Job Overview
Senior Principal Gifts Officer (Remote, United States)
Overall Function: A Senior Principal Gifts Officer Opportunity
Are you a successful development professional? Do you have a proven track record in individual major gifts fundraising? This is, indeed, a truly unique opportunity. You can join the dynamic development team at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) as a Senior Principal Gifts Officer. Significantly, EDF stands as one of the nation’s premier environmental organizations. As a Senior Principal Gifts Officer, you’ll help generate over $300 million in annual major gifts. Furthermore, we plan to drastically increase this amount in the coming years. You’ll manage a national portfolio of 20-30 high-value donors and prospects. In this pivotal role, you’ll work closely with senior development professionals. Also, you’ll collaborate extensively with research, events, communications, stewardship, and program staff. You must, therefore, diligently identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals who consistently support EDF’s national and international agenda. Ultimately, you will report directly to the Associate Vice President, Major & Principal Gifts.
Key Responsibilities of the Senior Principal Gifts Officer
As a Senior Principal Gifts Officer, you will:
- Manage Donor Portfolio: Oversee a portfolio of 20-30 principal gift donors and prospects. Specifically, focus on securing seven and eight-figure gifts.
- Drive Revenue Growth: Execute strategies to generate $10-15 million annually in sustainable revenue. Moreover, we expect this amount to increase each subsequent year.
- Cultivate and Solicit: Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-net-worth individuals. To that end, you’ll meet with donors and coordinate program staff for engagements.
- Craft Compelling Communications: Oversee the creation of compelling proposals and reports for potential donors. Ensure these clearly articulate EDF’s mission.
- Lead Fundraising Strategy: Help develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies with senior colleagues across the organization. This includes messaging and ongoing stewardship, for instance.
- Manage Team Members: Supervise a principal gifts coordinator. Additionally, you’ll manage other assigned colleagues.

Remote Senior Principal Gifts Officer
Qualifications and Ideal Candidate Profile: Becoming a Principal Gifts Fundraiser
The ideal Senior Principal Gifts Officer candidate will possess the following:
Education and Core Experience
- Education: A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field is required. Alternatively, a Master’s degree or equivalent may substitute for up to 2 years of relevant experience.
- Frontline Fundraising Experience: At least 12 years of frontline fundraising experience is essential. This includes increasing levels of responsibility. You must demonstrate proven success as a front-line principal gifts fundraiser. Furthermore, you must possess demonstrated skills and success in developing donor cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Key Skills for Success as a Development Officer
- Mission Commitment: Show a strong commitment to the Environmental Defense Fund’s mission and values. This is paramount for success, naturally.
- Interpersonal Skills: You’ll need outstanding interpersonal skills. Also, you must exhibit a high level of comfort with direct donor interaction. This includes, for example, discussions of personal and family finances.
- Communication Skills: Possess well-developed communication skills. This encompasses excellent writing ability and strong public speaking skills. Clearly, effective communication is vital in this role.
- Technical Proficiency: You must have knowledge of, and the ability to effectively use, fundraising databases. This ensures efficient donor management, consequently.
Essential Personal Attributes for a Senior Gifts Officer
- Core Qualities: Exhibit creativity, energy, confidence, and integrity. These attributes are foundational to this Senior Principal Gifts Officer position.
- Discretion and Independence: Maintain a high level of discretion and respect for donor privacy. Furthermore, show initiative and independence. This allows for effective portfolio management.
- Team Collaboration: Combine these qualities with the ability to work exceptionally well as part of a team. Collaboration is key to our success, therefore.
- Cultural Competency: Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency, and inclusivity. Work effectively with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds. This is increasingly important in our diverse world.
- Mobility: Hold a valid driver’s license. Be able to drive and travel out of state as needed. This flexibility is sometimes crucial for donor engagement.
Compensation & Benefits Overview
We offer a strong total rewards package. This encompasses a competitive salary, robust benefits, and significant professional development opportunities. These are fully consistent with a modern global organization. We determine compensation based on several factors. These include, for instance, candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity, and local norms. Please note that pay ranges are country-specific. Consequently, the stated currency is not meant to be converted into any other currency.
Apply now:https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1752099867205
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) for this Remote Fundraising Specialist Role
- Q1: Is this a remote position? A1: Yes, this role can be fully remote within the U.S. Alternatively, it can be hybrid from any EDF U.S. office.
- Q2: What level of experience does EDF expect? A2: We require at least 12 years of frontline fundraising experience. This includes demonstrated success in securing major gifts.
- Q3: What is the primary focus of this role? A3: You will focus on managing a portfolio of 20-30 high-value donors and prospects. A key concentration, therefore, is on securing seven and eight-figure gifts.
- Q4: Will I manage other staff in this role? A4: Yes, you will manage a principal gifts coordinator and other assigned colleagues.
- Q5: What is EDF’s mission? A5: Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is one of the nation’s premier environmental organizations. They commit to protecting the environment.
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