Program Regional Strategist

Summary

Join the Sierra Club as a Program Regional Strategist, Chapter Fundraising and play a crucial role in helping local chapters raise funds. You will serve as a lead coach and project manager for assigned chapters, providing strategic and tactical fundraising advice. Responsibilities include developing and executing chapter fundraising plans, coaching on grant strategy, meeting with external funders, and leveraging volunteer involvement. The ideal candidate possesses extensive fundraising experience, strong coaching skills, and excellent communication abilities. This remote position requires occasional travel and offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The Sierra Club is committed to diversity and inclusion and values applicants from underrepresented groups.

Requirements

• Extensive experience overseeing and implementing fundraising programs , preferably in a small non-profit
• Your ability to provide sound advice to Chapter Directors, fundraising staff, and volunteer leaders based on your own experience and study is crucial in this role
• A deep understanding of how to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward $1,000-$25,000+ gifts from individuals
• You must be able to understand, teach, and project manage a mid to major gift level fundraising program at chapters
• How a small non-profit organization must blend multiple fundraising strategies targeting many levels of giving in order to meet its fundraising goals
• Extensive experience and expertise in coaching
• You will be working with individuals and small teams that need your advice, assistance, and accountability
• Successful coaching skills are a must
• You must be able to inspire and instill confidence to fundraise in the chapters you are assigned to
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• The highly collaborative nature of this position requires exceptional interpersonal skills
• You may also meet with external funders, so your ability to present information verbally and in writing is essential
• Committed to evolution
• You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility
• And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate
• Uplifting and additive
• You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey
• You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go
• Project management and logistics skills
• You will be asked to create and oversee projects at an assigned portfolio of chapters all at once
• You need to be comfortable designing tools that help you manage this complexity and see projects through to completion
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and meet deadlines and fundraising goals
• Demonstrated skill using tact and diplomacy with confidential and sensitive matters
• Deep understanding of the importance of remaining confidential when working with donor information

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead coach/project manager to an assigned portfolio of chapters who need strategic and tactical advice
• Coordinate closely with major gift officers in their region to support strategies for major gift level donors
• Coaching chapter leaders with strategic and tactical advice to improve fundraising performance
• Consults and supports chapter leaders on fundraising strategy and program implementation at individual chapters
• This may include site visits and in-person coaching
• Leading the effort to develop and execute chapter fundraising plans
• Facilitate the creation of and execution of chapter fundraising plans, meeting with chapters regularly to ensure the completion of fundraising activities specifically related to mid to major gifts
• Coaching chapters on grant strategy
• When needed this role by helping to identify potential grants, support the chapter with grant strategy, and work collaboratively with Grant Writers
• Meet with external funders
• This role may need to manage a portfolio of donors if there is a gap at chapters, by cultivating relationships, making asks, and stewarding donors
• Coaching chapters on ways to leverage volunteer involvement with fundraising
• Works with volunteers and staff leaders to create opportunities for volunteers to participate in fundraising—particularly at the board level
• Collaborating with leaders in our Advancement and Membership Growth Departments to facilitate coordination between major gift staff, mid-level managers, and chapter leaders
• Facilitates collaboration between chapter staff and the national organization’s fundraising team, particularly with major gift work

Preferred Qualifications

• Passion for environmental issues and local, grassroots activism
• Experience with Salesforce
• Experience with fundraising operations and/or project management

Benefits

• $80,000 - $90,000 a year
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• A retirement savings 401(k) plan