Job Details

Wild Salmon Center works to protect some of the most beautiful and productive rivers left on the planet. These “salmon strongholds” are home not only to the king of fish but grizzly bears, bald eagles, orcas, and more than 130 other species that depend on wild salmon. These rivers also support thriving coastal communities and Indigenous cultures. If you are called home to these kinds of wild places and live to protect them, then WSC is the organization for you.

The Team

The Development department is the engine of WSC's work, raising the funds and building the relationships necessary to advance the organization's mission. This is a team of detail-oriented, hardworking, and highly collaborative staff who also appreciate work-life balance, are passionate about conservation, and take the time to get out to the places we work so hard to protect. The Development team works in close collaboration with WSC's Communications department to meet outreach, fundraising, and stewardship goals.

The Position

Wild Salmon Center is at a unique moment in our history as we build on successful, decades-long campaigns across the North Pacific creating durable protections for salmon stronghold rivers – as well as surrounding ecosystems and communities. To bolster this progress and ensure it continues well into the future, WSC is launching a major documentary film project and associated campaign in 2026 that will recruit the next generation of salmon champions. This new, full-time position will enable WSC to take advantage of this opportunity by helping uscapture, educate, and engage a new conservation audience with the goal of inspiring them to act, become donors, and increase their support over time. We are looking for a development professional with experience managing grassroots to mid-level fundraising programs, a strong understanding of digital giving trends and platforms, and a passion for environmental protection. This is a hybrid position based in our Portland, Oregon headquarters.

The organization also features excellent benefits competitive with major international conservation organizations and offers room for professional growth.

• 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance (includes employee/spouse, employee/dependent(s), as well as a partial premium for full family coverage)
• Short- and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) plan that matches at 125% for the first 6% of salary contributed (after 6 months)
• Four weeks of vacation (to start), two weeks of sick and 10+ paid holidays
• Support for continuing education
• Cell phone allowance & monthly stipend
• Outstanding work culture, including regular opportunities to visit and connect with salmon rivers

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive annual fundraising strategy aimed at acquiring, engaging, and retaining lower-level to mid-level donors, with a focus on digital fundraising, monthly giving, and annual giving campaigns.
• Lead copywriting for all fundraising appeals, including direct mail, email, donor

acknowledgements, website content, and social media, ensuring consistent voice and compelling donor-centered messaging across platforms.

• Create and manage a year-round calendar of appeals, coordinating integrated multi-channel campaigns (email, direct mail, web, and social media) in partnership with WSC's designers and external vendors.
• Serve as the Development team lead for WSC's email and advocacy platform, Engaging Networks, and confer with the Communications team on annual acquisition and engagement strategies to feed the grassroots advocate and supporter “pipeline”.
• Design and implement a refreshed stewardship program for WSC's monthly, mid-level, and lower-level donors, including tailored email journeys, thank-you gifts and digital engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Development leadership and external consultants to evaluate program strategy and performance and integrate them into broader fundraising plans and campaigns to meet annual revenue goals.
• Monitor conservation programs and campaigns to identify opportunities to align appeals with key milestones, public wins, and policy actions.
• Write donor-centered content including “ways to give” spotlights and donor features for print and digital newsletters, annual reports, and social media.
• Collaborate with the Development Director to incorporate legacy giving into the broader grassroots fundraising strategy.
• Track, analyze, and report on campaign performance for digital and mail appealsincluding but not limited to donor retention metrics, email open/click rates, donation form conversions, ads, web pop-ups, and web UX for WSC donors.
• Work with Development operations staff to ensure accurate reporting and acknowledgment of contributions and fulfillment of donor benefits.
• Monitor trends in the fundraising sector and identify new potential practices, platforms, and revenue channels for the organization.
• Coordinate with Events staff to identify and implement grassroots fundraising strategies for community events and occasionally assist with local tabling opportunities.

• 3-5 years of demonstrated experience managing a successful membership or individual giving program.
• Strong knowledge of best practices, trends, demographics, and top issues related to grassroots fundraising.
• Experience with donation form optimization web UX as it relates online donor conversion.
• Experience with digital and direct mail donor acquisition strategies.
• Understanding and ability to track, report, and analyze data on membership or individual giving.
• Exceptional written communication skills, including the ability to evoke emotion and action by crafting narratives that highlight impact.
• Passion for the environment, conservation, outdoor recreation, and natural resources.
• Exemplary attention to detail.
• Collaborative and proactive team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience with Raiser's Edge CRM and Engaging Networks preferred.
• Aligned with Wild Salmon Center's mission and values.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

How to Apply

Application Contact:

...@wildsalmoncenter.org

Application Deadline:

Friday, July 25, 2025 @ 5:00 pm

Application Instructions:

Submit your application packet to ...@wildsalmoncenter.org including a cover letter, CV and a writing sample demonstrating your proficiency with one of the following: 1) email appeal, 2) direct mail appeal, or 3) acknowledgement letter. Please include “Individual Giving Manager” in the email subject line. Additionally, note in your cover letter where you learned of this position.*Note - incomplete applications will not be reviewed for consideration.Wild Salmon Center is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We will gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please reach out to our Senior Manager of People & Culture at ...@wildsalmoncenter.org in advance to request assistance.