Senior Manager, Individual Giving

Organization
Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization leading the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through our powerful networks and advocacy, we tackle the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and human rights abuses.

For more information about Ceres, please visit our website (www.ceres.org).

Description & Responsibilities
Are you an experienced, passionate development professional that wants to use your skills to create a more just and sustainable future? Ceres is hiring a Senior Manager, Individual Giving to work with us in a mission-driven, dynamic, and fast-moving organization that has been recognized as one of the most effective sustainability nonprofits in the world.

This Senior Manager position is for a motivated fundraiser interested in cultivating and stewarding donors, working with influential stakeholders, and communicating Ceres’ mission and impacts. You will report to the Senior Director of Development and work closely with an Individual Giving team of six as part of a high-performing Development team fueling a growing $35 million organization. The role requires strategic coordination with program, events, and marketing and communications (MarComms) teams to manage key relationships with major donors, philanthropic advisors and family offices; manage fundraising and cultivation events at multiple levels of scale; support engagements with Ceres’ Executive team, Board and President’s Council members; and help ensure a work environment and messaging that reflects Ceres’ values and vision. You should have excellent relationship management, persuasive writing, and personal communication skills, and be a fast learner and team player.

Responsibilities include:
· Manage a portfolio of approximately [30-40] major donors and prospects, mostly in the five- to six-figure range. Develop and steward individual relationships with donors that include digital communications, direct meetings, and participation in Ceres’ events. Oversee internal donor tracking and moves management for the portfolio. Develop tailored proposal development and impact reporting for individual donors as needed.
· Build a pipeline of prospects, drawing on professional relationships, prospect research, and engagement with the sustainability and philanthropic communities. Cultivate relationships with [5-10] donor prospects and intermediaries from that pipeline.
· Collaborate with Individual Giving and Events teams to ensure successful fundraising and cultivation events, including an annual gala, in-person salons and gatherings, program briefings, and virtual events. Work closely with teams on guest lists, venue selection, sponsors, speakers, and follow-up with guests.
· Collaborate with the Individual Giving and MarComms teams to help develop materials to market and communicate Ceres’ theory of change, program impacts and plans, and funding opportunities. Work closely with teams on fundraising events and campaigns.
· Collaborate with Individual Giving and Foundation Teams and other Ceres teams to ensure strong internal communication and tracking of funders and prospects. Work closely with teams on identifying program-donor fit, funder briefings, data collection and reporting.
· Develop working knowledge of Ceres programs, networks, and coalitions and deeper expertise in select program areas (such as clean energy, water stewardship, deforestation, just and inclusive economies, net-zero finance).
· Actively manage administrative duties, including tracking contacts, communications, engagements, and gifts; scheduling and coordinating meetings and convenings; and working with staff to ensure accurate, timely and high-quality deliverables.
· Participate in external meetings and events with high-value stakeholders, including travel post-pandemic, to build and steward relationships.
· Oversee special projects as assigned.

Qualifications
At least 7 years of full-time professional experience;
3 or more years of experience in a relevant development field;
Strong writing skills with demonstrated interest and aptitude in persuasive writing;
Strong communication skills, ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences;
Knowledge and experience with standard fundraising practices and techniques;
Excellent organizational abilities; demonstrated capacity to handle and prioritize multiple tasks, set priorities, meet deadlines, and work well in a fast-paced environment;
Ability to work well independently and collaboratively;
Proficiency with database applications and MS Office Suite;
Passion for addressing climate change, water stewardship, environmental and/or sustainability issues;
Interest in being part of a diverse workforce and willingness to support Ceres’ Commitment to Inclusion and Equity;
Ability to travel (up to approximately 10%) when travel resumes after the pandemic.

The hiring salary range for this position is $81,000-$84,000.

How to Apply
We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying: www.ceres.org. If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a list of three references, as well as complete the additional information as instructed.

Ceres is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.

Job Email id: jbenson(at)ceres.org