Vice President of Giving and Impact The Wilderness Society | Washington, DC / Remote The Wilderness Society (TWS), one of the nation’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a seasoned, entrepreneurial, and dynamic Vice President of Giving and Impact (VP) to lead and evolve its comprehensive fundraising operation to even greater levels of success. Reporting to President Tracy Stone-Manning early in her tenure and serving as a key member of her senior leadership team, the VP will be a critical agent of transformational change for both TWS and its impact on the fight for climate, conservation, and communities. The VP joins the organization as the giving and impact division has steadily increased its fundraising success year-over-year and is presented with a unique leadership opportunity to continue this upward trajectory through the implementation of a strategic vision, the ability to synergistically collaborate across the organization, and a dedication to building compelling cases for support in alignment with TWS’ strategic priorities. With oversight for a high-performing team of 20 giving and impact professionals, with four direct reports, the VP will optimize the impact of TWS’ fundraising channels across major, corporate and foundation relations, and planned giving in an integrated and collaborative way. The VP will also oversee fundraising efforts for the Action Fund, a 501c4 organization which mobilizes grassroots advocacy and civic engagement to protect our public lands and waters. Success, in part, will consist of implementing creative fundraising tactics that leverage the full breadth of TWS’ reach and programming; conceptualizing progressive engagement and stewardship strategies; elevating and expanding a robust donor pipeline, including diversifying funding sources and emphasizing the growth of individual giving programs; and establishing clear and achievable goals. By further developing a distributed and coordinated fundraising operation across the organization, the VP will engage with TWS’ network of state directors and program leads, empowering and providing them with the necessary levels of support to cultivate and steward donors in their respective regions or areas. Leading by example, the VP will demonstrate success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gifts from various funding sources, as well as the ability to guide and support senior leaders on giving and impact related activities within the organization. As a liaison to and steward of the Governing Council’s philanthropy to TWS, in close partnership with the President, the VP will guide, inspire, and motivate this dedicated group of volunteers as it relates to fostering and elevating their levels of engagement with and support of the organization. Critical to success will also be the VP’s ability to fully leverage the talents, insights, and networks of this committed group of volunteer leaders.The successful candidate must possess extensive fundraising experience across a wide range of philanthropic sources (major, planned, and principal gifts; membership; corporations and foundations), as well as a demonstrated skillset in developing annual fundraising and multi-year revenue goals for a growing organization. This individual will possess a strategic leadership orientation and the ability to serve as an active and contributing member of a senior leadership team. With an entrepreneurial approach, the VP will importantly possess a deep connection to TWS’ mission and a personal enthusiasm for guiding the giving and impact team toward greater levels of success, while nimbly navigating the challenges and opportunities of today’s evolving conservation landscape. As a leader, the VP will promote a culture of excellence, collaboration, and professional growth and set clear direction, priorities, and measurable goals for the division. Importantly, the VP must share a sense of service to aid the protection of natural resources and possess the aptitude to engender this dedication in others.TWS’ main office is located in Washington, D.C. and has multiple regional offices across the United States. Ideally, this position will be based in Washington, D.C. but may also be in one of the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Washington, Maine, and North Carolina. Other locations may be considered.Jack Gorman is leading this search with Nicole Poe, Christina Garrison, and Sandeep Kaur. TWS is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair treatment of its employees and constituents across culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, veteran status or sexual orientation. APPLY NOMINATE contact Christina Garrison Full Description
The Wilderness Society (TWS), one of the nation’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a seasoned, entrepreneurial, and dynamic Vice President of Giving and Impact (VP) to lead and evolve its comprehensive fundraising operation to even greater levels of success. Reporting to President Tracy Stone-Manning early in her tenure and serving as a key member of her senior leadership team, the VP will be a critical agent of transformational change for both TWS and its impact on the fight for climate, conservation, and communities. The VP joins the organization as the giving and impact division has steadily increased its fundraising success year-over-year and is presented with a unique leadership opportunity to continue this upward trajectory through the implementation of a strategic vision, the ability to synergistically collaborate across the organization, and a dedication to building compelling cases for support in alignment with TWS’ strategic priorities. With oversight for a high-performing team of 20 giving and impact professionals, with four direct reports, the VP will optimize the impact of TWS’ fundraising channels across major, corporate and foundation relations, and planned giving in an integrated and collaborative way. The VP will also oversee fundraising efforts for the Action Fund, a 501c4 organization which mobilizes grassroots advocacy and civic engagement to protect our public lands and waters. Success, in part, will consist of implementing creative fundraising tactics that leverage the full breadth of TWS’ reach and programming; conceptualizing progressive engagement and stewardship strategies; elevating and expanding a robust donor pipeline, including diversifying funding sources and emphasizing the growth of individual giving programs; and establishing clear and achievable goals. By further developing a distributed and coordinated fundraising operation across the organization, the VP will engage with TWS’ network of state directors and program leads, empowering and providing them with the necessary levels of support to cultivate and steward donors in their respective regions or areas. Leading by example, the VP will demonstrate success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gifts from various funding sources, as well as the ability to guide and support senior leaders on giving and impact related activities within the organization. As a liaison to and steward of the Governing Council’s philanthropy to TWS, in close partnership with the President, the VP will guide, inspire, and motivate this dedicated group of volunteers as it relates to fostering and elevating their levels of engagement with and support of the organization. Critical to success will also be the VP’s ability to fully leverage the talents, insights, and networks of this committed group of volunteer leaders.The successful candidate must possess extensive fundraising experience across a wide range of philanthropic sources (major, planned, and principal gifts; membership; corporations and foundations), as well as a demonstrated skillset in developing annual fundraising and multi-year revenue goals for a growing organization. This individual will possess a strategic leadership orientation and the ability to serve as an active and contributing member of a senior leadership team. With an entrepreneurial approach, the VP will importantly possess a deep connection to TWS’ mission and a personal enthusiasm for guiding the giving and impact team toward greater levels of success, while nimbly navigating the challenges and opportunities of today’s evolving conservation landscape. As a leader, the VP will promote a culture of excellence, collaboration, and professional growth and set clear direction, priorities, and measurable goals for the division. Importantly, the VP must share a sense of service to aid the protection of natural resources and possess the aptitude to engender this dedication in others.TWS’ main office is located in Washington, D.C. and has multiple regional offices across the United States. Ideally, this position will be based in Washington, D.C. but may also be in one of the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Washington, Maine, and North Carolina. Other locations may be considered.Jack Gorman is leading this search with Nicole Poe, Christina Garrison, and Sandeep Kaur. TWS is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair treatment of its employees and constituents across culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, veteran status or sexual orientation.
