Associate Director of Philanthropy

The Nature Conservancy’s Northern Andes and Southern Central America (NASCA) conservation program seeks a dynamic self-starter with proven major-gift fund-raising experience to become our lead person for identifying, cultivating and soliciting funds from a select group of individuals.  The person in addition to being able to work well independently, must have a real talent for integrating and coordinating with many other people across the organization, including philanthropy staff and volunteers in the United States, Colombia, and other major programs in Latin America.  Although the focus of the work will be related to Colombia fundraising, he or she should be knowledgeable about and comfortable in both US and Latin American cultures. We believe our target audience to be both Colombian who reside in Colombia as well as those who reside or have second homes and businesses in the US. As such, the position will be based in Bogotá, Colombia and will report to the NASCA Director. Ideal candidate must reside in Colombia or have Colombian Work permit.

We envision our new Associate Director of Philanthropy leading an effort to develop and implement engagement, cultivation and solicitation strategies for some of the most influential private Colombian citizens in Colombia and the United States. Working with our local project staff, he or she will determine how best to identify and approach those leaders, and gauge their interest in associating with one of the world’s “blue-chip” non-profit institutions. Working with TNC philanthropy teams across the United States, he or she will seek connections to these people and their philanthropic interests. Wherever possible, he or she will make strategic use of our more than 1,500 volunteer leaders across the United States and Latin America to open doors, get audiences and communicate the message of TNC’s brand of professional, science-based, non-confrontational and results-oriented biodiversity conservation.

In the short term, the success of the program will be measured by the caliber of donors with whom we are building relationships.  Our goal is to focus on a select group of 20-30 principal gift-level individual donors whose gifts will not only provide the needed financial support but will attract giving from others. Ultimately, the success of the program will be measured by the amount of philanthropic money raised to support the Nature Conservancy’s conservation projects in Colombia.

In order to expose potential donors to the Conservancy’s program and leaders, we are planning on organizing a series of intimate, high-caliber events (small dinners, presentations, seminars). The Associate Director of Philanthropy will play an important role in organizing these cultivation opportunities, with support from local, in-country staff.  Interaction and development work with an advisory board is expected to engage, cultivate, solicit and steward key leaders in Colombia for funding to the Nature Conservancy.