Location Remote ·USA East Coast (NYC, Boston, or DC area preferred)Team AdvancementSeniority SeniorClosing:This role has no specific closing date.Job DescriptionThe Advancement Team supports NOLS’ mission and goals that inspire meaningful and enduring engagement of our alumni and friends worldwide. We build lifelong relationships that engage the time, loyalty, and intellectual and financial resources in support of NOLS’ aspirations, goals, and organizational priorities. We’re seeking a seasoned fundraiser who’s passionate about the outdoors and skilled at building authentic, lasting relationships. You’ll engage our East Coast alumni and supporters in their impact of giving back to NOLS. You’ll enjoy working with a large and engaged alumni base, with a shared passion for NOLS and our 60-year history.The Director of Major Gifts (DMG) will serve as the lead strategist and relationship manager for a dynamic portfolio of major and principal gift donors across the East Coast. You will develop personalized engagement and solicitation plans, steward long-term donor relationships, and work collaboratively with colleagues to align donor interests with the school’s priorities. This position plays a central role in elevating philanthropic partnerships and opening new pathways. You’ll join a diverse and highly collaborative Advancement Leadership Team, and work with a President who is highly supportive of advancement and deeply committed to campaign success.In this role, you'll also coordinate closely with other teams across the organization—including finance, expedition, wilderness medicine and other staff, trustees, and volunteers—to design high-impact donor experiences and create opportunities for deeper engagement. You will represent NOLS with confidence and authenticity, speaking passionately about our leadership, the outdoors as the greatest teacher, and wilderness medicine programs.You will be a compelling advocate for giving at all levels, including planned gifts and other non-cash contributions. As part of the Advancement Leadership Team, you will contribute to broader strategy and planning and, as the team grows, possibly take on supervisory responsibilities for additional major gift officers over the next three years.The ideal candidate will bring a strong track record of securing major and principal gifts, an instinct for building relationships, and a genuine passion for the outdoors. You’ll be a strategic thinker, a natural collaborator, and an articulate spokesperson for NOLS’ mission and impact. This is more than a fundraising role, it’s a leadership opportunity to bring others into a shared vision and help fuel the next chapter of NOLS.Key Information:Please upload your cover letter and resume as one PDF document when you are prompted to upload your CV/resumeLocation: Remote- East Coast (NYC, Boston, or DC area preferred)Start date: ASAP,Two weeks from offer if possible.Key dates:Review of Applications: Mid-JulyInterviews: Late July - Early AugustPlease note that all dates are subject to change (but we’ll do our best not to change them!)Effectively researches, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a large portfolio of prospective donors with the ability to secure major and principal gift commitments in support of identified philanthropic objectives.Cultivates major and principal gift prospects, building relationships and understanding the donors’/prospects’ goals with the expressed purpose of building comprehensive donor strategies to align donor interests and organizational goals.Meets outreach, personal visit, and revenue metrics as established by the Vice President of Advancement.Employs high-volume email, phone, social media messaging, and personalized mail outreach to secure first-time personal visits with major gifts prospects and increased leadership annual gifts.Ensures necessary tracking and regular communication with prospects. Tracks fundraising progress and manages relationships to increase donor gift amounts.Designs highly customized donor engagement plans for assigned donors.Works in concert with Donor Relations/Stewardship Coordinator to produce and deliver stewardship materials for donors.Leadership Annual Giving (20%)Works with the Director of Annual Giving to present a coordinated fundraising effort to all donors in portfolio.Solicits annual fund gifts, especially at $10,000 and above, from portfolio donors and prospects to help reach annual goals for unrestricted support.Stewards NOLS Fund donors through personal communication and adheres to thank you protocols.General Advancement Leadership and Support (10%)Other duties as assigned to support the organization and changing needs of the Advancement Department. Maintain professional affiliations and expand skills by keeping abreast of the latest information and trends in major gift fundraising, including deferred giving techniques, estate planning, and tax laws.The above duties should not be considered an exhaustive list; other responsibilities may be required.What makes a great Director of Major Gifts at NOLS?We are looking for people who share our values and are keen to learn and develop their expertise. We are looking for candidates with the skills listed below. We expect to provide training and development support in some of the areas.3-5 years progressive experience in a development department as a front-line fundraiser supervising fundraising and support staff.Proven major and principal level fundraising experience in support of a comprehensive $75M-$100M campaignProven track record in soliciting and receiving charitable contributions and the ability to secure financial support from diverse sources.Ability to energetically and accurately represent NOLS to a variety of constituents including alumni, major and leadership annual donors, board, staff, parents, and other friends of the school. NOLS program experience preferred.Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents to help our donors accomplish their philanthropic goals and ambitions.Demonstrated experience in developing comprehensive donor strategies that include a variety of ways of giving.Understanding of major, principal and planned gift fundraising. Capital and endowment campaign experience preferred.Experience in actively asking for and closing major, blended, and planned gifts; a good understanding of different giving vehicles preferred.Expert project management skills, initiative, flexibility, discretion, and thoughtful decision-making to achieve ambitious performance objectives for outreach to constituents, including personal and virtual visits, gift solicitations, gift closures, and stewardship.Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to build rapport, identify donor interests, and write customized giving proposals that include pertinent materials to donors and prospects.Experience researching and analyzing large groups of data to uncover prospects.Ability to thrive in an environment where fundraising metrics play an essential role in annual performance evaluations.Strong interpersonal, organizational, and teamwork skills.Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and advancement CRM software such as Mission CRM.Ability and willingness to travel approximately 50% of the time within the assigned geographic region in the U.S.Ability and willingness to work outside of normal business hours frequently, participating regularly in fundraising dinners, community events, conferences, and after-hours or weekend meetings with high-net-worth individuals.Ability to act independently and in the supervisor's stead as needed and exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems.Ability to sensitively handle confidential information.CFRE or other fundraising credential preferred.Minimum QualificationsBachelor’s degree along with a proven fundraising track record, ideally with 3-5 years of experience and demonstrated success securing major gifts. Consideration may be given for related experience in customer-facing sales, nonprofit programming, financial and estate planning, or marketing.In your first 6 months, you will:Begin to connect with donors in your portfolio, requiring individual visits (in-person and virtually) to cultivate, steward, and solicit supportDevelop and implement strategies for cultivation, solicitations, and stewardship of donorsEstablish cooperative working relationships with development and other staff members to increase understanding and support of development effortsLearn about NOLS programs and projects across the worldLearn how to use the NOLS donor databaseParticipate in the development of funding proposals and other donor collateralLead or assist in donor eventsHow to Applyt’s super easy! Just enter your email and click the “start your application” button at the top of the screen and answer a few simple questions for the hiring committee to get a better idea of what you could bring to this role.Please upload your cover letter and resume as one PDF document when you are prompted to upload your CV/resume.At NOLS we use the Applied platform for our recruitment. The Applied platform will ask you some demographic questions before you start your application. We at NOLS never see the responses to these demographic questions with your application. We only see summary statistics to help us check if our candidate pool is balanced and if everyone has an equal chance to get hired irrespective of their background. If you prefer, you can easily opt out of answering these questions.Who is NOLS?NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that strives to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. Our community—staff, students, trustees, and alumni—shares a commitment to wilderness, education, leadership, safety, community, and excellence.We believe that anyone can be a leader; it is our role to provide the environment and training to help people discover their full potential. We do that in classrooms close to home and in remote wilderness areas around the world. We are an organization with heart, expertise, and wildness, and these qualities help us support powerful, authentic experiences.Why is NOLS a great place to work?We have locations in seven U.S. states, and six countries; and courses in all 50 U.S. states and over 10 countriesWe have fantastic employee discounts on top outdoor gear brandsWe offer discounts on NOLS Courses for you and your familyAll employees can benefit of free outdoor equipment rental" at our various locationsWellness Time: Accrued leave that may be used for many HR-approved reasons throughout the season.Employee Assistance Program: Access to counselors that are available 24/7 to assist employees with work-life balance concerns.Additional InformationPlease note in order to ensure pay transparency and pay equity the range posted is non-negotiable. If you are unwilling to accept an offer within the posted range, please review our other opportunities to see if one better aligns with your salary expectations.Pre-Employment CheckA criminal background check is required from all NOLS employees.NOLS participates in e-verify for U.S. employees, Certificado de Antecedentes for Chilean or Mexican employees, and other relevant employment verification systems based on location.Current NOLS employees please note it is NOLS policy to conduct an internal reference check with People Team and/or your current supervisor as part of the reference check process. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact peopleteam@nols.edu .NOLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetics information, disability unrelated to job or admission requirements, or status as a protected veteran. The school’s nondiscrimination policy applies to all phases of its employment process.Reasonable AccommodationReasonable accommodations may be requested for disability; limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; religion; and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment by emailing peopleteam@nols.edu with your request. #J-18808-Ljbffr