Greenpeace is a global, independent campaigning organization that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. For over fifty years, Greenpeace has fought to save the planet from the threat of global warming, destruction of ancient forests, deterioration of our oceans, and the threat of a nuclear disaster loom large. As an independent organization, Greenpeace does not accept funds from any corporations or government entities. Greenpeace is headquartered in the Netherlands, with offices all around the world in over fifty countries.

Greenpeace USA (GPUS) is hiring a Major Gifts Officer to work with Major Gifts team and be responsible for managing a pool of major gift donors and prospects, and for advancing this pool to meet ambitious fundraising goals of the Major Gifts Team. The Major Gifts Officer sets goals, develops strategies, communicates effectively with donors, conducts face-to-face visits, solicits gifts, stewards those gifts, tracks progress, and evaluates performance. The position requires frequent, effective correspondence, phone contact and a high volume of personal visits with major donors and prospects. The ability to prioritize major donor relationships is essential, as is the ability to collaborate in the development of those relationships with campaign staff, senior leaders and board members in the U.S. and globally.

The Major Gifts role is a non-exempt, full time role based in either of our main offices (NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, or Denver) and will report to the Director of Special Contributors who is based in Washington, DC.

This role will:

• Be responsible for the planning, management, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of up to a 150-person major donor and prospect portfolio (a major donor is defined as a supporter who donates $10,000 and above per year).
• Work with the Director to set annual goals that increase total giving, retain and upgrade donors, and expand the number of major donors. Regularly evaluate progress toward the goals, and adjusts goals semi-annually.
• Conceive, communicate, implement and adjust strategies for every donor in the pool. Carry out strategies by actively and regularly managing moves that advance donors towards making major gifts or increasing their major gift level of support.
• Act decisively upon leads from Prospect Researcher, ensure that donor records are up-to-date, and track moves in relational database.
• Initiate contact with donors and prospects, establish and maintain a high volume of donor visits, nurture strong and enduring relationships, and catalyze increased giving by listening, learning, involving, inspiring and asking.
• Effectively uses a regular, pre-existing schedule of mailings (updates, reports, etc.) and develop and send personally-tailored correspondence to donors, as appropriate.
• Collaborate with the Head of Key Influencer Support & Special Events and other staff to plan, organize, coordinate, and evaluate events, both according to regional strategies and in concert with ship tour opportunities.
• Understand the giving cycle, develop authentic personal relationships with donors, and know when to ask. Solicit gifts personally and, when appropriate, in tandem with the Executive Director, other staff or board members.
• Draft personalized gift acknowledgement letters and other donor correspondence for the Executive Director and other staff as appropriate. Ensure that all gifts from major donors are properly acknowledged within four days or less of receipt.
• Maintain working knowledge of deferred and planned giving vehicles and opportunities, and coordinate with the planned giving program to maximize donor engagement and opportunities.
• Develop a strong working knowledge of Greenpeace’s mission, values and often complex campaigns, national and global.
• Participate in supporting departmental Equity, Diversity and Inclusion goals
• Perform other job-related duties as requested or assigned by the supervisor.
• Travel at least 50% of the time. At least half this position’s time will be in the field with donors. Depending on where the position is based relative to the donor and prospect pool, this may require rather frequent travel.

 Minimum requirements include:

• Must have and effectively demonstrate a passion for and commitment to the environmental and justice issues central to Greenpeace’s mission.
• Bachelor’s degree required; working knowledge of environmental issues and activism essential.
• Prior major gifts experience preferred.

Additional qualifications include, but are not limited to:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills--the successful candidate will be capable of understanding and articulating complex programmatic work to funders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with a wide range of donor personalities.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, team-building skills, and familiarity with relational databases required.
• Must be creative, flexible, responsible, well-organized, and able to balance a variety of activities.
• Ability to manage systems, set priorities, and work within deadlines essential.

To Apply

If you want to save the world from climate change and believe in environmental justice, please submit an application on our careers page. Applications will be review on a rolling basis and will conclude once we have found the best candidate.

Greenpeace is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, class, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, family/marital status, religion or other protected classes. We strongly encourage applications from marginalized communities. If you require assistance applying to this opportunity, please contact [email protected].

Only applicants eligible to work and live in the United States without any legal restrictions need apply for this opportunity.