National Audubon Society | Vice President, Institutional Giving

About Audubon
The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more about Audubon’s mission and impact at www.audubon.org. For insight into our strategic vision for the future, explore Flight Plan. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @audubonsociety.
Audubon 2024 Annual Report | Audubon

Position Summary
The Audubon Society seeks an accomplished and strategic fundraising leader to serve as its next Vice President of Institutional Giving. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and serving as a member of the Development Leadership Team, the Vice President will oversee a team of fundraisers responsible for securing and stewarding high-impact institutional support from institutions and foundations. This is a pivotal leadership role at a time of extraordinary momentum for Audubon, as the organization advances its ambitious Flight Plan 2023–2028 strategy to reverse the decline of bird populations across the Americas and expand its reach and impact.

The ideal candidate brings proven success in securing and stewarding seven- and eight-figure institutional and foundation gifts, with creativity identifying intersections between organizational and funder priorities and forging transformational strategic partnerships. They will have a demonstrated ability to build, manage, and grow a robust pipeline of institutional partners, including cultivating new relationships and re-engaging lapsed funders. A deep understanding of institutional giving is essential, with a strong preference for candidates who bring experience in conservation, biodiversity, or environmental philanthropy. The successful candidate must be ready to step in and lead, drawing from prior experience in large and complex nonprofit organizations. Candidates familiar with federated structures and shared donor relationships will be especially well-prepared.

Audubon’s scope, cross-disciplinary work, and strong science-driven mission make this a uniquely compelling opportunity. As the organization sharpens its focus through Flight Plan,
the Vice President will play a central role in translating that vision into fundable initiatives and forging transformational partnerships to support them. Success in this role will require strong emotional intelligence, fluency navigating matrixed organizations, and an ability to collaborate effectively with program leaders and peers across state, regional, and hemispheric teams. Experience managing distributed teams and driving results in a remote or hybrid work environment is essential. This is a rare chance to help shape the future of a storied organization at a time of growth, innovation, and renewed purpose.

Essential Functions
● Provide strategic leadership to a team of institutional fundraising professionals, including several who oversee additional staff. This team is currently responsible for raising over $25 million annually in support of hemispheric priorities (such as habitat protection and climate goals) and regional programs throughout the Americas. Fundraising goals are expected to grow with the advent of a new campaign.
● Develop, maintain, and grow a personal portfolio of high-capacity institutional funders capable of making investments of $1 million or more in Audubon’s work. The Vice President is expected to personally secure approximately $6–7 million annually through strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
● Lead strategic prospecting efforts to build and sustain a robust pipeline of institutional donors. This includes identifying and cultivating new funding sources, re-engaging lapsed supporters, leveraging data and sector insights to shape high-potential opportunities, and collaborating with others to identify synergies between institutional and individual opportunities.
● Serve as a thought partner in strategic planning processes by contributing expertise in institutional fundraising to support long-term financial sustainability and the development of fundable program expansions.
● Collaborative partnership with executive and program leadership is essential to success. Partner with conservation, science, and policy leaders to translate complex programmatic work into compelling proposals that align with funders’ interests.
● Operate effectively within a federated organizational structure by navigating shared donor ownership and coordinating across national and regional stakeholders.
● Provide expert-level coaching and advisory support to a broad range of leaders, including State and Regional Vice Presidents, Strategy Leads, the C-Suite, and other Executive roles, to strengthen their institutional fundraising capacity.
● Manage a geographically distributed team with a high degree of professionalism and empathy, providing mentorship and fostering a culture of sophistication in
institutional philanthropy, accountability, communication, and collaboration.
● Demonstrate knowledge of trends in environmental, conservation, climate and biodiversity philanthropy and the capacity to develop strategic intersections with Audubon’s programs and priorities.
Qualifications
● Substantial experience in nonprofit fundraising (minimum 15 years of experience and 5 years at a leadership level), including a track record of success in growing philanthropic revenue in a complex organization.
● Keen strategist who can effectively engage new and existing donors, as well as an ability to foster strong working relationships.
● Ability to manage projects, establish and monitor priorities, maintain flexibility, and meet deadlines with little direct supervision.
● Demonstrated ability to connect with people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives and build strong relationships and a commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
● Ability to work independently and function collaboratively as part of a distributed team.
● Comfortable working on a nimble team and is able to toggle between strategic thinking and detail-oriented implementation.
● Interest, understanding, and commitment to the conservation of birds, other wildlife, and their habitat is a plus, as is the ability to communicate Audubon’s mission, goals, and programs effectively and with the highest professional standards.
● Commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging and to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
National Audubon Society Competencies: This role will also be accountable for applying and developing the following competencies.
● Building Trust: Take actions that give others confidence in your intentions and see you as a truthful and reliable person who follows through on promises and commitments.
● Coaching: Guide and develop individuals within the organization, nurturing their professional growth and enhancing performance for the future.
● Decision Making: Make decisions based on comparative data and input from various sources, incorporating diverse viewpoints and insights for a holistic understanding.
● Leading and Facilitating Change: Be effective in guiding, managing, and supporting organizational or systemic transformations, including considering diverse needs and perspectives.
● Strategic Leadership: Demonstrate creative problem-solving skills and articulate strategic vision to help team members and the organization achieve long-term goals.
  
Compensation
Compensation for the Vice President of Institutional Giving is $174,000 to $244,000 annually based on experience and includes an excellent package of employee benefits.

To Apply
Interested applicants should send a resume and a statement of interest to:

Jonathan McIntosh, Partner ThinkingAhead Executive Search
615-391-2650
[email protected]

Rachael Holloway, Recruiter ThinkingAhead Executive Search
615-391-2614
[email protected]

At the National Audubon Society, we are better together. Protecting and conserving nature and the environment transcends political, cultural, and social boundaries. Respect, inclusion, and opportunity for people of all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives will attract the best ideas and harness the greatest passion to shape a healthier, more vibrant future for all of us who share our planet. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

ThinkingAhead Executive Search is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a work environment that supports, inspires and respects all individuals. Personnel processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic ancestry, military service status, citizenship, or other protected characteristic. This applies to every aspect of employment including hiring, training, advancement and termination. The firm is committed to creating a just culture of diversity, equity and inclusion by practicing, within the company and the marketplace we serve, intentional strategies that serve marginalized individuals and groups.