Senior Major Gifts Officer

Spark is a science-driven, philanthropically funded non-profit that accelerates progress on unsolved climate challenges. Our goal is to enable a safer climate by filling targeted gaps in current climate actions. We look around the corner at the key blind spots that pose big climate risks or offer big climate opportunities, like major sources of unabated emissions. Then we work to speed up the development of the fields needed to address those challenges. 

We are a team of scientists, policy experts, innovators, and systems thinkers working to build today’s foundations for the comprehensive climate solutions we will need tomorrow. Rather than betting on individual pathways or innovations, we work to grow a field as a whole so that the most effective science and solutions can be surfaced and scaled. We use a large suite of field-building tools to support new research, markets, policies, and talent development, through both in-house initiatives and building broader coalitions. We are currently focused on super pollutants from agriculture (specifically methane and nitrous oxide), warming-induced greenhouse gas emissions, and methane removal. 

Spark’s impact is made possible by a community of generous and pioneering individuals, foundations, and organizations that share our vision for a safer climate future. 

Spark is looking for a Senior Gifts Officer to build and deepen Spark's relationships with major and principal donors. This is a frontline fundraising role for someone who thrives on relationship-driven work, can effectively direct the rhythm and flow of funder relationships, and brings organization and diligence to the fundraising process. We’re looking for someone who is deeply comfortable working alongside scientists and researchers and who knows how to translate their work and leverage their ideas to attract funders.

You'll report to our Executive Director and work closely with our Program Directors to steward relationships and close gifts that move Spark’s fields forward. You’ll act as a connective node across our development and program teams—mapping funder interests to the right programs, coaching program directors ahead of funder meetings, making sure the right ask reaches the right funder at the right time, and owning follow-up steps with funders to bring grants through their process.

What You'll Do

• Attend funder meetings alongside executive leadership and program leads and identify, document, and drive the next steps

• Coach program directors on how to communicate with and engage funders more effectively over time

• Coordinate funder strategy across Spark’s programs—mapping funders to programs, clarifying relationship owners, and sequencing the right ask from the right program at the right time

• Close funding opportunities by understanding each donor’s perspective, portfolio, and knowing when and how to make the ask, and managing grant proposal steps and timelines.

• Steward funder relationships individually—tracking each funder’s interests and what they respond to, and matching Spark’s latest wins, research, and communications products to the right moments for engagement

• Work directly with scientists and program leads to translate complex research into compelling philanthropic narratives

• Prepare high-quality funder materials including briefings, proposals, reports, and stewardship updates

• Represent Spark at field convenings, donor events, and conferences 

• Maintain rigorous CRM hygiene and contribute to pipeline reporting and forecasting

What We're Looking For

• 7+ years of frontline fundraising experience or comparable sales or business-development experience, with a track record of closing six- and seven-figure deals

• Experience building a portfolio of new relationships in a growth-stage or start-up environment 

• Proven experience working in or alongside scientific, research, or technical organizations and the ability to partner with subject matter experts

• High emotional intelligence and the ability to build trust quickly and continue to grow that trust over time

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, specifically pitch, business development, or grant proposal, and the ability to coach others on effective communications in these environments  

• Experience with CRM systems (Virtuous, Salesforce, or similar) and pipeline management

• Self-directed, exceptionally organized, able to hold a lot of relationships simultaneously without dropping threads, rigorous attention to detail, and the ability to absorb large volumes of context quickly

• Genuine interest in climate philanthropy and the science of climate intervention

Nice to Have

• Experience in climate, environment, or science philanthropy

• Comfort working with sophisticated donors or investors - family offices, DAF holders, institutional philanthropies, venture capitalists

• Familiarity with the philanthropic advisor and wealth management ecosystem

• Experience working with a field-building or intermediary organization

We believe great people often come from nontraditional backgrounds. If you meet many, but not all, of the qualifications, learn quickly and approach challenges with curiosity and humility, we encourage you to apply.

As with all positions at Spark Climate Solutions, this will be 100% remote. Employees can work anywhere within the United States, or internationally with approval.

Travel

This role involves approximately 25-30% travel, including regular trips to San Francisco, New York, Washington DC, and London for funder meetings, conferences, and field convenings. Additional domestic and international travel as portfolio strategy requires.