Stewardship & Funder Relations Manager, Donor Communications

About the Organization

ClimateWorks Foundation is a global organization committed to our mission: to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy. Since our founding in 2008, we have awarded over $2 billion in grants to more than 850 organizations working to advance climate solutions around the world. We helped grow the field of climate philanthropy to where it stands today, establishing infrastructure, global networks, and momentum for continued growth. Through our Global Programs and Services, we equip philanthropy with global knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress.

·       Scaling solutions: Our collaborative Global Programs — focused on solution areas including carbon dioxide removal, cooling, industry, transportation, and more — produce results that are bending the greenhouse gas emissions curve. From the U.S. to Europe, China, Brazil, and beyond, we collaborate with a diverse community of funders, NGOs, and climate leaders to accelerate just and equitable climate solutions.

·       Guiding and supporting funders: Our Global Services provide funders with comprehensive resources to assess, build, evolve, and execute high-impact climate-giving strategies. Our Global Intelligence service equips funders and the climate community with climate insights to pinpoint opportunities for impact and philanthropic insights to help identify investment priorities. We facilitate Global Collaborations that enable funders to increase individual and collective impact. Our Global Grantmaking services enable funders to invest in climate solutions around the world. 

·       Fostering collaboration, exploration, and growth: Our collaborative approach and commitment to learning ensures that we continuously explore innovative ideas and emerging opportunities — all with the aim of scaling philanthropy-supported initiatives to help end the climate crisis.

As experts in climate science, public policy, economic and social analysis, and strategic philanthropy, ClimateWorks’ staff understands the multi-faceted challenges and opportunities of climate change. We are researchers, strategists, collaborators, and grantmakers who care passionately about our mission. For more information, please visit www.climateworks.org. 

About the Department

Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time – impacting our health, our safety and our livelihoods now and for generations to come. Despite growing awareness and increased public mobilization on this issue, we are not yet on track to contain this threat. But we can be. Humanity has the solutions and the pathways to end this crisis, and collectively we can make this decade be the one for climate action. 

Sounds compelling? We think so too. The Donor Communications team, situated within the Marketing and Communications team, crafts and delivers tailored messaging, product, experiences, and strategies that keep donors informed, engaged, and inspired by ClimateWorks Foundation’s impact. Working closely with the Philanthropic Partnerships team, we ensure alignment in communication strategies and support donor stewardship by creating compelling materials, reports, and updates that enhance relationships with high-impact funders. This collaboration is essential to maintaining consistent and meaningful engagement with donors, helping to strengthen and grow philanthropic partnerships over time.

Job Summary

The Stewardship & Funder Relations Manager is responsible for developing and helping implement stewardship and engagement strategies for a select portfolio of ClimateWorks Foundation funders. This role will work closely with the Philanthropic Partnerships team to ensure these funders experience a high level of personalized engagement, building strong, long-lasting relationships that support the organization’s mission. The Manager will tailor communications, create customized reports, and provide funders with meaningful insights that showcase the impact of their contributions. This position focuses on holistic donor stewardship, distinct from grant stewardship activities, which are led by philanthropy managers. This role combines relationship management with an analytical understanding of funder motivations, enhancing the organization’s ability to steward and expand these crucial relationships.

Essentials Tasks

Develop Funder Engagement Strategies:

• Design and implement customized, message-aligned stewardship plans that align with each funder’s goals and values.
• Craft individualized engagement tactics that showcase impact, including tailored communications, reports, and invitations to exclusive events or briefings.

Support Impact Storytelling and Product Development

• Work to help develop, track, and deploy funder-ready stories that demonstrate real-world outcomes.
• Help maintain a library of key impact stories, visuals, and messaging tools that can be adapted for different funders and formats.

Collaborate with Philanthropic Partnerships Team:

• Partner closely with the entire Philanthropic Partnerships team, and particularly Philanthropy managers to align on funder strategies, communications, and events.
• Coordinate on key funder initiatives, ensuring consistency and coherence across all touchpoints.

Manage Execution of Stewardship Plans:

• Oversee the delivery of all stewardship activities within the portfolio, ensuring high-quality, timely, and impactful interactions.
• Track and analyze funder engagement metrics, providing regular updates and recommendations to refine and improve strategies.

Prepare Impact Reporting:

• Develop compelling reports that communicate the impact of funders’ contributions, demonstrating alignment with their philanthropic goals.
• Coordinate with relevant departments to obtain and synthesize data, providing funders with insightful, customized impact stories.

