Wilderness Inquiry’s mission is to connect people of all ages, backgrounds, identities, and abilities through shared outdoor adventures so that all people can equitably experience the benefits of time spent in nature.

At Wilderness Inquiry, we believe that everyone belongs. We work to ensure this belief holds true in our workplace, in our community, and in the outdoors. We pursue this belief through our mission and shared values of paddling together, nurturing inclusion, seeking the exceptional, and finding a way.  

Position Summary & Dimensions

Summary

This position is responsible for overseeing philanthropic revenues related to individual gifts, and special events with a fundraising focus. The Senior Manager of Development provides strategic direction and day-to-day leadership to grow development and fundraising efforts. This position is laser-focused on increasing revenue generation and works collaboratively with internal team members to align across departments and external partners and supporters to make authentic connections between Wilderness Inquiry’s needs and available resources. They will bring innovation, creativity, and new ideas to existing successful individual donor campaign strategies. 

Dimensions

Working Title: Senior Manager of Development
Position Classification: Senior Manager
Employment Conditions: Exempt
Department/Section: Development / Sales
Classification Range: $73,750 – $90,400, depending on experience
Reports To: Director of Development & Sales
Supervisory Responsibilities: NA
Environment: Hybrid, with some days reporting to the Wilderness Inquiry office in Bloomington

Essential Roles and Responsibilities

Responsibility 1: Secure Philanthropic Revenues Related to Individual Donors (75% FTE)

Tasks

1. Enhance and grow the individual donor program, including oversight and creation of fund appeals and communications, in collaboration with the External Relations team.
2. Develop new strategies for donor outreach and ongoing engagement and stewardship throughout the year, including opportunities for donors to connect directly with programs and the mission. 
3. Increase the number of individuals that give to Wilderness Inquiry on an annual basis and create tracking mechanisms for continuous improvement and growth. 
4. Secure all special event sponsorships and provide direction to the team for all logistics and planning. Grow and manage event-related committees and advisory groups.

Responsibility 2: Lead Prospecting in Support of Organizational Growth (20% FTE)

Tasks

1. Utilize prospecting tools to discover and connect with new funding sources, with particular focus on those who are active in areas we work and/or are national in scope.
2. Arrange for site visits to connect prospective funders with organizational leadership and programs.
3. Secure new funding sources to match organizational and programmatic growth needs.
4. Collaborate with Special Campaigns Officer and provide team support for campaign proposals and events. Ensure coordination of current and new major donor outreaches. 

Responsibility 3: Manage and Grow Endowment (5% FTE)

Tasks

1. Oversee endowment family and funding relationships; manage related events and communications.
2. Ensure annual endowment transfers take place on a timely basis.
3. Report on annual endowment fund use.

Responsibility 4: Embrace Values, Community Agreements and Other Roles/Responsibilities as Assigned

Tasks

1. Perform all job responsibilities in a manner that centers Wilderness Inquiry values and supports a healthy, safe, and productive work environment for all employees by adhering to Workplace Community Agreements.
2. Incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and access practices and principles in all areas of work, with a particular focus on development and fundraising. 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
• 3-5 years Fundraising/Development experience
• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to the vision, mission, and values of Wilderness Inquiry

Qualities we are looking for in this position:

• Passion for WI’s mission, values, and core audience sectors
• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Flexible, persistent, and attentive to detail 
• Strong interpersonal skills
• A growth mindset and a habit of seeking feedback for self-development
• The ability to assess business problems and prescribe solutions as they relate to sales and marketing initiatives 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively
• Proactive problem-solver
• Experience managing multiple projects with competing deadlines
• High attention to detail and ability to work independently.
• Excellent time and project management skills.
• Proficient in Google Workspace
• Knowledge of fundraising prospecting research methods, practices, and procedures
• Experience with corporate philanthropy
• Experience working in a Constituent/Customer Relationship Management software (CRM)

Physical Requirements: 

• Must be able to use a telephone and computer
• Must be able to lift 25 lbs.
• Must possess a legal driver’s license and ability to drive a car
• Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Application Deadline: 

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until December 20, 2024.