Senior Manager, Philanthropy

About Miami Waterkeeper

Miami Waterkeeper (MWK) is an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Biscayne Bay and the surrounding watershed. Launched in 2010, MWK has become a leading advocate for clean water, inspiring a movement of empowered citizens dedicated to protecting South Florida’s waterways by advocating for resilient solutions grounded in science, rooted in nature, and driven by community. Addressing issues on multiple fronts, we use community outreach, scientific research, and civic and legal action to advance our mission. Miami Waterkeeper is a fast-paced and dynamic work environment. We are a small and hard-working team that is mission-driven and passionate about our environment and our community.

Position Overview

The Senior Manager, Philanthropy, plays a key role in advancing the mission of Miami Waterkeeper by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors capable of making gifts of $2,500 and above.

Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, this position will manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors and lead cultivation strategies that grow major gifts revenue. The Senior Manager will conduct discovery meetings, build meaningful donor relationships, and collaborate with organizational leadership to secure philanthropic support for the organization’s priorities.

This role is ideal for a motivated fundraiser with a proven ability to secure significant gifts who is eager to grow into a leadership role within a dynamic environmental nonprofit.
Apply Now

Essential Responsibilities

Major Gift Fundraising  (60%)

• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors capable of making gifts of $2,500 or more.

• Develop and execute personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.

• Secure five- and six-figure gifts in partnership with organizational leadership.

• Conduct discovery meetings to identify and qualify new major gift prospects.

• Maintain consistent donor engagement through meetings, calls, events, and personalized communications.

Prospect Development (15%)

• Identify and research prospective donors to expand the organization’s major gifts pipeline.

• Build relationships with new supporters who have the capacity and interest to invest in the organization’s mission.

• Collaborate with the Chief Philanthropy Officer to develop strategies for donor acquisition and upgrades.

Strategic Collaboration (15%)

• Partner with leadership and program staff to align fundraising strategies with organizational priorities to build a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

• Support donor engagement opportunities through events, site visits, and mission-focused experiences.

• Collaborate with the philanthropy team to ensure strong donor stewardship and communications.

Donor Management & Reporting (15%)

• Track donor engagement and moves management in the organization’s CRM system.

• Maintain accurate records of donor interactions, strategy notes, and next steps.

• Monitor progress toward fundraising goals and contribute to revenue forecasting.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate, support, and contribute to organization-wide initiatives and events, including State of the Water, staff and team retreats, and collaborative fundraising efforts.

• Partner with CPO on the strategy and execution of annual fundraising campaigns, including Give Miami Day, leveraging campaigns as opportunities to acquire, engage, and upgrade donors

• Participate actively in internal meetings, cross-functional planning sessions, and collaborative team building.

• Support miscellaneous administrative and troubleshooting tasks as needed to ensure seamless team operations.

• Willingness to work evenings and weekends

Qualifications

Required

• 5–10 years of nonprofit fundraising experience or related field

• Demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure gifts

• Experience managing a portfolio of individual donors

• Strong relationship-building and communication skills

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a small, fast-paced team

• Passion for environmental protection and community impact

Preferred

• Experience with donor prospecting and discovery

• Familiarity with donor database systems (such as Bloomerang)

• Experience fundraising in environmental, advocacy, or mission-driven organizations

• Knowledge of the South Florida philanthropic community

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plan

• Retirement Account (with 3% 401K matching)

• Generous time off policies

• Remote work flexibility (2 days remote/week)

• Relaxed work atmosphere and dress code

Salary: $70,000 - $85,000

Job Type: Full-time

Reports to: Chief Philanthropy Officer

Location: Miami, FL

Apply Now

Miami Waterkeeper is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. We encourage candidates who are passionate about environmental conservation and share our commitment to sustainability to apply.

Miami Waterkeeper is committed to the principles of sustainability and environmental stewardship. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.