Institutional Giving Director

For more than 30 years, Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has campaigned to preserve forests, protect the climate and uphold human rights by challenging corporate power and systemic injustice through research, education, partnerships, non-violent direct action, grassroots organizing, strategic campaigns and communications.

We are committed to working with Indigenous and frontline communities directly impacted by profit-driven systems of injustice.

In partnership with allies from around the world, RAN challenges corporations to stop destructive operations, respect human rights, and adopt policies that reduce their contributions to climate change.

RAN is committed to doing what is necessary, not only what is considered politically feasible.

RACIAL JUSTICE

RAN strives to integrate values of equity and fairness into our work, which includes bringing an intentional racial justice analysis to our programmatic work and organizational structure.

We are seeking candidates who have a commitment to engage in this ongoing process and work with us to create a just and inclusive work environment and world.

RAN provides all people with equal employment and volunteer opportunities while also staying committed to providing accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.

We encourage applicants of color and other historically excluded identities to apply for this position.

THE POSITION

Rainforest Action Network has an exciting senior fundraising opportunity in our Development department.

We are looking for a dynamic and ambitious fundraising professional to conceive, design, and lead effective multi-year fundraising strategies to expand and enhance our organization’s revenue stream and portfolio of funders.

The Director holds a pivotal role in identifying and cultivating new funding opportunities and strategic partnerships that result in multi-year grants to support RANs critical campaigns.

The Institutional Giving Director reports to the Executive Director, while managing the Grants Manager.

The Director ensures strategic collaboration with program and executive staff to support the team in staying abreast of philanthropic trends, content and context within the field.

The ideal candidate is a compelling writer and clear communicator, a results-oriented strategic thinker and problem solver, a relationship builder and persuasive negotiator able to mobilize others to action.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accountable for raising $4.5M or more per year towards a $9M budget by creating and implementing long-range strategic institutional fundraising priorities to advance RAN’s goals.

• Identify/move forward new institutional funding prospects and create cultivation and solicitation plans to secure funds.

Engage and support RAN leadership and program staff in the solicitation and cultivation of prospects as appropriate.

• Work closely and manage relations with program staff and leadership, executive team and communications to achieve program and fundraising goals.

• Create compelling proposals for new funders and high stakes renewal funding; oversee and provide feedback and quality assurance for all funder proposals and reports.

• Grow RAN’s portfolio of general operating support funders, with an eye to increased and multi-year funding.

• Increase RAN’s presence in and exposure to funder spaces, including RAN’s participation on panels, speaking engagements, and networking events.

• Develop and administer budget and fundraising objectives and develop corrective strategies as needed.

• In coordination with the Data team, establish and monitor success benchmarks and increase institutional fundraising data reporting capabilities to present analysis and recommendations to the executive team and Board.

• Manage Grants Manager performance, professional development and provide strategic direction to their projects.

• Work closely with the Development team to build a culture of philanthropy at RAN, create educational fundraising presentations/opportunities for staff, and identify points of collaboration between individual and institutional giving.

EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS

• Minimum of 5 years of non-profit development experience, with at least 3 years of successfully soliciting and stewarding five and six-figure grants from foundations, is required.

• Highly developed written, verbal, research, and editorial skills, with ability to synthesize information and compose clear and effective prose.

• Experience with juggling multiple priorities in a fast-paced non-profit environment with strong organizational, project management and leadership skills, and attention to detail.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent donor research on prospective institutional funders.

• Experience working with a geographically dispersed organization in multiple time zones is preferred.

• Minimum 3 years of previous management experience required, preferably within development and fundraising.

• Experience working in Raiser’s Edge database preferred.

• Understanding of climate, deforestation and human rights issues and the funding landscape preferred.

• Interest in RAN’s mission, environmental issues, human rights and racial justice.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time position with an anticipated salary range of $85k to $103k, commensurate with experience.

RAN staff are eligible to work remotely from anywhere they choose, or to work out of RAN’s office in San Francisco.

Benefits include 100% RAN-paid health, dental and vision insurance for the employee and their partner/family, 4 weeks PTO (increases to 5 weeks after 2 years) as well as a paid winter break, and a retirement plan with a 3% employer match.

Additionally, after each 5 years of service, staff are eligible for a 12 week fully-paid sabbatical.