Principal Gifts Coordinator

The Principal Gifts Coordinator will report to the Director of Major Gifts in either the San Francisco or New York office. The Coordinator will be responsible for supporting three major gifts officers’ efforts to cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of EDF’s leadership and principal donors. This position is a growth opportunity for someone interested in the Development profession.

Overall Function

The Principal Gifts Coordinator will be part of an aggressive and growing Development team. Reporting to the Director of Major Gifts based in the San Francisco office, the Coordinator will be responsible for supporting the three major gifts officers’ efforts to cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of EDF’s leadership and principal donors.  The Coordinator will be expected to employ the highest standards of a donor-centered approach to fundraising playing a key role in the solicitation and stewardship of EDF’s top donors.  This position is a growth opportunity for someone interested in the Development profession and offers the opportunity to work with EDF’s fundraisers.  EDF is committed to the success and growth of fundraising staff and provides a stellar opportunity to learn the trade from top fundraisers. 

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the major gifts officers to engage top donors; develop deep familiarity with the portfolio and work plan to assist and learn from the gift officers.

• Compose, edit, and proofread talking points for donor meetings, briefings, proposals, stewardship reports and other communications; coordinating with the Donor Communications team, ensuring that donor documents meet the highest standards of writing and that the content reflects EDF’s priorities.

• Assist in the timely and accurate preparation of donor and prospect visits.

• Produce individualized acknowledgements and other correspondence for donors, ensuring their accuracy and consistency with EDF’s style and messaging.

• Analyze and develop various fundraising reports to track goals, giving and fundraising activities.

• Conduct initial research on donors and prospects and create a portfolio of information for strategy and planning process.

• Participate in donor strategy sessions.

• Respond to donor and staff inquires and other special projects, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• A minimum of 3 years relevant experience preferably in a fundraising, nonprofit or academic setting.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to compose, edit, and expertly proofread correspondence and other documents.

• Strong strategic and analytical skills and the ability to convey complex ideas in writing, with a level of clarity and sophistication expected by our highly integral donors and prospects.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality while representing the organization and interfacing with all levels of staff at the national and affiliate offices, as well as with volunteers, donors, and outside vendors.

• High level of ability to actively listen to colleagues, gift officers and donors to deftly navigate and manage relationships.

• Demonstrated initiative and creativity; the ability to work independently as well as within a team.

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Internet research. Experience working with Salesforce, fundraising or relational databases strongly preferred.

• Desire to learn major gifts fundraising.

• Commitment to the mission of Environmental Defense Fund.

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.