NonprofitRemote
BirdLife International | Director of Private Fundraising
About BirdLife International
BirdLife International is the world’s only global partnership conserving birds and all life on our planet.
Using birds as our compass, we tackle some of the natural world’s most pressing issues. We prevent extinctions. We look after the most vital habitats. We make human activities kinder to nature. And we rally society to take positive action.
As a Global Team working side by side with national conservation Partners in over 100 countries, we unite action across borders and carry out conservation rooted in regional knowledge, working alongside Indigenous Peoples and local communities to create sustainable change. As the world authority on bird conservation, we lead research and use it to guide priorities and build solutions, and we influence decision makers to conserve nature regionally, nationally and internationally.
Position Summary
BirdLife International is seeking a strategic, creative, and results-driven Director of Private Fundraising to lead and expand its major gifts and philanthropic fundraising efforts across the globe with a specific focus on the U.S., U.K., and Europe. Reporting to Chief Development Officer E.J. McAdams, this senior leadership position will serve on the Development Leadership Team, oversee a team of six fundraising professionals and play a crucial role in developing and implementing strategies to secure high-level support from individuals, foundations, and trusts.
The Director will be both player and coach, managing a portfolio of principal gift donors and prospects while leading the Private Fundraising Team. The Director will be instrumental in strengthening BirdLife’s financial sustainability and impact and increasing BirdLife’s brand visibility in competitive donor markets, including securing more flexible philanthropic support.
Key Responsibilities
Compensation
Compensation for the Director of Private Fundraising is $180,000 to $200,000 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 and Rachael Holloway, Recruiter with ThinkingAhead Executive Search.
Jonathan McIntosh, Partner ThinkingAhead Executive Search
615-391-2650
[email protected]
Rachael Holloway, Recruiter ThinkingAhead Executive Search
615-391-2614
[email protected]
At BirdLife International, we harness collective power to ignite connections and create long-term change. One of our core values is ‘Diverse by Nature’. As the only global Partnership conserving birds and all life on our planet, our interconnected approach values every voice and the differences between individuals, cultures and communities.
We are committed to everyone being able to bring their full self to the workplace, no matter their sex, gender, age, race, religion or belief, nationality, citizenship, ethnic origin, sexuality, physical or mental ability, or any other difference. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind nor allow stereotypical thinking to influence our decisions.
We are stronger together. That’s why we harness the ‘Power of Many’ – the rich variety of perspectives and experiences across our partnership give us shared evidence to influence how society views and values nature. We unite as a chorus to give one voice to nature, giving a platform to those who would otherwise not be heard to ‘Champion Change‘ and ‘Act for Nature‘.
Together, we will conserve birds and all life everywhere.
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.
BirdLife International is the world’s only global partnership conserving birds and all life on our planet.
Using birds as our compass, we tackle some of the natural world’s most pressing issues. We prevent extinctions. We look after the most vital habitats. We make human activities kinder to nature. And we rally society to take positive action.
As a Global Team working side by side with national conservation Partners in over 100 countries, we unite action across borders and carry out conservation rooted in regional knowledge, working alongside Indigenous Peoples and local communities to create sustainable change. As the world authority on bird conservation, we lead research and use it to guide priorities and build solutions, and we influence decision makers to conserve nature regionally, nationally and internationally.
Position Summary
BirdLife International is seeking a strategic, creative, and results-driven Director of Private Fundraising to lead and expand its major gifts and philanthropic fundraising efforts across the globe with a specific focus on the U.S., U.K., and Europe. Reporting to Chief Development Officer E.J. McAdams, this senior leadership position will serve on the Development Leadership Team, oversee a team of six fundraising professionals and play a crucial role in developing and implementing strategies to secure high-level support from individuals, foundations, and trusts.
The Director will be both player and coach, managing a portfolio of principal gift donors and prospects while leading the Private Fundraising Team. The Director will be instrumental in strengthening BirdLife’s financial sustainability and impact and increasing BirdLife’s brand visibility in competitive donor markets, including securing more flexible philanthropic support.
Key Responsibilities
- Fundraising Strategy & Leadership: Develop and execute a comprehensive private fundraising strategy to grow principal & major gifts and philanthropic revenue streams across multiple regions.
- Team Management: Lead and mentor a team of six, including Associate Director of Development, Individuals (US), Associate Director of Development, Foundations and Corporate (US), Senior Philanthropy Manager (UK), Senior Trusts and Foundations Manager (UK), Trusts and Foundations Manager (UK), and Part-time Consultant, Individuals, (US)
- Donor Engagement: Cultivate, solicit and steward relationships with high-net-worth individuals, major donors, foundations, and trusts to secure six- and seven-figure philanthropic investments.