Support Funder Events and Site Visits:

• Assist in planning and executing high-touch events or site visits that deepen funder connections to the organization’s work.
• Prepare personalized briefing materials for funders, ensuring they understand the relevance and importance of the event or visit.

Monitor Funder Feedback and Trends:

• Gather and analyze feedback from funders to adapt and improve stewardship practices continually.
• Stay informed on trends in philanthropic engagement, contributing ideas for enhancing the organization’s stewardship offerings.

Required Qualifications

Experience in Funder Relations and Stewardship:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in donor relations, funder stewardship, or major gifts fundraising, ideally within the nonprofit or philanthropic sector.
• Proven track record of managing high-touch relationships with institutions or high-capacity individuals. 

Strong Communication and Relationship-Building Skills:

• Demonstrated experience crafting or curating donor-facing messaging that connects complex programmatic work with funder motivations and values.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with funders, understanding and responding to their needs and motivations.

Analytical and Strategic Thinking:

• Ability to analyze funder engagement data and draw insights that inform strategy.
• Experience developing tailored engagement plans that align with individual funder interests and organizational goals.

Project Management Skills:

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple funder accounts and projects simultaneously.
• Attention to detail and a results-oriented approach to managing the execution of stewardship activities.

Collaborative Mindset:

• Demonstrated success working cross-functionally, especially with fundraising, program, and communications teams.
• Willingness to collaborate closely with the Philanthropic Partnerships team and other internal stakeholders.

Understanding of Philanthropic Trends and Donor Motivations:

• Knowledge of current trends in philanthropy, particularly around climate-focused giving and donor expectations for transparency and impact reporting.
• Familiarity with issues related to climate change and environmental philanthropy is a plus.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency with CRM systems, donor databases, and Google suite.
• Familiarity with data visualization or reporting tools to present funder engagement and impact data effectively is beneficial.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, advanced degree, or additional certifications in fundraising or nonprofit management are a plus but not required.

Personal Attributes:

• High emotional intelligence, with the ability to engage meaningfully with a range of funders and understand nuanced relationship dynamics.
• Passion for environmental issues and a commitment to advancing philanthropic impact in climate change initiatives. 

Compensation

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience (geographic differential applied based on location)

Salary Range (Bay Area / NYC): $110,000 - $115,000 annually

Salary Range (Other US): $105,000 - $110,000 annually

*** ClimateWorks strives to create an equitable culture of transparency and fairness.

Location

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. This position is classified as US Flexible. Exceptional candidates can work from the SF office or from other locations, geographic differential applied to compensation based on local cost of labor.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at ClimateWorks Foundation and as such we are committed to creating a diverse and multi-cultural work environment. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race), ethnicity, religion, color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment.

ClimateWorks Foundation is committed to complying with all laws protecting qualified individuals with disabilities, as well as employees’ religious beliefs and practices. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment. ClimateWorks Foundation will provide a reasonable accommodation for any known physical or mental disability of a qualified individual and/or employees’ religious beliefs and practices, as required by law.

If you require an accommodation, please notify Human Resources. Once ClimateWorks Foundation is aware of the need for an accommodation, it will engage in an interactive process to identify possible accommodations.

Application Process 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To be considered for this position, interested candidates must submit a resume and cover letter. This position will remain open until filled.

Employment at the ClimateWorks Foundation is at-will. 

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package:

Healthcare Plans:

Multiple options available through Kaiser & UHC

• HMO - 100% coverage for employee and dependents
• POS - Employee pays difference beyond HMO coverage (3 out of 4 POS options are at 100% coverage for employee and dependents)
• Dental –100% coverage for employee and dependents
• Vision – 100% coverage for employee and dependents

Fertility Benefit

• Fertility care through Carrot Fertility. Access to on-demand doctor-approved content, pregnancy support, and virtual chats with medical, legal, and regulatory experts.

Disability Benefit (long and short-term)

Life Insurance (3x base salary up to $750k for employee only)

PTO

• 20 days (1st year)
• 25 days (2nd - 8th year)
• 30 days (9th year)

Holidays

• 11 Observed and 2 floating

401k Plan

• After 6 months of service, CWF automatically contributes 9% of gross earnings per pay period to retirement fund*
• After 6 months of service, CWF matches 100% of employee contributions up to a max of 6% of gross earnings per pay period*