Mission:
Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis.
Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research and impact helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.
Summary:
Join Woodwell’s Philanthropy team as a Major Gifts Officer. The organization is in the quiet phase of a comprehensive campaign to scale climate solutions with major gifts integral to our business plan. The Major Gifts Officer will develop and implement strategies for increased donor giving, conduct initial exploratory meetings, identify and cultivate new and existing major gift prospects, build and cultivate relationships, and solicit and steward donors capable of making a major gift ($100K over four years). This role involves managing a portfolio, bringing a creative and entrepreneurial mindset to donor work, and collaborating with the Philanthropy team to achieve a fundraising goal of $1.5 million over three years.
Responsibilities include but not limited:
- Manage a dynamic portfolio of donors in the Boston/New England area that includes current donors and prospects familiar with Woodwell Climate
- Create and implement plans to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gifts, aligning with the organization's overall fundraising goals
- Collaborate closely with Annual Fund, Planned Giving, Special Events, and Development Operations on donor engagement strategies to strengthen donor alignment, as well as the Office of the President, scientists, and other members of the organization
- Leverage Woodwell Climate communications - monthly newsletter, social media, Climate Conversations, articles, and reports with current and prospective donors to foster a community of support
- Build and maintain a strong working knowledge of Woodwell Climate’s work in order to educate and inform existing and prospective donors about the work
- Use the donor database to keep donor records up to date, track moves management progress and plan
- Travel as required for donor visits, donor events, and meetings in the Boston/New England area
Must Have the Following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Understanding of donor cultivation cycles, moves management, and fundraising principles
- Experience building new relationships with donors capable of making a major gift; with specific experience qualifying major gift level donors
- Ability to manage a dynamic portfolio, develop written solicitation strategies, and implement plans to secure donations that support the organization's mission and goals
- Ability to track donor progress and meet deadlines
- Identify and leverage common ground with people on complex and fast-changing issues that impact science and climate change
- Strong communication skills (listening, written, verbal and interpersonal)
- Enthusiasm for Woodwell Climate’s mission, values, and purpose
- Ability to take initiative to move a project or strategy forward, can work independently and as a member of the team
- Excellent attention to detail, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple tasks
- Positive attitude, sense of humor, and flexible working style
- Is hopeful about the potential for climate solutions to help curb and cope with climate change to safeguard people and places from climate risks
- Experience with Raiser's Edge or similar fundraising CRM systems
- Environmental and climate change experience a plus
- Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
Qualifications:
- 7+ years of experience in related work experience in fundraising or equivalent.
- Bachelor’s Degree in a related field
Physical Requirements:
In the office:
- Ability to tolerate sustained periods of walking, standing, sitting
- Ability to lift 25 pounds
- Ability to communicate
- Ability to kneel, bend, and carry items
- Ability to use phone and computers
- Repetitive movements
- Air, train, vehicle travel to attend meetings/event
Work Environment:
The functions of this role are conducted indoor
Hours of Work:
- This role is paid on a salary basis.
- Typically, full-time employees work 40 hours during a Monday through Friday workweek. However, this is a salaried position. Therefore, the individual is expected to work as required to complete the duties of the position. This may mean weekend hours and/or hours beyond 40 per week.
Application review will begin ongoing
Desired Start Date: End of September/October 2025
Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position, the annual salary range starting at $120,000 plus dependent on qualifications/experience. Woodwell offers a generous benefits package and work life balance.
Location: Falmouth, Massachusetts, Hybrid
Application Instructions: To apply, please send your cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position and curriculum vitae as a single PDF to our career’s portal.
Please visit Woodwell's website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.
Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work.
Woodwell Climate is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Woodwell
WE NEED ALL VOICES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) understands that the climate crisis—from causes to consequences—is inextricably linked with persistent social injustice. Effectively addressing either requires addressing both. The climate crisis demands that we bring to bear all of the knowledge, expertise, innovation, and creativity that we can collectively muster, and those who have been marginalized and disproportionately impacted must be heard.
The work Woodwell Climate does—the questions we ask, the ways we seek answers, and the strategies we put forward—is stronger when shaped by a diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to welcome, respect, and amplify differing voices. We value individuals as they are, with all their differences in race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, and mental and physical abilities.
Woodwell Climate acknowledges that our organization, and the scientific community more broadly, have a long way to go in living up to these ideals. We approach the work of improving our organization with the same ambition and commitment to systemic change that we bring to addressing climate change.
We will inevitably make mistakes, but we will continue to listen, learn, and do this critical work. We understand that this work requires an ongoing commitment from each and every one of us. We are actively engaged in building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive culture within our organization, and in fostering greater diversity in climate science.
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