Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 53 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

The National Wildlife Federation believes that in order to save wildlife and ourselves, we need to ensure that everyone in America has clean air and water, safe communities, easy and equitable access to the daily benefits of nature, and protection from the ravages of climate change. These basic needs, equally necessary and urgent for all people, are foundational to bringing the conservation movement and ethos into the 21^st century.

To fuel this mission, and achieve the bold priorities for people and wildlife outlined in our strategic vision, we are seeking a Gift Planning Officer (GPO) to join our Philanthropy team in Reston, VA.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all employees are currently teleworking.  We anticipate National Wildlife Federation offices will begin reopening in January, 2022.  As a Gift Planning Officer you will identify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors, prospects, and their financial advisors for the purpose of raising bequest revenue and securing deferred gifts (charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts etc.) in support of the National Wildlife Federation. As a GPO you will engage prospective and current donors through visits, phone calls, correspondence, and stewardship events, and develop tailored strategies for securing support from and stewarding donors.

This is an exciting time of growth and expansion at NWF, and this role is ideal for an entrepreneurial self-starter seeking opportunities to contribute meaningfully toward the goal of achieving substantial increases in planned and outright giving in the years ahead.

• Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors and prospective donors through virtual or face-to-face visits, calls, emails and other written communications. Meet high standards of performance metrics designed to monitor and evaluate performance.
• Develop a donor strategy to build excellent rapport in cultivating, soliciting and closing gifts managing a portfolio of 100 - 125 planned gift prospects. Develop and implement highly tailored moves management strategies to effectively engage a portfolio of top prospects. Responsible for data input for all donor interactions (individual contacts, prospect management steps and stewardship efforts) in CRM database. Provide reports on activities, prospective pipelines and progress toward revenue and engagement targets regularly.  Develop a personalized stewardship strategy for VIP Legacy Society members in their portfolio to confirm intended gift(s), maintain donor’s connection to NWF and increases financial support whenever possible. Participate in other donor stewardship events in the assigned region. 
• Establish and maintain close collaboration with Philanthropy staff, program staff, regional offices and affiliates to advance gift planning efforts by providing excellent customer service and fostering continued internal collaboration. Ability to identify major gift prospects to assist in increasing the number of outrights gifts to NWF.
• Network across the industry to foster learning and information sharing, as well as build awareness of benchmarking data and engagement strategies and marketing tactics.
• Maintain professional aptitude in gift planning, keeping abreast of industry trends and changes to tax law, through conferences, seminars, specialized training, and professional literature (when appropriate and within the budgetary limits) to remain current in the gift planning field.
• Stay informed of the Federation’s conservation priorities and its efforts to address America’s wildlife crisis and shares it with prospects and Legacy Society members as appropriate.
• Dedicated to deepening understanding of cultural and systemic racism and the intersectionality of multiple forms of social inequality.

• College degree required
• 5+ years of professional development experience, with a demonstrated history of successfully building relationships with individual donors capable of making gifts of $25,000 or more through major gifts or their estate planning
• Extensive knowledge of gift planning vehicles and giving instruments, coupled with the ability to effectively share this information and support donors in achieving their philanthropic goals and establishing their philanthropic legacies
• Experience working with attorneys, financial advisors, seniors, and their families – and with an approachable and engaging demeanor will serve this position well
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving, organizational, writing and interpersonal skills with the demonstrated ability to work independently and as an integral part of the team
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to present to a variety of audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities
• Knowledge of industry trends
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with CRM database. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree 
• Experience working with non-profit conservation organizations a plus
• Supervisory experience a plus
• PG Calc experience preferred