Digital Fundraising Manager

TITLE: Digital Fundraising Manager

LOCATION: Brooklyn office/ Hybrid / US-based Remote

WORK SCHEDULE: Full time

EMPLOYMENT/JOB TYPE: Regular, Exempt employee

START DATE: May 15, 2024

DEPARTMENT: Fundraising

SUPERVISOR: Julie Hudson

DIRECT REPORTS:  N/A

About Rainforest Foundation US

For over 30 years, Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) has worked to address climate change and safeguard biodiversity by promoting the rights of indigenous peoples and supporting their efforts to protect and defend their rainforests. Science shows that forests managed by indigenous peoples are healthier, suffer less deforestation, capture more carbon, and contain more biodiversity than forests managed by private or public entities--including nationally protected areas. What’s more, scientists tell us that protecting forests is as important as reducing greenhouse emissions if we hope to stem the tide of ecological collapse.

RFUS works in partnership with indigenous communities and their representative organizations to protect tropical rainforests by supporting their efforts to secure rights to their lands, strengthen monitoring and land security, influence laws and policies that protect their resources, and build strong and sustainable community leadership. By investing directly in indigenous communities, RFUS connects the people rooted in the land with the tools, training, and resources to be effective advocates and protectors of the forests they call home. RFUS currently operates four country programs in Brazil, Guyana, Panama, and Peru, and hosts a number of regional partnerships in Central America, the Amazon Basin, and across the tropical belt.

About this position

We are seeking a strategic and talented Digital Fundraising Manager to take our online fundraising to the next level. We are seeking a collaborative and creative thinker who can execute integrated fundraising programs across multiple digital channels including e-mail,  social media, video, paid search, websites, and fundraising platforms such as workplace giving. The ideal candidate will be excited to apply their experience and skills to RFUS’s mission. The position will report to the Director of Development, sit within the Development Team, and collaborate with the Communications Team. The new hire has the option of working remotely or out of the Brooklyn office. 

Responsibilities

List Growth

• Collaborate with the Comms team to grow our email list as a foundational driver to increasing fundraising revenue
• Lead efforts, in collaboration with communications and development staff to manage and expand multi-channel digital list growth and conversion strategies to increase small and mid-level fundraising
• Drive campaign strategy, creation, and execution of digital fundraising campaigns, across all channels, to achieve acquisition, lead nurture, retention, and department revenue goal
• Collaborate with communications on converting social media followers to email subscribers and donors – and find ways to raise more money within existing channels

Emails

• Plan, develop, write, and execute email campaigns designed to inspire people to donate to RFUS 
• Track digital metrics and rigorously analyze data to learn what subscribers and donors respond positively to and quickly pivot to apply insights and learnings
• Consistently employ best practices, learning to fully utilize tools in Virtuous CRM, including segmentation and A/B testing to optimize campaigns
• Work with team to encourage new sustaining/monthly donations and improve retention
• Improve subscriber and donor welcome series to increase conversion and retention

Website

• Optimize donation forms to increase conversion rates
• Create welcome mats, pop-ups, and use various tools to optimize website conversion

Other

• Increase workplace giving and corporate matches by keeping donors up-to-date on our work and utilizing tools and platforms
• Keep abreast of new trends in online advocacy, fundraising, and organizing in order to provide creative ideas to the development and communications teams 
• Identify new opportunities and channels for digital fundraising and advocacy
• Work with Development Director to establish revenue and key performance indicators and propose clear benchmarks and goals to optimize giving
• Coordinate with Development and Comms team to strategically align consistent messaging across channels with optimal fundraising, engagement, growth, and impact 
• Any other duties as assigned by Development Director

Qualifications

• Minimun five years of experience in digital fundraising within a non-profit 
• High skill level and experience in designing and leading strategy and campaigns
• Demonstrated track record of effective fundraising via multiple channels
• Proven ability to write clearly, concisely, quickly, and accurately, incorporating key messages and calls to action, using appropriate language and tone for the target audience, and adopting the “voice” of the organization
• Experience developing content for an email program, including rapid-response campaigns
• Solid understanding of fundraising optimization, testing, and metrics 
• Solid understanding and experience in conversion rate optimization
• Excellent attention to detail
• Expertise in digital communications and social media platforms
• Experience maximizing email deliverability and retention in an ever-changing digital ecosystem
• Deep understanding of content management software, website development, and digital analytics, including Google Analytics.
• Desire to follow the news, politics, policy developments, and issues related to RFUS’ vision and program work in order to align our messaging with any rapid response opportunities.

Desired skills

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, journalism, public relations, communications, or related discipline or equivalent work experience in a related field.
• Strong experience with social media
• Comfortable with a high-level of technical language 
• Experience with Virtuous CRM 
• Strong interpersonal communication skills: Ability to present, explain, convince, coach, and troubleshoot with other team members across departments
• An entrepreneurial spirit that uses creativity to uncover novel pathways
• A professional demeanor, strong integrity, and self-motivated drive to consistently perform at a high level
• Proactive and self-organizing person

• Passion for protecting the environment and the rights of Indigenous peoples
• Willingness to work in December, including between Christmas & New Year, during end- of-year fundraising campaigns to ensure we are meeting fundraising goals (comp time will be offered, and it is not required that you work on Christmas or New Year’s Day)

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation: It is an exempt, full-time, supervisory position according to the FLSA. Compensation for this role based in NYC is $75,000 gross annually, non-negotiable. We are looking for a candidate based in the NYC office, hybrid or US-based remote.  The RFUS offers a competitive compensation package plus excellent benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan.

Workplace Culture & Conditions

Rainforest Foundation US prides itself on providing a flexible, equitable, family-friendly, and inclusive work environment that values work-life balance. Our offices are pet friendly and located in a historic downtown Brooklyn neighborhood that is easily accessible by public transit and boasts many restaurants and services. This position can be fully remote or in the Brooklyn office. 

Commitment to Equality & Equity 

​​Rainforest Foundation US does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. Black, Indigenous, and people of color are highly encouraged to apply.

Application instructions

• RFUS aims to fill the position by May 15.
  
• Interested applicants are encouraged to apply early and advised to carefully study the job description to ensure they meet the requirements and skills we are looking for.
• Applications will not be considered without the submission of a resume and cover letter.
• Please note that the position will be listed as open until filled. Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be contacted.
• The candidate must possess the legal requirements to work in the United States; Rainforest Foundation US will not sponsor visas for international candidates.