Specialist, Annual Giving

The Advancement team identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals, as well as foundation, government, and corporate partners who invest in the Society to drive impact through science, technology, education, exploration, and storytelling. The team collaborates across the Society – and often works closely with NGP/Disney – to build transformative and impact-driven strategic partnerships. The team also produces global events that deepen connections and leverage the Society’s power to convene, and directs robust annual, major, and planned giving programs empowering the Society with a broad base of public support.

The Annual Giving and Membership (AGM) team manages a high impact annual giving and membership program through integrated and data-driven marketing and communications campaigns across all channels, a high-touch mid-level program, and a best-in-class donor relations and stewardship program to directly support the work of the Society.

The Specialist, Annual Giving is responsible for assisting with direct response fundraising and stewardship activities for the “Grosvenor Council” mid-level donor program. The Specialist will help meet revenue goals for the National Geographic Society across direct mail, email, telemarketing, and other fundraising and communication channels to assist in acquiring, retaining, and reactivating donors to drive success and meet Society-wide objectives.

• In collaboration with the Senior Manager, Annual Giving and internal and external partners, maintain direct marketing calendar and campaign schedules across direct mail, email, telemarketing, and other channels.
• Request data sets for tactics including renewals and appeals in collaboration with Advancement Operations. Review files to ensure accuracy and in sync with the data counts.
• Coordinate aspects of the copy/creative review process including proofreading and ensuring all edits are documented and addressed.
• Coordinate production including working directly with vendors and internal colleagues as needed to submit packages for printing and approve final proofs to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Coordinate email and digital production including working directly with internal colleagues and/or vendors to submit content for distribution, checking links and sourcecode accuracy, and ensuring overall quality.
• Create and update documentation of workflows, policies, and procedures for the fundraising and stewardship programs.
• Assist Senior Manager with reviewing revenue, results, and appeal responses, including identifying any data trends or variations.
• Coordinate within AGM to ensure there is no overlap with donor engagements and solicitations across the team.
• Assist with planning and executing special donor events, including on-site activities, webinars, and events. Includes helping with invites, mailings, fulfillment, RSVP management, as well as day-of production and execution.

• Responsible for fulfillment of in-house/smaller-scale communications such as sustainer and mid-level mailings, stewardship mailings, and other bulk correspondence.
• Work within AGM and with Advancement Operations teams as well as external vendors to manage and coordinate updates to the acknowledgement program, welcome kits, and other mail packages.
• Assist individual donors with inbound inquiries and conduct some outbound contact as needed to follow up on requests, ensure key lifecycle touchpoints occur, and maintain a high-level of donor-centric focus.

• Document and maintain source coding logic and process for creating and applying source codes across all activities.
• Ensure accurate data entry in Raiser's Edge for all aspects of the direct marketing program.
• Run regularly scheduled and ad-hoc reports and distribute to key colleagues.
• Monitor midlevel donor and gift records for coding accuracy.

• Regularly research and pursue job-related educational opportunities to more effectively support the AGM team’s goals and objectives and guide career growth and learnings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• 3+ years of professional work experience; past fundraising experience preferred. Direct marketing, production, and project management experience preferred.
• Proven donor/member strategy skills including experience in creating and producing effective direct mail campaigns.

• Must be detail-oriented, highly organized, and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong project management and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a goal- and deadline-oriented team environment. Must be self-directed and able to work confidently and successfully in a fast-paced, rapidly expanding operation within a dynamic, multi-faceted organization.
• Possess a growth mindset, embrace curiosity, and have high emotional intelligence.
• Must be service- and solutions-oriented.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate professionally in a fast-paced, dynamic team environment.
• Competency in word processing and spreadsheet capabilities required (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; Google Workspace)
• Ability to exercise good judgment and work with minimum of instruction and supervision when necessary.
• Ability to maintain high standards of confidentiality.
• Ability to relate to people of diverse backgrounds, training, and experience.
• Strong personal and professional integrity.
• Flexible thinker who can shift as needed to address new priorities within a growing division and organization, understanding that other duties will be required to ensure the fundraising program continues to grow.

• Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge or other fundraising database preferred.

Hybrid - At the Society, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are Hybrid. Our Hybrid category requires that staff work at Base Camp two days each week: every Tuesday and Wednesday. Hybrid staff are also always welcome to come in additional days each week if preferred.