Description

Title: Major Gift Manager 

Supervisor: Development Director

Compensation: $61,625 to $72,500 (depending on experience); generous benefits include fully paid health & dental insurance,  a matching Simple IRA retirement plan, 20 days of personal leave per year, 12 days of sick leave per year, 15 paid holidays, and flexibility in work schedules, including a four-day work week.   

Classification: Full-time, Exempt position

Work Location: Statewide 

About Wild Montana and Wild Montana Action Fund:

Wild Montana unites and mobilizes communities to keep Montana wild. We work across the state and beyond to secure a future where people and wildlife flourish because public lands and waters are wild and connected, and all communities can enjoy the quality of life these lands and waters provide. Our work safeguards wildlands, secures wildlife habitat and migration corridors, and keeps headwaters and streams running cold, clear, and connected. 

Wild Montana Action Fund (WMAF) builds political power to protect public lands and wild places across the state by elevating the voices of Montanans who cherish our outdoor way of life.

Summary of Position:

The Major Gifts Manager works to grow philanthropic support for Wild Montana and Wild Montana Action Fund’s priorities.

This role manages a portfolio of current and prospective major donors and is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts that advance the organizations’ priorities for public lands protection, grassroots engagement, stewardship, outreach, and political advocacy.

The Major Gifts Manager leads efforts to build strong, lasting donor relationships, communicate the impact of their giving, and develop compelling funding opportunities across both organizations. They personally solicit gifts and support organizational leaders in cultivating relationships and securing philanthropic support.

Responsibilities include developing individualized donor strategies, conducting donor visits, preparing proposals and gift requests, providing meaningful and consistent stewardship, and maintaining accurate donor records and fundraising projections. This position reports to the Development Director and works closely with them to establish and meet annual fundraising goals for both organizations.

The ideal candidate brings proven fundraising experience and a track record of building trusted relationships and securing significant philanthropic support. They are skilled at translating complex conservation and advocacy work into clear, meaningful opportunities for donors to make a difference.

They are self-directed, highly organized, and persistent, with strong follow-through. They approach relationships with curiosity and respect, collaborate effectively across teams, and are skilled at aligning donor interests with the missions and strategic priorities of Wild Montana and Wild Montana Action Fund.

This position’s duties and responsibilities support both Wild Montana as a 501c3 nonprofit and the Wild Montana Action Fund as a 501c4 nonprofit.

Major Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects across Wild Montana and Wild Montana Action Fund, with responsibility for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop and execute individualized relationship and fundraising strategies for donors and prospects within the portfolio.
• Build meaningful relationships with donors through in-person meetings, phone calls, events, field experiences, political and program updates, and other engagement opportunities.
• Make direct asks and secure major gifts in support of Wild Montana and Wild Montana Action Fund priorities.
• Develop a strong working knowledge of Wild Montana’s and Wild Montana Action Fund’s programs in order to effectively communicate funding opportunities to donors.
• Help donors understand the distinct roles of the two organizations and identify giving opportunities that align with their interests.
• Identify and qualify prospective major donors and move qualified prospects into active cultivation.
• Work with the Development Director and Executive Director to develop strategies for Wild Montana’s highest-level donors and prospects.
• Identify opportunities for donor upgrades, renewals, multi-year commitments, and increased engagement across c3 and c4.
• Develop donor proposals, correspondence, briefings, and other materials needed to support major gift cultivation and solicitation.
• Partner with program, political, and communications staff to develop meaningful donor engagement and stewardship opportunities.
• Support the Development Director and Executive Director in preparing for donor meetings, solicitations, and follow-up.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor records in Salesforce, including contact reports, relationship information, c3 and c4 interests, next steps, gift strategies, and other relevant information.
• Use donor research, wealth screening, and other available tools to help prioritize and qualify major donor prospects.
• Regularly evaluate portfolio performance and pipeline activity and report on donor meetings, solicitations, gifts, next steps, and progress toward c3 and c4 fundraising goals.
• Represent Wild Montana and Wild Montana Action Fund at donor meetings, events, gatherings, and other engagement opportunities across Montana and when appropriate outside the state.
• Collaborate with the development team to support annual fundraising goals, campaigns, events, and other organizational fundraising priorities.
• Perform other related duties as requested.
• 
  Qualifications/Abilities:
• Demonstrated experience in major gifts fundraising, development, relationship management, sales, or a related field.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with donors, clients, partners, or other stakeholders.
• Comfort and confidence making direct fundraising asks and discussing significant philanthropic investments.
• Ability to understand and effectively communicate the differences between c3, c4, and political fundraising.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to connect authentically with a wide range of people.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate Wild Montana and Wild Montana Action Fund’s missions, programs, impact, and funding priorities.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage a portfolio of relationships and consistently follow through on next steps.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with staff, organizational leadership, and board members.
• Ability to think strategically and positively contribute to a motivated and committed fundraising team.
• Familiarity with donor management software; Salesforce experience preferred.
• Familiarity with and commitment to public land protection in Montana.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

Requirements

Requirements:

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 40% of work time throughout Montana and occasionally outside the state.
• Willingness to work nights and weekends when needed.
• This position can be based anywhere within the state of Montana.
• Valid United States issued driver's license and be insurable.

Hiring Timeline:

Applications will be accepted through November 30th, 2026, or until the position is filled. Interviews will be held in December with the goal of job placement in January 2027. 

How to apply:

Visit https://wildmontana.org/job-openings/ and click “Apply Here”. You will be asked to enter your contact information and upload your resume and cover letter. Cover letters should describe pertinent professional and personal experiences, including volunteer experience that is relevant to the duties of this position.

Wild Montana is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. We work to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, compensation, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant based on identity, including but not limited to: race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, genetic information, parental status, marital status, national origin, age, pregnancy, religion, disability and/or veteran's status. Applicants of all identities are encouraged to apply.