High Country News, an award-winning news organization covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, seeks a Major Gifts Officer to join our development team during an exciting chapter of innovation and growth. This individual will drive donor discovery, cultivation and acquisition of high-level gifts and planned giving. 

Reporting to the Director of Philanthropy, the Major Gifts Officer takes responsibility for meeting annual fundraising goals and communicates a passion for High Country News’ mission and values.  The ideal candidate will possess a thorough knowledge of fundraising techniques.  We are looking for someone with considerable experience in a fundraising role with a focus on donor relations and stewardship, together with an understanding of research methods, grant writing and marketing.

HCN’s circulation, production, development and customer service teams are housed in Paonia, Colorado.  This position is open to candidates interested in working remotely, with periodic visits to HCN’s offices. Candidates must have access to a major airport and be able to travel to meet with major donors in person and attend occasional events in the Intermountain West or West Coast.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for meeting annual fundraising goals through major gifts solicitation
• Manages a case load of around 150 active donors and prospects
• Cultivates authentic donor relationships through personal visits, phone calls, video meetings, and mailed and email correspondence
• Creates custom donor plans and custom donor offers
• Plans regional trips to meet with major donors in person, occasionally including the Executive Director, board members or an editorial staff member
• Researches and helps identify potential major donors among donor base; implements strategies for reaching prospects and increasing their giving over time
• Maintains donor records, strategies and donor “touches” in Salesforce
• Helps create and disseminates regular major donor reports
• Coordinates with the director of philanthropy to provide thank-you notes and gifts and other correspondence including newsletters
• Assists in planning major donor cultivation events
• Meets regularly with the director of philanthropy to review donor strategies

Qualifications:

Candidates should have a relevant undergraduate degree or equivalent experience, and possess highly developed interpersonal and organizational skills.  A proficiency in Microsoft Office, with a working knowledge of Salesforce or other customer relationship management software is essential, together with the ability to write compelling copy and contribute to campaign planning and analytics. 

Ideal candidates will possess a strong desire to work in a nonprofit environment and support the mission and values of High Country News, combined with a passion for articulating HCN’s diversity goals to potential donors.

Compensation:

This is a full-time position with health benefits and a salary commensurate with skills and experience.  Salary range $68,000 to $75,000 per annum.

High Country News is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity, equity and inclusion in the publishing industry, and we seek to increase diversity in our own operation. We encourage applications from people in communities traditionally underrepresented in this field.

To apply

Please send a résumé and cover letter to [email protected] with "Major Gifts Officer" in the subject line.

Background:

High Country News is the nation's leading independent source of reporting on the Western United States. Established in 1970, HCN publishes an award-winning monthly magazine and a popular website, along with special reports, books and events. From Alaska and the Northern Rockies to the Desert Southwest, from the Great Plains to the West Coast, HCN is a beloved and essential resource for those who care about this region.

High Country News is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to inform and inspire people to act on behalf of the West's diverse natural and human communities. Its journalism is supported largely by its devoted readership through subscriptions and contributions, with additional grant support and advertising. It has received countless honors and accolades, including a coveted George Polk Award.

HCN's readers are educated and engaged. They include policymakers, educators, public-land managers, environmental professionals, outdoor enthusiasts and an expanding Native American audience. The organization has roughly 30,000 print and digital subscribers. The website, which includes archives stretching back to the first issue in 1970, attracts approximately 400,000 sessions each month.

In a time of media fragmentation and polarizing sound bites, readers come to High Country News for fact-based, independent journalism and civil conversation across diverse perspectives. With the decline in local newspapers leaving news deserts across the nation, HCN's relevance is sharper than ever.