Major Gift Officer

Description

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the United States. AMC’s mission is simple yet powerful: foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors. 

Supported by 90,000 members and with 11 chapters from Virginia to Maine, AMC works to conserve the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of America’s Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. AMC oversees and stewards well over 100,000 acres of land and 1,800 miles of trails and offers over 5,000 outdoor activities each year to help participants experience, appreciate, and learn more about the outdoors. Additionally, AMC is engaged in scientific research investigating the impacts of climate change and is committed to reducing its burden by protecting and managing land that sequesters carbon, protects biodiversity, and increases the resilience of landscapes and communities. In addition to supporting public policy to address climate change, AMC is committed to reaching “net zero” emissions as an organization by 2050. 

AMC is inspired by the rich experience and backgrounds of its members and friends, and aims to be a welcoming and kind community. AMC is united in its adventures by mutual trust, collective safety, respect for the natural world, and appreciation for our time together outdoors. With a focus on protecting mountains, forests, waters, and trails throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, AMC envisions a world where natural resources are healthy, loved, and always protected, and where the outdoors occupies a place of central importance in every person’s life. 

In early 2025, AMC released its 2025 to 2030 ALL OUT: Action Plan to connect people the outdoors. This plan focuses on the following four strategic priorities: 

• Inspire joyous, meaningful outdoor experiences.  

• Protect critical landscapes for the well-being of people and the outdoors.  

• Cultivate and sustain a robust, welcoming community.  

• Foster access to the outdoors.  

For more information about the 2025 – 2030 ALL OUT: AMC Action Plan, please click here. 

Position Overview: 

The Major Gift Officer (MGO) will join AMC’s 16-person Development Team at an exciting time in the organization’s history, as it embarks on AMC’s first-ever comprehensive campaign to drive the work of our All Out Action Plan. Currently, the team raises over $14 million annually to drive AMC’s mission with ambitious plans for growth over the next five years. An enthusiastic, eager candidate with fundraising experience and comfort in qualifying new major gift prospects will thrive in this opportunity-rich environment. Reporting to the Senior Director, Principal Gifts, the MGO will work with AMC leadership, development staff, key volunteers, and the Board of Directors to increase philanthropic support. This person will be responsible for developing and engaging a portfolio of major and planned gift prospects at the $25K level to support AMC’s work, as well as securing Annual Fund contributions at the $10K+ level. This will be accomplished by building philanthropic partnerships, primarily with individuals across AMC’s region.  

As a complex organization, becoming conversant on AMC programs and funding opportunities are critical to success in conversations with donors. Developing productive relationships with AMC’s programmatic experts and volunteers is a foundational part of this exciting and dynamic work. 

The MGO will identify new major donors, including from within the ranks of AMC’s Annual Fund leadership giving program; renew and upgrade donors’ annual and campaign gifts; and steward donors and cultivate their deeper involvement in AMC via the donor engagement process. 

This full-time, year-round, salaried position is based in AMC’s region with a preference for candidates based in Massachusetts, facilitating frequent travel to metro areas from Washington, DC to Boston. 

What You’ll Be Doing At AMC 

• Actively identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors at the 5, 6 and 7-figure level.  

• Conduct a high volume of identification and qualification work from a large pool of active donors. 

• Meet or exceed annual dollar and activity goals and meaningfully contribute to team annual fundraising and qualitative and quantitative activity goals. 

• Help identify, recruit, and involve volunteer leaders who can extend the reach of staff through involvement in the cultivation and solicitation of prospective donors. 

• Prepare written briefings for senior AMC leadership and key volunteers as needed.  

• Write gift proposals and stewardship reports as needed.  

• Secure planned gifts from prospects within their portfolio.  

• Showcasing the AMC mission through meaningful outdoor experiences 

• Serve as an integral member of AMC’s development team. 

• Other duties as assigned.   

Qualifications

What AMC Is Looking For 

• At least three years’ relevant professional experience in fundraising, development, stewardship, donor relations or sales. 

• Demonstrated success in developing positive, constructive relationships with a variety of people. Facility in working with donors in person, over the phone, and via email and mail. 

• Superior relationship-management skills and customer-service orientation, including a friendly manner and the ability to work with a variety of people. 

• Strong writing and communication skills, including comfort with proactively contacting donors and prospects. 

• Ability to deeply know and persuasively communicate AMC’s mission and programs with sincerity, persuasion and passion. 

• Willingness and ability to adhere to the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Standards.  

• Experience managing and growing the number of donors and revenue from a specific donor group or portfolio preferred. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software. 

• Database-proficient, with the ability to learn and retain complex data entry and other systems. Knowledge of Salesforce a plus. 

• A passion for AMC’s mission, a personal or professional commitment to the protection, conservation, and enjoyment of outdoor spaces and experiences, and/or an understanding of the importance of environmental sustainability, outdoor education, and access to nature. Knowledge and experience working on climate and conservation policy and/or environmental issues is a plus. 

• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience.  

• Discretion and ability to work with confidential donor information. 

• Ability and desire to travel as needed to meet with donors, approximately 30% of the time. 

• Ability to travel frequently in support of AMC’s philanthropic priorities (including weeknights and weekends), staffing multiday events as well as cultivation and solicitation visits with the President & CEO and CDO, Board members, and other volunteers. 

• Ability to ski, snowshoe, or hike comfortably up to 7 miles in difficult terrain in all weather conditions, carrying loads of up to 20 pounds. 

• Ability to obtain and maintain Wilderness First Aid certification.  

• Valid driver’s license. 

What AMC Can Offer You  

Salary  

Remote or other USA based locations: $78,728 - $106,288  

Boston/NYC based: $ 90,537-$122,231 

We are committed to fair compensation practices, and we encourage qualified candidates to apply. The initial salary represents our starting point, and our compensation philosophy is designed to reward and recognize the contributions of our employees as they grow within the organization. External candidates typically begin their journey with us at the starting point of the salary range. The final compensation offer will be based on factors such as experience, education, skills and geographic differential relevant to the position, and will be discussed during the interview process.  

Benefits  

• Health Plan: Generous employer contributions through Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts with optional vision and dental.  

• Other Insurance: 100% employer paid life insurance, AD&D insurance, long-term disability.  

• Career Progression: The potential to have annual compensation reviews commensurate with performance and effort.  

• Retirement: Mandatory 403(b) with 4% matching employer contributions and a vesting schedule.  

• Paid Time Off: up to 4 weeks of paid earned time and up to 11 paid company holidays.  

• Other Team Member Perks:  

• 30% discount on AMC Merchandise  

• Free Annual AMC Membership  

• 10 Free nights at AMC locations  

• Educational Assistance  

• Prodeals discounts on equipment & gear and more!  

To Apply:  

Please include a resume and cover letter. No phone calls or agencies please.  

AMC encourages all interested candidates to apply, even if they do not meet every listed qualification. If you have a passion for the outdoors and believe your skills and experiences align with this role, we welcome your application.  

The Appalachian Mountain Club has zero tolerance for child abuse or placing children in danger. The AMC requires all employees who work in a program or facility which serves children, disabled persons, or the elderly to have a criminal background record check performed on their name annually with employment contingent upon satisfactory results.