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SalaryJob Title: Advancement Associate, Major Gifts, West
Department: Strategy - Advancement
Location: Oakland area highly preferred with the ability to work hybrid at the Sierra Club Oakland office;
remote option may also be considered
Reports To: Senior Managing Director, Major Gifts, West
Supervises: n/a
Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.
Scope: The Advancement Associate is a strategist, analyst, and project manager who enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of the Sierra Club’s major gifts program. Their wide-ranging responsibilities include managing the identification and research of major gifts prospects; partnering with Gift Officers to execute virtual and in-person cultivation events for high-net worth individuals; working cross-functionally to support program and Chapter-specific major donor and foundation fundraising; and managing special projects that streamline, strengthen, and improve major gifts systems and functions. They also collaborate with the others within Advancement and across the organization as needed to streamline operational support for all Advancement fundraising efforts.
Job activities include but are not limited to:
- Planning, designing, and implementing systems to curate high-performing portfolios that integrate qualitative research, data analysis, and sophisticated task management. Providing expertise and knowledge of the prospect management system and individual prospects.
- Actively participating in portfolio reviews and donor strategy meetings, as well as facilitating the movement of prospects through the moves management process. This includes supporting donor communication and preparing collateral materials.
- Creating and analyzing Salesforce reports, facilitating prospect identification and research, and troubleshooting issues. Collaborating with the Advancement Systems team to implement best practices on data management and integrity.
- Partnering with Major Gifts Officers to provide programs and Chapters systems and coordination support on prospect development and engagement strategies.
- Assisting in the stewardship and cultivation of prospects by planning donor events. Activities include developing invitation lists; handling RSVPs; crafting and producing printed materials; working with outside vendors, caterers, and suppliers; securing hotel accommodations and speakers for meetings; monitoring all event deadlines.
- Working across various Advancement teams to organize department-wide projects and coordinate regional efforts around organizational requests and tasks.
- Developing overall plans and timelines to ensure completion of special quarterly and annual projects, including, but not limited to, revenue forecasting, end-of-year donor cultivation, annual strategic planning, and portfolio reviews.
- Serving as a liaison between Sierra Club’s Major Gifts team and the Sierra Club Foundation to align charitable donations received at the Foundation with major gift acknowledgment, stewardship, and troubleshooting, when needed.
- Performing miscellaneous duties as directed.
The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:
- Experience and comfort with databases, preferably one used for fundraising. Proven ability to effectively analyze large datasets.
- Strong organizational skills; ability to establish priorities; enthusiasm for working with colleagues and volunteers.
- A collaborative approach to work.
- Strong interpersonal communication skills, initiative, and leaderful decision-making.
- Proven ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines, use tact and diplomacy in dealing with confidential and sensitive matters, exhibit a professional demeanor when dealing directly with donors and volunteers, and work well with diverse groups of people.
- Equity Analysis and Practice. You are aware of your group identities and how they have shaped your life and experiences at work. You have an analysis of how racism and other forms of oppression in society impact relationships, systems, and culture. You bring experience and skills for working effectively with colleagues across group identities and position/role.
- Enthusiasm in identifying and resolving issues before they become problems.
- Experience with G-Suite (Gmail, Google Docs, Drive, Calendar, and Sheets) and/or Salesforce.
- A passion for community-based solutions to address climate change and protect wildlands and wildlife.
- Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
- Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $66,000-$73,000.
This position is represented by a collective bargaining unit and is subject to the terms and conditions of the contract between Sierra Club and Progressive Workers Union or Sierra Employee Alliance, depending on location.
The Sierra Club offers a competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus excellent benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan.
This is a category 6 non-exempt, represented position.
Sierra Club is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. Sierra Club employees are not eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
Sierra Club values the expertise and talents of foreign nationals. Sierra Club sponsors both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas when certain criteria are met, based on immigration laws and organizational needs. Such sponsorship is at the discretion of the Department Head and Sierra Club Human Resources in consultation with the employee’s manager. The Sierra Club cannot guarantee the approval of a visa petition. The Sierra Club is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity.
To Apply
The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.
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