The Advancement Team supports NOLS’ mission and goals that inspire meaningful and enduring engagement of our alumni and friends worldwide. We build lifelong relationships that engage the time, loyalty, and intellectual and financial resources in support of NOLS’ aspirations, goals, and organizational priorities. We seek an experienced advancement professional to oversee our annual giving program. 

The Annual Giving Director is a full-time, salaried position responsible for  planning, executing, and managing a comprehensive annual giving program to maximize annual support for NOLS. Reporting to the Vice President of Advancement, this experienced advancement professional will serve as a member of the Advancement Leadership team. This role is crucial to building a culture of philanthropy at NOLS and to expanding the pipeline of major gift donors and prospects, building an annual giving program focused on acquisition and retention, leading to an annual fundraising goal of $3.5M+. This role will coordinate and help shape the strategies around annual giving solicitations, including the selection of appropriate channels, target populations, and messaging, with a goal of continued growth. The ideal candidate will possess knowledge of best practices in annual giving yet bring creativity to the work. 

At its core, this position is project management and data analysis, providing the Advancement team with continuous updates on appeal planning, status, and timelines; working with vendors, internal team members, and the Vice President of Advancement on implementing the annual appeal calendar across multiple channels; providing metrics and reporting for each complete appeal; analyzing data on year over year performance; tracking metrics to goals; and thinking creatively about new appeals, segments, and data points.

This position requires a high degree of judgment, responsibility, organization, collaboration, and management. Implementing effective written and oral communication skills is essential. The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, work across multiple departments, and meet continuous deadlines is a must. 

Key Logistical Points:

• Location: Remote or Lander, WY

• Start Date: ASAP, preferably two weeks from offer

• Benefits: This position is eligible for Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending account, Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, Paid Time off, 403(b), 403(b) contribution, and more.)

• Questions: Please contact peopleteam@nols.edu

What does an Annual Fund Director do?

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Conceptualize and drive an innovative, multi-year annual giving strategy and tactical plan with a foundation in broad based appeals that will increase overall giving (goal: $3.5 million+ in FY25) and alumni participation. 

• Design and implement the necessary tactics to improve donor retention and contribute to the building of a robust pipeline of annual giving prospects.

• Analyze metrics and key performance indicators for respective initiatives and programs.

• Contribute to the development of messaging and materials that articulate the importance of annual gifts to NOLS’ success.

• Manage Annual Giving Officer.

• Collaborate with the Major Gift Team to identify and develop annual giving prospects as well as identify opportunities for challenge donors as part of broad-based campaigns.

• Partner with frontline fundraisers to set individual annual giving asks for managed prospects.

• Ensure individual gift officers have a clear understanding of the annual giving strategy and tactical plans for the year; regularly check in with gift officers to monitor individual annual giving goals.

• Partner with Marketing and Communications and vendors to develop and implement targeted and broad based campaigns through direct mail, peer-to-peer, electronic, and staff-driven fundraising efforts; use innovative marketing techniques and strategies that recognize how different generations and affinity cohorts respond to outreach and engagement efforts; target audiences include current and prospective alumni and parent/family donors, students, and friends.

• Continually monitor progress against fundraising targets; partner with the Director of Advancement Operations to analyze robust data sets; and implement strategies to ensure success in meeting goals. 

• Collaborate with the Donor Relations Coordinator to ensure the accurate and meaningful stewardship of gifts to the NOLS Fund.

• Manage budgets for programming activities as assigned.

• Perform additional duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Please note this list is not inclusive of all duties and responsibilities, but rather covers the more frequent tasks of the role.

What makes a great Annual Giving Director at NOLS? 

We are looking for people who share our values and are keen to learn and develop their expertise. We are looking for candidates with the skills and qualifications listed below. We expect to provide training and development support in some of the areas.

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience.

• At least five years of relevant experience preferably in higher education annual giving programs recognized for their strength and effectiveness, or similar experience in a non-profit complex environment that emphasizes broad-based fundraising, donor acquisition, and stewardship. 

• Demonstrated experience using data to guide fundraising efforts. Conversant with robust data analytic skills to guide a comprehensive and intricate fundraising program. 

• Sophisticated understanding of digital communications strategies to include social media, fundraising software, and email-based solicitations and an understanding of how they may be used to increase alumni participation rates and revenue. 