- Collaboration & Coordination: Work closely with the Chief Development Officer, senior leadership, and program teams to align fundraising efforts with BirdLife’s global conservation priorities.
- Proposal Development: Oversee the creation of compelling funding proposals and donor materials, ensuring alignment with BirdLife’s mission and impact goals.
- Performance Metrics & Reporting: Establish and monitor fundraising performance goals, track progress, and provide regular reports to leadership on revenue generation and donor engagement.
- Market Expansion: Identify opportunities to grow BirdLife’s donor base in key regions, particularly in the U.S. and Europe
- Financial Management: Set budget and fundraising objectives for team, closely analyzing results, and taking corrective actions
- Values Demonstration: Committed to BirdLife’s values. Meets commitments and ensures ethical compliance with BirdLife policies and procedures, financial standards, and legal requirements
- Experience: Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive leadership in major gifts fundraising, preferably in an international nonprofit or conservation organization. Bachelor’s degree required (or equivalent combination of education and professional experience). Proven success managing change and building systems in a professionalizing development team.
- Fundraising Success: Demonstrated track record of soliciting and closing six- and seven-figure gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Skilled at cultivating and sustaining long-term donor relationships.
- Leadership & Management: Experience leading and inspiring a geographically dispersed, multidisciplinary fundraising team. Strong organizational, project management, and budget management skills.
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to conceive, implement, and evaluate fundraising strategies aligned with organizational goals. Evidence-based decision making, solutions-focused approach, and comfort navigating complex, matrixed organizations.
- Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication; ability to explain complex, scientific issues clearly to different audiences. Strong cross-cultural communication skills, with sensitivity to diverse approaches across regions.
- Collaboration: Demonstrated success working across functions (programs, science, communications, finance) in a global organization.
- Flexibility: Willingness to work long hours and travel as needed for donor meetings and organizational events.
- Knowledge: Familiarity with trends in philanthropy, climate change, biodiversity, civil society, and nonprofit management. Willingness to deepen expertise in conservation issues.
- Technology & Data: Experience with Raiser’s Edge (NXT preferred) and other fundraising databases. Strong financial literacy, IT competence, and advanced MS Excel skills.
- Understanding of tax rules related to charitable donations in UK, USA and other countries.
- Fluency in English required; additional languages desirable.
- Prospect Research and Insights Manager – Development reporting and insights
- Development Leadership Team (DLT) – Partner with fellow members to steward the Development program at BirdLife and collectively lead transformational change, especially the shared delivery of the Fundraising Approach
- Head of Institutional Funding Development – Partner on “smart” restricted fundraising and build an ecosystem of lightly restricted donors to compliment more restricted funding
- Head of Stewardship and Development Comms – Partner on building trust between donors and out the door fundraisers through strong stewardship and donor product development
- Deputy Chief Development Officer – Partner on reporting and impact and driving change
- Conservation, Regions, Science, and Policy – Partner on fundraising proposals and aligning needs to donors
Compensation
Compensation for the Director of Private Fundraising is $180,000 to $200,000 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 and Rachael Holloway, Recruiter with ThinkingAhead Executive Search.
Jonathan McIntosh, Partner ThinkingAhead Executive Search
615-391-2650
[email protected]
Rachael Holloway, Recruiter ThinkingAhead Executive Search
615-391-2614
[email protected]
At BirdLife International, we harness collective power to ignite connections and create long-term change. One of our core values is ‘Diverse by Nature’. As the only global Partnership conserving birds and all life on our planet, our interconnected approach values every voice and the differences between individuals, cultures and communities.
We are committed to everyone being able to bring their full self to the workplace, no matter their sex, gender, age, race, religion or belief, nationality, citizenship, ethnic origin, sexuality, physical or mental ability, or any other difference. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind nor allow stereotypical thinking to influence our decisions.
We are stronger together. That’s why we harness the ‘Power of Many’ – the rich variety of perspectives and experiences across our partnership give us shared evidence to influence how society views and values nature. We unite as a chorus to give one voice to nature, giving a platform to those who would otherwise not be heard to ‘Champion Change‘ and ‘Act for Nature‘.
Together, we will conserve birds and all life everywhere.
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.
Recruiting Team
Reach out to learn more or nominate a qualified candidate.
