Institutional Giving Specialist

Title: Institutional Giving Specialist

Location: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Department: Development

Job Description:

TITLE: Institutional Giving Specialist
LOCATION: NY office, NY office-Hybrid; US-based remote. 
WORK SCHEDULE: Full-time
EMPLOYMENT/JOB TYPE: Regular; exempt employee

INTERNAL JOB CATEGORY: Specialization A
DEPARTMENT: Development
SUPERVISOR: Institutional Giving Director
DIRECT REPORTS: N/A

Employment Type

Full-Time Employee (40 hours)

SALARY: USD $75,000 - $80,000 gross annually, non-negotiable

About Rainforest Foundation US

Since 1988, Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) has partnered with Indigenous peoples to protect their
rights and their rainforests in the Amazon and Central America. Our purpose is to support Indigenous peoples and forest communities in their efforts to secure their lands, protect their environment, and uphold their rights. The science shows that forests managed by Indigenous peoples are healthier, including nationally protected areas.

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

The Institutional Giving Specialist (IGS) manages key grant-related responsibilities: identifying and researching funding opportunities, submitting successful proposals, developing compelling and factual reports, coordinating with program, finance, and communications staff to ensure proper execution of grant requirements, and ensuring all grant-related materials, including deadlines, are properly tracked and recorded. This role includes advanced skills in applying for and managing complex government grant funding. 

Responsibilities 

Fundraising & Stewardship 

• Manage stewardship and expansion of a portfolio of institutional donors, such as foundations, NGOs/intermediaries, and government agencies.
• Identify and research funding opportunities aligned with RFUS’s priorities.
• Write and submit compelling, competitive proposals in collaboration with program and finance teams.
• Coordinate complex, multi-stakeholder funding opportunities, including government grants, ensuring adherence to funder requirements.
• Facilitate and lead some donor meetings and build relationships with new and existing donors, engaging relevant staff as needed.
• Coordinate grant award and post-award activities, including acknowledging grants in a timely manner, ensuring smooth handoff to program teams, drafting accurate reports, and monitoring compliance.
• Assist the Institutional Giving Director in tracking and reporting on institutional giving goals and portfolio progress. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Grant Management

• Own and maintain institutional giving processes and workflows, including pre-award checklists, kickoff calls, grant trackers, and deadline calendars to ensure efficient and coordinated grant operations.
• Maintain accurate and organized records of all grant-related materials—proposals, budgets, award letters, reports, and key donor communications—ensuring deadlines, proposals, and prospect information are up-to-date in tracking systems and calendars. 
• Monitor compliance through the grant lifecycle and raise flags or recommendations to leadership as needed.
• Analyze portfolio performance and provide insights and recommendations to the Institutional Giving Director on funder engagement, prospect prioritization, and strategy.
• Identify opportunities to improve institutional giving processes and implement enhancements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and impact.
• Serve as a cross-departmental liaison, ensuring program, finance, and communication teams are aligned in the submission of proposals and execution of grants and reporting requirements. 

Requirements 

• Minimum four years of fundraising experience, with a proven record of successful fundraising results from institutional funders (foundations, government, etc) and grant management experience. 
• Impeccable English writing skills, with a specific emphasis on proposal writing 
• Excellent verbal communication skills, and a proven track record of relationship-building with institutional funders
• Exemplary organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and competing  priorities 
• Experience with program budgeting and an understanding of financial statements 
• High skill level with spreadsheets, especially Google Sheets
• Cultural competency and a learning mindset to support our multi-cultural staff and partners (experience working with Indigenous organizations a plus). 
• High level of integrity, and ability to exercise strong judgment and discretion when handling sensitive and confidential  information 
• A proven track record of working well with others, adapting to others’ work styles, and building strong relationships across departments 
• Knowledge of, or strong interest in, learning about the issues relevant to the organization’s mission and strategy (Indigenous peoples' rights, forests, climate change, biodiversity loss, climate adaptation, climate finance, etc.) 
• Full professional proficiency in English is required; Spanish is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

RFUS offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. Our full-time employees enjoy generous benefits, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision: We pay 100% of the employee and dependents' health, dental, and vision benefits premiums
• 401(k) retirement plan access
• Generous time off through vacation, sick and personal leave, holidays, summer Fridays, and an extended winter break office closure
• Life insurance, flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program
• Some positions may be fully remote or hybrid

Workplace Culture & Conditions

At Rainforest Foundation US, we strive to build a better workplace and a better world. From our hiring practices through the entire employee experience, we embrace and celebrate the unique experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds that each employee brings to the workplace. RFUS strives to foster an environment where our employees feel respected and valued, and our team members are at the forefront of helping us promote and sustain a better workplace for all.

​​Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) is an equal opportunity employer, and employment is based upon qualifications and competency.  RFUS does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sex, military status, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local laws, in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to a welcoming environment for all members of our staff, interns, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, partners, and clients. 

Rainforest Foundation US prides itself on providing a flexible, family-friendly work environment that values work-life balance. Our offices are in a historic downtown Brooklyn neighborhood easily accessible by public transit.