards of confidentiality. 

• Proactive and professional demeanor when interacting with NGS staff, senior executives, high net worth individuals, and donors.

• Up to 45% travel is required for this position.

Desired Qualifications

• Proficiency with Raiser’s Edge database system strongly preferred. 

• Ability to exercise good judgment and work with minimum of instruction and supervision when necessary. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills enabling professional and congenial interactions. 

Supervision

No Direct Reports

Salary Information

The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Our compensation structure and transparent pay philosophy are based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations.

The salary range for this position accounts for a wide range of factors including but not limited to organizational need; specific skill sets; experience and training; certifications; and more. At the National Geographic Society, individuals are typically hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The salary range for this position is $116,800 - $123,000.

In addition, the National Geographic Society offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; engaging and comprehensive wellness program; 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment; flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year) and 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31; paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy; employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.

Job Designation

Remote - Our Remote designation includes staff who must work in another location in the U.S. or abroad, such as our regional leads for our Education and International teams or regional fundraisers in Advancement. Staff may also be designated as Remote by their supervisors (with approval by the Senior Team lead) because of their job duties, and are afforded this status when it is beneficial to NGS, their respective team, and the employee.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.