WORLD WILDLIFE FUND

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Title:  Manager, Regional Philanthropy, Western Region

Job Family:  Development/ Lead Specialist/ Manager

Reports to:  Vice President of Individual Giving

FLSA Status:  Exempt

Revised Date: October, 2024

Major Function 

The Senior Philanthropy Officer, Regional Philanthropy utilizes expertise in donor relationship building to close major gifts at the $25K+ level and elevate philanthropy from individuals in the Region. The Senior Philanthropy Officer develops and implements strategies to expand WWF’s network of philanthropists and to secure major, principal, and complex gifts. This position is based in San Francisco and requires 2-3 days/week in office, unless traveling to visit donors.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies to identify, cultivate, and secure six-figure, seven-figure, and complex gifts, with a goal of raising an average of $1M or more per year.
• Manage a personal portfolio of 50-75 individuals, including donors, prospects and suspects throughout the ten-state region. Travel is required.
• Work closely with Regional Philanthropy, Strategic Philanthropy, Annual Giving, Gift Planning, Board and National Council Relations to ensure cooperation and effective use of resources.
• Collaborate with Gift Planning officers to identify and secure complex gifts.
• Develop coordinated strategies with Strategic Philanthropy gift officers to utilize networks of the Board and principal gifts donors and to enhance cultivation and stewardship plans for other major donors in the region.
• Work with Regional Philanthropy senior management and Western Region colleagues, to create a prospecting strategy for the region with assistance from Prospect Management.
• Contribute to a goal of doubling the number of major gift and principal gift prospects in the next 3-5 years.
• Cultivate and steward regionally-based community foundations and other emerging platforms for high-end philanthropy.
• Work with the Events Team to help inform and execute a strategic event plan for the region. Support regional events as needed.
• Experience working with and/or knowledge of the Bay Area/Silicon Valley tech community and/or LA is strongly preferred.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor's degree required
• A minimum of 8 years of demonstrated major gift fund-raising success with experience in closing complex gifts, relationship building, and identification of gift planning opportunities. Other relevant experience will be considered.
• Experience in project management
• Ability to conceptualize and implement donor cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Excellent oral and written communications skills 
• Knowledge of and passion for environmental issues
• Knowledge of or experience working on the West Coast, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles
• Professionalism, integrity, adaptability and enthusiasm
• Knowledge of gift planning is preferred

• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion
• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:
  • Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
  • Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
  • Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
  • Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.

Key Competencies:

1. Diplomatic Communication and Organizational Savvy - This includes discernment, and sound judgement with confidential and sensitive information, and desire to understand the history and relationships that impact processes and behaviors.
2. Cultural Competency - Ability to respect diversity and engage sensitively with different cultural contexts.
3. Conflict Navigation - Ability to resolve disagreements and turn them into opportunities for cooperation
4. Empathy - Must be able to think outside of the binary and understand the  perspective of all parties and demonstrate same in interactions
5. Flexibility - Ability to adjust plans and strategies in response to change, ensuring adaptability and resilience.

Required Skills and Experience

• Develop and implement strategies to identify, cultivate, and secure six-figure, seven-figure, and complex gifts, with a goal of raising an average of $1M or more per year.
• Manage a personal portfolio of 50-75 individuals, including donors, prospects and suspects throughout the ten-state region. Travel is required.
• Work closely with Regional Philanthropy, Strategic Philanthropy, Annual Giving, Gift Planning, Board and National Council Relations to ensure cooperation and effective use of resources.
• Collaborate with Gift Planning officers to identify and secure complex gifts.
• Develop coordinated strategies with Strategic Philanthropy gift officers to utilize networks of the Board and principal gifts donors and to enhance cultivation and stewardship plans for other major donors in the region.
• Work with Regional Philanthropy senior management and Western Region colleagues, to create a prospecting strategy for the region with assistance from Prospect Management.
• Contribute to a goal of doubling the number of major gift and principal gift prospects in the next 3-5 years.
• Cultivate and steward regionally-based community foundations and other emerging platforms for high-end philanthropy.
• Work with the Events Team to help inform and execute a strategic event plan for the region. Support regional events as needed.
• Experience working with and/or knowledge of the Bay Area/Silicon Valley tech community and/or LA is strongly preferred.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree required
• A minimum of 8 years of demonstrated major gift fund-raising success with experience in closing complex gifts, relationship building, and identification of gift planning opportunities. Other relevant experience will be considered.
• Experience in project management
• Ability to conceptualize and implement donor cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Excellent oral and written communications skills 
• Knowledge of and passion for environmental issues
• Knowledge of or experience working on the West Coast, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles
• Professionalism, integrity, adaptability and enthusiasm
• Knowledge of gift planning is preferred

• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion
• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values:
  • COURAGE – We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
  • INTEGRITY – We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT – We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COLLABORATION – We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

To Apply:

• Submit cover letter and resume through our Careers Page,  Requisition #25031
• Due to the high volume of applications we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) promotes equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.