Major Giving Manager

About Amazon Frontlines

Amazon Frontlines (amazonfrontlines.org) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the Amazon region of Ecuador. Amazon Frontlines fights the climate crisis by securing indigenous stewardship of the Amazon rainforest. We build power with Indigenous leaders to form a bulwark of resistance throughout the upper Amazon, working together deep in the forest, at our organizing hub in northeastern Ecuador, and in the halls of power worldwide. Our mission is driven by a commitment to environmental conservation and empowering indigenous communities through partnership and sustainable practices.

About Amazon Frontlines Development Program

The Amazon Frontlines Development team is a small-but-mighty team that excels in a dynamic and fast paced working environment to deliver big results. The team believes in a collaborative and leaderful approach to fundraising, in which every team member has an important role to play, and is driven by a commitment to mobilize resources to frontline communities.

Description of Work

Amazon Frontlines (AF) seeks a dynamic, highly motivated and experienced fundraising professional for the new position of Major Giving Manager. This person will join AF’s growing Development Team to lead a growth strategy that leverages recent organizational successes and high-profile recognition (including the 2024 Hilton Prize) to grow the organization’s major gifts revenue stream and portfolio of donors. Reporting to the Director of Development and working closely with the Executive Director, Development Coordinator and Fundraising Storyteller, the Major Giving Manager will oversee the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of current and prospective major donors. The Manager will also help develop and oversee Amazon Frontlines’ annual giving program and assess opportunities to implement and initiate an organizational planned giving strategy.

Scope of Work

Major Giving Strategy

• Develop the Major Giving strategy in partnership with the Development Director and oversee its execution to raise major giving revenue with an emphasis on meeting key performance indicators, donor retention, new prospect moves management, and significant growth in annual and multi-year gifts.
• Work closely with the Development Director, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director to leverage new prospect opportunities, using a systematic approach to “moves management” that grows Amazon Frontlines’ qualified donor pipeline and ultimately results in increased giving.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director, Development Director, and COO, identify, plan and execute cultivation events (digital and in-person).
• Work with contractors, Development and Communications teams to execute outbound communications to donors, potential donors and planned giving prospects.
• Develop creative strategies for identifying and engaging diverse constituencies.

Individual Relationship Management

• Actively manage a portfolio of mid-level and high net worth individuals through various day-to-day activities, including meetings, phone calls, letters, reports, emails, timely responses to donor inquiries and acknowledgements of gifts, such that individuals in the portfolio are retained and/or upgraded in their annual giving.
• Act as an external-facing representative of Amazon Frontlines’ mission and programs to donors and prospects.
• Oversee strategic development of major donor portfolios for the Executive Director, Development Director, COO, and Board Members.
• Identify and cultivate major giving prospects, investing the necessary energy to build 1:1 relationships to understand the donor/prospect goals with the expressed purpose of alignment with Amazon Frontlines’ mission and objectives. Move prospective major donors along the donor pipeline ready to receive an appropriate solicitation based upon donor intent and interest.
• Collaborate with Executive, Leadership and Development teams and Board Members to proactively and diligently identify, steward, and solicit donations and build a pipeline of donor prospects.
• Create thoughtful and authentic cultivation stewardship opportunities for current major donors to be shared with all portfolio holders; and determine innovative and creative ways to recognize donors for their generosity.

Development Strategy and Support

• Create monthly and/or quarterly reports that reflect portfolio activity and performance, and actions on those results to improve performance and reach goals.
• Serve as thought partner to the Development Director and Director of Institutional Giving to set department strategy and fundraising operational excellence.
• Contribute to the department budget in close collaboration with the Development Director, Director of Institutional Giving, and Finance Director.
• Perform other duties as assigned, as needed, that are consistent with development goals.

Who you are and must-haves to be successful in the role

• Passionate about Amazon Frontlines’ mission.
• A motivated self-starter, capable of working independently and balancing multiple priorities in a fast paced work environment, with a willingness to collaborate with the Development team and across other departments.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and 5 years experience in major gift fundraising, with a proven track record having solicited gifts in the six to seven figures range.
• High understanding of individual moves management strategy and execution.
• Highly developed written, verbal, research, and editorial skills, with ability to synthesize information and articulate clear and effective prose.
• Be adept at working with senior management and be comfortable in “managing up” to ensure desired outcomes.
• Ability to work collaboratively with AF staff to develop content and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent donor research on current and prospective individual funders.
• Experience with juggling multiple priorities in a fast-paced non-profit environment with strong organizational, project management and leadership skills, and attention to detail.
• Experience working with fundraising CRMs. Experience with Salesforce database, preferred.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Understanding of climate, deforestation and Indigenous rights issues and the funding landscape are a big plus.
• Willingness to travel as needed for fundraising opportunities.
• AF is a multilingual team. To be effective in your role, you’ll need to be bilingual in both English and Spanish and able to communicate at a high level in both.

Location

This is a remote position within the Americas. Must be willing to travel to the region where our work takes place several times a year.

Compensation and benefits

We offer a competitive and comprehensive salary and benefits package. Salary is commensurate with experience and location.