• Prior experience working with staff and volunteers, the ability to manage complex relationships, and proven collaboration and teamwork skills to leverage activities, initiatives, and programs for multiple purposes.

• A keen understanding and appreciation for the role annual, unrestricted giving has on the overall fundraising success of an organization and the fiscal health of an institution. 

• Demonstrated ability to think and plan long-term while successfully attending to more immediate goals and tasks; strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills; demonstrated ability to meet multiple simultaneous deadlines and to work in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including superb relationship skills and ability to work with people across a wide range of levels of power and influence.

• Must be flexible, have great attention to detail, show initiative, and have a results-driven philosophy with the ability to problem-solve.

• Proficiency with fundraising databases (especially Mission CRM) and technology.

• Familiarity with IRS regulations—as they relate to philanthropic giving—and accounting and reporting standards. 

• Willingness to travel and to work hours outside the normal working day (i.e. nights and weekends).

• Valid driver’s license required.

• Appreciation of NOLS’s mission and the ability to effectively communicate it.

• Strong, self-motivated work ethic; flexibility; and proven capability to work both independently and collaboratively and constructively as a member of a diverse community; ability to navigate effectively in a complex environment.

• An entrepreneurial spirit and a positive attitude.

In your first 6 months, you will: 

• Meet the team and learn how your role fits into the overall advancement scope. 

• Review and revise annual giving calendar.

• Map out and implement annual giving strategies within the development plan. 

• Plan and execute Founder’s Day campaign. 

• Help leadership evaluate and expand existing annual giving personnel and practices. 

Who are we and what can we offer you?

NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that seeks to help people step forward boldly as a leader. We believe that anyone can be a leader; it is our role to provide the environment and training to help people discover their full potential. We do that in classrooms close to home and in remote wilderness areas around the world. We are an organization with heart, expertise, and wildness, and these qualities help us support powerful, authentic experiences.

NOLS really is a great place to work:

• We have locations in seven U.S. states, and six countries; and courses in all 50 U.S. states and over 10 countries.

• All employees can benefit of free outdoor equipment "Rental" at our various locations.

• We have fantastic employee discounts on top outdoor gear brands.

• We offer discounts on NOLS courses for you and your family.

• Insurance Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits are available at a special NOLS rate to seasonal employees. Full-time employees are eligible for a benefits package. 

• Wellness Time for all employees.

• Employee Assistance Program: Access to counselors that are available 24/7 to assist employees with work-life balance concerns.

Next steps

At NOLS, we use the Applied platform for our recruitment. Applied aims to overcome unconscious bias in recruiting. Instead of using your resume alone, we'll be asking you to answer questions to test skills needed for the role. The responses are then anonymized, and reviewed in a random order by members of our team. 

The Applied platform also asks some demographic questions before you start your application. We at NOLS never see the responses to these demographic questions with your application. We only see summary statistics to help us check if our candidate pool is balanced and if everyone has an equal chance to get hired irrespective of their background. If you prefer, you can easily opt out of answering these questions.

All you need to do is start the process by clicking on the button at the top right. 

Additional Information

NOLS currently can support remote employees with legal working rights in the following locations: Canada, provinces: British Columbia; Chile; India; Mexico; New Zealand; the US, states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

• A criminal background check is required from all NOLS employees.

• NOLS participates in E-verify for U.S. employees, Certificado de Antecedentes for Chilean or Mexican employees, and other relevant employment verification systems based on location.

• Current NOLS employees please note it is NOLS policy to conduct an internal reference check with human resources and/or your current supervisor as part of the reference check process. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact peopleteam@nols.edu.

NOLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetics information, disability unrelated to job or admission requirements, or status as a protected veteran. The school’s nondiscrimination policy applies to all phases of its employment process, its admission and financial aid programs, and to all other aspects of its educational programs and activities. Retaliation directed to any person who pursues a discrimination complaint or grievance, participates in a discrimination investigation, or otherwise opposes unlawful discrimination is prohibited.

NOLS values community and fosters a sense of belonging for our employees and applicants. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations in the workplace because they embody these values, as well as our operating principle of promoting a positive, safe, and learning environment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested for disability; limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; religion; and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested at any point of the employment process, including during recruitment. Please email peopleteam@nols.edu with your request.