Employment and Volunteer Opportunities

Director of Development

Background
Alaska Wilderness League is the only organization solely dedicated to protecting and preserving Alaska’s pristine wilderness. The Leagues’ 22 employees located across the country and in Alaska are the only employees in the conservation community devoted 24-7 to defending and protecting our Nation’s wildest country. All of us at the League are committed to our mission of engaging citizens, sharing resources, collaborating with other organizations, educating the public and providing a courageous, constant and victorious voice for Alaska.

Located in Washington DC, Alaska Wilderness League (the League) is the voice for Alaska’s wilderness and is celebrating 17 years of protecting this last- of- its -kind- landscape. Governed by a passionate, generous board and led by seasoned professionals, the leadership of the League is committed to investing the time and resources necessary to support a first-rate fundraising program. The League is searching for an experienced professional to build a culture of philanthropy and to lead a robust development program.

The League has a proven track record of building and running campaigns that have results and increase the visibility of and protection for Alaska’s wild places.

Membership and Philanthropic Growth
In 1993 the League had an operating budget of $70,000 with a primary income stream from three foundations. We have grown significantly as we continue to diversify our funding base, expand our campaigns and create a network of 70,000 on-line activist members.

Our current fundraising strategies include: a rigorous membership program; an online activist program; direct mail campaign; foundation grant writing; special events that serve to cultivate and steward members, donors and potential supporters; occasional fundraising events across the country and the development of an individual major giving program.

In 2000, with the financial backing of the League Board of Directors and the Brainerd Foundation, the League initiated a membership program with the intention of diversifying the organizations’ funding base. At that point, the League’s budget was under $1 million. The Board matched the Foundation’s Capacity Grant and dedicated $250,000 to create a membership program. In a period of six months the membership grew from 150 to the current 10,000 dues-paying members. Membership is cultivated and stewarded by the staff through many different approaches: online, direct mail, direct touch and personal outreach. Our membership base serves as a primary donor acquisition strategy from which a strong individual giving program is being developed. This will be a primary focus of the new Director of Development.

Over the past four years there has been a focus on building personal relationships with the League’s top donors. In 2007 the League started the Alaska Wild Giving Society, which includes donors who give $500 a year or more. The Society started with 90 members and has grown to 150 members in 2010.

The League has also invested time in developing relationships with foundation funders. From three foundations who supported the entire operation in 1993, we now have sixteen foundations that will provide 68.9% of the 2011 budget. In 2006 the Campion Foundation committed to a very generous three-year capacity building grant and continues to support the League for general support. We are committed to reduce our dependency on foundation support over the long-term. The Development Director will be the lead in developing and executing strategies in this regard.

The League has a goal of growing our operating budget from $3.4 million to $4 million to meet our conservation goals. This goal requires that we have an exceptional fundraising professional.

The League is aggressively strengthening its culture of philanthropy with 100% Board and staff giving. Currently there are 17 people on the Board of Directors. All of the League’s 22 staff members located across the country and Alaska incorporate development into their day-to-day activities. The Development Director is a part of the five-person Leadership Team (Executive Director, Deputy Director, Field Operations Director and Government Affairs Director) and is responsible for managing the Development team that includes the Director of Annual and Corporate Giving, who works from Michigan, and the Development Coordinator. The Development Director collaborates closely with the Executive Director, Deputy Director and the Online Communications Director. The Development Director will also work closely with board development and with the Board of Directors, both individually and collectively.

Campaigns
The needs to preserve Alaska’s wilderness are enormous. In that regard, the League has several Campaigns that require financial support. Please see PDF link below for more information on the League’s campaigns.

Job Overview
The Director of Development will be responsible for managing and leading fund development for the League. This is a senior-level position that requires management and supervision experience and a passion for active fundraising. The Director will lead and participate in the comprehensive development program for the organization by crafting and implementing development plans, supervising staff, managing a wide spectrum of program initiatives, and guiding and collaborating with volunteers to achieve annual fundraising targets. The Director plays a central role in developing, overseeing and managing major gift strategies.

As an advocate for the mission and programs of the organization the Director serves on the leadership management team while working closely with the board of directors

KNOLWEDGE, EXPERIENCE, and SKILL REQUIREMENTS

  • Development planning and implementation
  • Individual giving, major gifts and moves management strategies
  • Overseeing annual giving, events, corporate and foundation relations
  • Board giving and board relations
  • Volunteer and community relations
  • Stewardship and donor relations
  • Development communication and publications
  • Staff management
  • Budgeting, reporting and evaluating
  • Proficiency with Raiser’s Edge or other fundraising software.

    • IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS

  • Passion for the mission
  • Loves fundraising
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Sense of humor
  • Ability and interest in working collaboratively
  • Self-starter, highly motivated, takes initiative and is enthusiastic
  • Sensible, realistic and practical
  • Professional demeanor
  • Organizational skills: planning, prioritizing, scheduling

COMPENSATION: Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Health and retirement benefits. Alaska Wilderness League is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply: Send resume and cover letter, salary history and three references to Search Committee, Alaska Wilderness League, 122 C Street, NW, Suite 240, Washington DC 20001 or email to jobs@alaskawild.org

Cover letter: Please include: 1. What are the strengths that you bring to this job and evidence of them? 2. Describe a challenge that you have overcome. 3. Why is this ideal job for you?

Internships

Government Affairs Intern

Alaska Wilderness League is looking for unpaid government affairs interns for both spring and fall semesters as well as the summer to assist our government relations team in Washington. Interns can expect to gain a comprehensive introduction into political advocacy at the federal level. Specific tasks and responsibilities include:

  • Conduct research on and analyze federal legislation, state and federal public law and conservation strategies
  • Prepare written memos and other documents
  • Attend weekly strategy meetings
  • Attend meetings and hearings on Capitol Hill
  • Congressional outreach through information drops, phone calls, and e-mails
  • Prepare weekly newsletters on upcoming Hill activities
  • Some administrative tasks including database updating and printing outreach materials
  • Additionally, interns are encouraged to attend Senate and House committee hearings of interest.

Qualifications:
Upperclassmen or recent college graduates with degrees in Political Science, Communications, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, or other relevant fields are encouraged to apply. Graduate students and law students are also strongly encouraged to apply. Flexible scheduling is available.

Application Instructions:
Candidates should e-mail resume to Brian McLane at Brian[at]alaskawild.org