Development Officer, Individual Giving

Summary

Description

Location: Remote or Hybrid (Golden, CO)

Reports To: VP of Philanthropy

FLSA Code: Exempt

Organizational Size: 20–35 staff

The Development Officer, Individual Giving is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, management, and execution of AAC’s Individual Giving, including mid-level, major, and planned giving. This role ensures that individual giving programs are implemented effectively, donor relationships are managed with excellence, and revenue and engagement goals established by the VP of Philanthropy are achieved. The position maintains a donor portfolio while serving as the primary operational lead for Individual Giving, in close partnership with the VP of Development and Executive Director. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in fundraising, relationship-building, planned giving, and a passion for our mission.

As a Development Officer, your responsibilities include:

Individual Giving Management:

• Manage the execution and day-to-day operations of AAC’s individual giving program, including the stewardship of mid-level and major donors. Implement individual giving goals, priorities, and frameworks established by the VP of Development; translate development strategy into actionable work plans, timelines, and stewardship activities. As part of this, ensure a consistent, high-quality donor experience across all individual-giving touchpoints by developing, refining, and evaluating the stewardship process.

• Monitor individual giving organizational performance against established revenue, budget, retention, and engagement goals and adjust execution tactics as needed. 

• Support the Executive Director and VP of Philanthropy in managing and maintaining donor portfolios and interactions.

• Prepare proposals, gift agreements, and stewardship materials in coordination with internal partners.

Donor Portfolio Management:

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100-175 donors, including mid-level and major gift prospects. 

• Execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship as aligned with organizational priorities and donor interests.

• Maintain accountability for personal revenue targets as assigned by the VP of Philanthropy.

Planned Giving (Piolet Society)

• Manage the execution of the planned giving program (Piolet Society), including prospecting, donor outreach, stewardship, and documentation.

• Identify and steward planned giving prospects within the donor portfolio.

• Coordinate with the VP of Philanthropy and General Counsel on gift structures and compliance.

• Ensure accurate tracking and acknowledgment of planned giving commitments.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate across teams to support donor cultivation events.

• Contribute to a culture of philanthropy by sharing donor insights and executing on best practices with staff, leadership, and Board Members.

• Support the Executive Director, VP of Philanthropy, and Board members with donor briefing materials, cultivation planning, and follow-up.

• Support annual fundraising planning and execution as it relates to individual giving goals.

• Coordinate with Marketing, Finance, Programs and administration to ensure donor communications, recognition, and reporting are accurate and timely.

Data Management, Evaluation, Reporting, & Systems

• Own the operational management of individual giving data, including CRM accuracy, project management systems, stewardship activities, and reporting.

• Track donor activity, pipeline progress, and program performance and provide bi-monthly updates to the VP of Development.

• Ensure donor records, proposals, and agreements comply with AAC policies and reporting requirements.

• Support forecasting and planning by providing accurate program-level data and insights.

• Identify opportunities to improve execution efficiency, donor experience, and systems that support all Individual Giving.

• Implement approved process improvements and tools in coordination with the VP of Development.

• Stay current on best practices in individual giving execution, donor stewardship, and portfolio management.

Qualifications:

• Fundraising Expertise: 6+ years of fundraising experience, with a focus on individual giving. Proven success in securing five- and six-figure gifts, managing donor relationships, and demonstrated experience managing and executing fundraising initiatives, including portfolios and donor pipelines. Proven ability to meet revenue and engagement goals within established strategies. Bonus: CFRE or equivalent education/certification.

• Strong understanding of donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship strategies.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport and be responsive to a diverse group of stakeholders who have different lived experiences and identities. 

• Strong commitment to AAC’s values and purpose. Experience in outdoor, environmental, or recreation sectors is preferred but not required.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with superior attention to detail and strong storytelling skills.

• Are competent with Google Suites and a CRM, preferably Salesforce. Experience using project management software is preferred.

• Are experienced in working within and meeting deadlines, working independently, and working with a team.

Environment

• 85% Desk work – Typical office work on a computer utilizing GSuites, Slack, Zoom, Asana and other computer-based programs.

• 15% Physical work – This position could require some physical work, including assisting with receiving and distributing inventory, setting up and breaking down events, etc. 

• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time throughout the US to meet with donors.

Benefits

The AAC currently offers a comprehensive benefits package including employer-paid medical (with reproductive and gender-affirming care), HSA, dental, vision, life, AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, a wellness program, a matching 401 (k) retirement plan, flexible work scheduling, pro deals, generous paid time off, and bonding leave. Benefits are reviewed annually and change as needed. Team members are notified when any benefit changes occur.

How to Apply

All who love the AAC mission are encouraged to apply, including people of color, Black, Indigenous, transgender, and non-binary people. Apply online. No phone calls or emails, please. Cover letters are strongly encouraged. Priority will be given to applicants who apply by December 31, 2025. Candidates will not be contacted prior to the priority deadline.

 
The AAC is an equal-opportunity employer. Your gender, religion, sex life, skin color, first language, marital status, and size and ability of your body do not factor into employment decisions here. If you love our mission and are good at what you do, come as you are.

A note about applying: our position descriptions outline general needs for a role, but these are not set rules. If you meet more than two-thirds of the suggested skills, we encourage you to apply. Include any applicable experience, both paid and volunteered, that helped you build these competencies.

About the AAC
Founded in 1902, the American Alpine Club (AAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to providing climbers with resources that advance knowledge, inspiration, and advocacy. Through our rescue benefit and medical expense coverage, climbing and grief grants, campgrounds, and discounts, we are committed to empowering our members. We share knowledge and inspiration through the American Alpine Journal, Accidents in North American Climbing, and preserving climbing history in the AAC Library and Archives. Finally, we advocate for our members and the places we climb by breaking down barriers to climbing and seeking to preserve our climbing landscapes and public lands nationally and locally. At the AAC, we are connected through our passion for climbing. United We Climb.

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