ABOUT U.S. ENERGY FOUNDATION 

U.S. Energy Foundation’s (EF) mission is to secure a clean and equitable energy future to tackle the climate crisis. We envision a healthy, safe, equitable economy powered by clean energy. We believe a thriving clean energy economy can create sustainable opportunities, spur innovation, and protect our climate—for today and future generations. 

EF supports education and analysis to promote non-partisan policy solutions that advance renewable energy and energy efficiency while opening doors to greater innovation and productivity—growing the economy with dramatically less pollution. For more than 30 years, EF has supported grantees to help educate policymakers and the general public about the benefits of a clean energy economy. Our grantees include business, health, environmental, labor, equity, community, faith, and consumer groups, as well as policy experts, think tanks, universities, and more. 

At EF, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are top organizational commitments. We are working daily to uproot racism and other forms of oppression and create equitable systems that support people to flourish. We aim to bring humility, transparency, respect, and an appreciation for others’ lived experiences to our interactions with colleagues, grantees, and partners. 

EF’s Fundraising Philosophy

As EF’s primary clients/partners are our funders and grantees, EF commits to acting as a strategic and thought leader for our current and prospective funding partners and the field by:  

  1. Collaborating—and co-creating, where feasible and desired—on strategy development including the hosting and/or managing of funder collaboratives 
  2. Highlighting the opportunity for climate philanthropy to maximize benefits to disadvantaged communities and those most impacted by climate change 
  3. Offering excellent, responsive service by providing proactive, compelling and timely updates and information  

EF is headquartered in San Francisco, CA and our more than 100 staff members are based in locations throughout the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Western regions where they can best serve our programs, partners, operations, and other functions. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Director, Principal Gifts, Strategic Partnerships oversees the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of EF and EAF’s High Net Worth Individual (HNWI) funding partners and prospects by designing and implementing plans for bespoke and long-term funder engagement. The Director serves as part of the Strategic Partnerships (SP) external fundraising team and, in that role, contributes to efforts to broaden EF’s reach and visibility within the philanthropic community while collaborating with/across SP and Programs for cultivating funder support. This is a new position joining an already sophisticated fundraising and funder collaborative system that is designed to chart and scale new avenues for engagement and resources.    

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Prospecting, Cultivation and Stewardship 

  • Lead the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship process for a portfolio of HNWI funders across EF’s program areas, including identifying new donor prospects, evaluating and accessing key networks and other avenues to help individual donors and their families see EF and EAF as priorities for their philanthropic giving, and designing long-term sophisticated plans for engagement and expanded funding.  
  • Create and maintain comprehensive Funder Engagement Plans for renewed philanthropic support from EF’s current portfolio of HNWI funders across program areas, in collaboration with SP’s external fundraising team. 
  • Maintain highly sophisticated relationships with EF’s current HNWI funding partners and prospects by engaging in regular contact with them through meetings, convenings, and other activities, thereby ensuring existing donors’ long-term commitment to EF and the field as a whole. 
  • Collaborate closely with the Senior Vice President, SP (SVP), and CEO to develop long-term funding plans and opportunities with HNWIs.  
  • Coordinate with the SVP to support the EF Board of Directors in their efforts to cultivate HNWIs for membership and funder engagement generally.   
  • Advise and prepare EF’s Senior Leadership and Program Teams for key funder meetings and events within their portfolio by providing expert guidance on relationship management, approach, and strategies for engagement.
  • Collaborate with the SP Funder Operations Team in the oversight of the grant proposal processes within their portfolio, including donor reporting, and sharing relevant, timely communications about updated grant revenue projections to EF’s Leadership. 
  • Ensure follow-up issues and action items that emerge from external donor and stakeholder convenings, as well as internal EF meetings, are proactively captured and tracked for implementation and progress monitoring purposes. 

Other Duties 

  • In collaboration with SP Communications and other team members, support the development and management of materials to support funder engagement, including tailored fundraising packets, presentations, proposals, and letters of inquiry. 
  • Support the building of systems and infrastructure to ensure effective operations and collaboration in a cross-functional manner. This includes aiding in the design of new systems to manage relationships with partners, consultants, and other stakeholders who are supporting the work of the SP team.  
  • Serve or participate in cross-functional teams – including those focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – to improve and integrate SP into foundation processes as well as implement new systems. 
  • Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.  

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Fundraising. Minimum of 10 years of experience fundraising, advising and collaborating with and from HNWIs and their organizations at the seven-figure level.  
  • Relationship Building. Experience communicating and collaborating with people from a wide diversity of backgrounds and cultures with a focus on High Net Worth Individuals. 
  • Project Management. Experience advancing multiple projects that involve complex issues, various stakeholders, and deadlines to successful completion. Demonstrated background in tracking action items and ensuring detailed follow-through on existing and new initiatives. The ability to anticipate the needs of team members and colleagues, donors, external stakeholders, etc., is essential. Attention to detail is a must.  
  • Multitasking. Experience supporting multiple priorities and juggling a variety of tasks for one or more individuals in a team environment. Exhibiting flexibility and adaptability to a variety of systems and approaches that align with EF and external stakeholder needs. 
  • Technical Skills. A minimum of intermediate skill level using PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook, preferably in a Mac environment; familiarity with Google Drive/Docs. Experience using a relational database, preferably Salesforce.  

SUPERVISION 

Reports to Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships. 

COMPENSATION 

This is a full-time position. The target salary for this position is $275,000 for a candidate based in the U.S. EF provides a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive salary, medical, dental, vision, disability, and retirement benefits and paid time off. 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

Ability to travel four to six times a year for three to four business days at a time. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to spend extended hours at the computer. This position requires moderate levels of domestic travel. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT  

EF is a remote-first work environment. This position may be based in any of EF’s offices or may work remotely from anywhere in the U.S. 

The office environments include some shared workspace, some individual offices, and shared kitchen facilities, with moderate noise levels and a collegial atmosphere. On occasion, there are activities or events after work hours. 

 

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