Principal Gifts Coordinator

Principal Gifts Coordinator

Location

East Coast preferred (hybrid from EDF’s offices or remote); strong candidates located in other U.S. time zones will be considered

Duration

2-year fixed-term position with full benefits and opportunity for extension

Overall Function

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Principal and Major Gifts, the Coordinator will be responsible for supporting efforts to cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of EDF’s leadership and principal donors.

The Coordinator will employ the highest standards of a donor-centered approach to fundraising playing a key role in the solicitation and stewardship of EDF’s top donors.This position is a growth opportunity for someone interested in the Development profession and offers the opportunity to work with EDF’s senior fundraisers, programmatic staff, and leadership. The Principal Gifts Coordinator will be part of an established, experienced, and growing Development team.

EDF is committed to the success and growth of fundraising and provides a stellar opportunity to learn the trade from top fundraisers.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the AVP to engage top donors; develop deep familiarity with the portfolio and work plans to assist and learn from the Officers.
• Compose, edit, and proofread talking points for donor meetings, briefings, proposals, stewardship reports and other communications; coordinating with the Donor Communications team, ensuring that donor documents meet the highest standards of writing and that the content reflects EDF’s priorities.
• Assist in the timely and accurate preparation of donor and prospect visits.
• Produce individualized acknowledgements and other correspondence for donors, ensuring their accuracy and consistency with EDF’s style and messaging.
• Manage information input into the donor database, develop various related fundraising reports tracking goals, giving and fundraising activities, and participate in donor strategy sessions.
• Stay informed about or conduct initial research on relevant donors, prospects, and giving trends towards better cultivation or solicitation outcomes. Conduct initial research on donors and prospects and create a portfolio of information for strategy and planning process.
• Respond to donor and staff inquiries and other special projects, as assigned
• Participate in advancing EDF organizational effectiveness and culture goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.

Qualifications

• A minimum of three years of relevant experience, preferably in a fundraising, nonprofitor academic setting; Bachelor’s degree in related field may substitute for up to 2 years’ experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to compose, edit, and expertly proofread correspondence and other documents.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills and the ability to convey complex ideas in writing, with a level of clarity and sophistication expected by our highly integral donors and prospects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality while representing the organization and interfacing with all levels of staff at the national and affiliate offices, as well as with volunteers, donors, and outside vendors.
• High ability to actively listen to colleagues, senior development management and donors to deftly navigate and manage relationships.
• Demonstrated initiative and creativity; the ability to work independently as well as within a team.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds.
• Exceptional organizational, planning and administrative skills and ability to juggle multiple priorities; strong attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Internet research; experience working with Salesforce, fundraising or relational databases strongly preferred; experience with project management software (e.g., Asana, etc.) a plus.
• Desire to learn major gifts fundraising.
• Commitment to the mission of Environmental Defense Fund.

Please submit a cover letter with your submission.