Director, Donor Relations

The National Park Foundation (NPF) works with the National Park Service (NPS) to enrich America’s national parks through private support, safeguard our heritage, and inspire generations of national park enthusiasts. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation is founded on a legacy that began over a century ago. Today, the National Park Foundation carries on that tradition as the only national charitable nonprofit whose mission directly supports America’s 420+ national park units. As the National Park Service’s official nonprofit partner, the National Park Foundation supports projects and programs across the system.

For more information on the full range of programs and projects supported by the National Park Foundation, please review our website at www.nationalparks.org.

The Director of Donor Relations is responsible for implementing an institution-wide comprehensive donor relations program including cultivation, stewardship, events, and donor communications that appropriately and consistently promotes relationship building and recognition of donors at all levels. The position requires excellent collaborative skills to be applied with all philanthropy staff, including frontline fundraisers, and partners across the Foundation. S/he must be able to oversee donor stewardship activities and events and draft written materials to aid in the institution’s efforts to educate, cultivate, and recognize donors. This position, an integral part of the Foundation’s philanthropy efforts, offers the opportunity to apply creative and critical thinking skills in various communications and stewardship projects that connect the Foundation with its current and prospective benefactors. The position reports to the Campaign Director.

Through this work, the Director will make a direct and lasting impact on conservation, culture, preservation, recreation, education, and stewardship—preserving our national parks for centuries to come.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Oversee the development and implementation of a sophisticated and comprehensive donor communications, engagement, stewardship, and recognition plan for the Foundation.
  1. Oversee/Develop an integrated, comprehensive, and tiered donor communications and stewardship strategy in partnership with Philanthropy units.
  2. Oversee/Develop compelling written materials, including proposals, impact reports, and tailored cultivation and stewardship pieces.
  3. Oversee planning and execution of all donor cultivation and recognition events and receipting and acknowledging gifts for all individual and foundation donors.
• Carry a small stewardship portfolio of 10-15 top-tier donors; With Relationship Managers, create and implement a robust, high-touch, customized stewardship plan for each donor in the portfolio.
• Liaise with Programs and External Affairs teams to source and synthesize content, as well as partner with the Partnerships Team to identify special opportunities that can be offered to donors in national parks nationwide.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of occasional donor travel programs.
• Manage information tracking processes regarding acknowledgment, recognition, ongoing communications, and continued cultivation of past and current major donors to enhance their relationship with the Foundation and increase their philanthropy.
• Develop and assess policies and procedures across the division that are essential for a comprehensive donor relations program.
• Develop and implement a plan for measuring the effectiveness of the donor relations program at the Foundation.
• Serve as resident expert on National Park Service Director’s Order 21 and Reference Manual 21 (to be learned).
• Supervise two reports directly: Manager, Donor Events; Manager, Donor Relations
• Work with Philanthropy units to refine gift agreement templates, letters of Intent (LOIs), or similar documents.
• Coordinate and work across teams as needed.
• Perform related duties as assigned within the scope of practice.
• Follow and promote the ethical guidelines set forth in the Association of Donor Relations for Advancement (ADRP), the Association of Advancement Services Professionals (AASP), the CASE Donor Bill of Rights, and the CASE Ethics Guidelines.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• A minimum of five to seven (5-7) years of professional experience is required.
• Candidates with stewardship, event management, and writing experience preferred.
• Education/experience equivalents considered.
• Well-developed customer-service orientation.
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines at one time and adapt to evolving needs/strategies.
• Ability to use discretion in working with confidential and sensitive data.
• Strong interpersonal and written communications skills with demonstrated attention to detail and ability to relate to individuals at varying levels internally and externally.
• Professional in appearance, demeanor, and decision-making.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office suite—particularly Word and PowerPoint.
• Preferable: Have experience with relational databases, preferably The Raiser’s Edge or Raiser’s Edge NXT, or easily adapt to new technologies.
• Commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusivity.
• Ability to occasionally travel for regional events or work evenings for local events.

LOCATION: This is a hybrid role based in DC. However, remote candidates from the following states are welcome to apply: AL, CA, CO, FL, IL, MA, MD, MN, NC, NH, NM, NJ, NY, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI. If people wish to move to DC, there is no relocation package for this role.

TO APPLY: For consideration, please include a resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample in your application.

NPF and DEI

The National Park Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer that welcomes diversity in our organization. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit National Park Foundation (nationalparks.org).