Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the United States. Our mission is simple yet powerful: foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors. With a focus on protecting mountains, forests, waters, and trails throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, we envision a world where our natural resources are healthy, loved, and always protected, and where the outdoors occupies a place of central importance in every person’s life.
This position aligns both paid and unpaid staff to move AMC’s mission and four strategic priorities:
Inspire joyous, meaningful outdoor experiences
Protect critical landscapes for the well-being of people and the outdoors
Cultivate and sustain a robust, welcoming community
Foster access to the outdoors
AMC seeks a Director, President’s Society (DPS) to lead and grow AMC’s leadership giving program for donors contributing $1,000 or more to its Annual Fund. The DPS will be a strategic, relationship-oriented professional responsible for designing and executing an integrated program to retain, upgrade and acquire President’s Society members while deepening their engagement with AMC.
AMC’s mid-level donor pipeline is a critical driver of overall Annual Fund performance and long-term major gift growth. The President’s Society, which currently includes over 1,100 member households and generates 75%-85% of the Annual Fund each year. As part of AMC’s comprehensive campaign, The Next Adventure, AMC aims to grow the President’s Society to 1,500 member-households and $6.35 million in annual revenue as part of the campaign.
The DPS is accountable for strategy and execution to achieve annual fund revenue goals at the $1,000+ level and plays a critical role in partnership with Major Gifts to drive performance at the $10,000+ level through coordinated pipeline development and donor engagement. The Director will develop and lead a strategy aligned with AMC’s campaign goals, balancing program leadership, data-driven decision-making, and direct frontline fundraising and relationship management.
This full-time, exempt position and supervises a Donor Engagement Manager who fulfills President’s Society member benefits and is tasked with developing an engaging suite of donor communications and events to convey the impact of donors’ support and foster a welcoming and engaged President’s Society community.
The DPS also works in close coordination with the Major Gifts, Campaign and Growth teams on strategies to recruit, retain, and upgrade President’s Society members through multi-channel marketing, as well as personalized outreach and programming.
The Director will drive acquisition, retention, qualification, engagement, and upgrading strategies that increase both annual support and the long-term philanthropic potential of President's Society members. The DPS will spend approximately half of their time on direct donor engagement (calls, emails, meetings, and events). The DPS’s remaining time will be dedicated to program strategy, team leadership, and execution.
What You WIll Be Doing at AMC
Program Strategy & Leadership
Develop and execute a multi-year strategy to meet or exceed President’s Society membership, revenue, and retention targets
Establish and monitor key performance metrics (retention, acquisition, upgrades, revenue), using data to inform strategy
Oversee program budget and resource allocation in alignment with fundraising priorities
Lead annual planning, including segmentation, outreach strategies, year-over-year growth targets, and campaign integration
Serve as the captain overseeing outreach drives by staff and volunteers at key fundraising periods in the annual giving cycle
Frontline Fundraising and Donor Management
Engage and steward President’s Society donors and prospects, with a focus on otherwise unassigned donors at the $1,000–$9,999 level, through consistent 1:1 outreach including meetings, calls, and personalized communications
Drive donor upgrades within the President’s Society and into the Major Gifts pipeline, supporting achievement of both mid-level and $10,000+ revenue goals
Partner with Major Gifts team to identify, qualify and transition donors for further campaign and planned giving opportunities, connecting donors to AMC priorities
Engagement and Stewardship
Design and oversee a strategic portfolio of high-impact engagement opportunities (events, experiences, communications) that deepen donor connection to AMC’s mission
Ensure engagement strategies support both relationship-building and solicitation goals
Partner with internal teams to deliver compelling, mission-driven communications that demonstrate the impact of giving
Team Leadership & Collaboration
Supervise and coach the Donor Engagement Manager, focusing on delivery of high-quality donor experiences, benefits fulfillment, and communications
Collaborate closely with Growth, Marketing, Membership and Development Operations on President’s Society renewal and acquisition appeals and donor impact communications such as the Annual Report.
Work cross-functionally with Major Gifts, Campaign, and Program teams to strengthen the donor pipeline and advance AMC’s culture of philanthropy.
Actively contribute to forecasting, pipeline development, and performance tracking for Annual Fund across both mid-level and major gift segments
What AMC is Looking For
The successful candidate will be an energetic and enthusiastic fundraising professional with a genuine love of the outdoors. The Director, President’s Society will be a self-starter with a strong work ethic who is conscientious, attentive to detail and results-oriented. The ideal person will be a collegial team player with a proven ability to develop positive, authentic relationships with donors, and motivate, engage and collaborate with volunteers, senior staff, colleagues and similar constituencies. Also needed is an ability to think strategically; adroitly manage multiple tasks; plan and organize projects and tasks effectively; excellent verbal and written communication skills; and experience coordinating events. Ability to adapt to a flexible work environment.
The ideal candidate’s qualifications would include:
Five years of comparable and relevant experience with a strong fundraising background.
Demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding fundraising revenue goals, particularly within annual or mid-level giving programs; experience with mid-level giving programs strongly preferred.
Experience designing and implementing data-informed fundraising strategies or programs, including segmentation, outreach planning, and performance tracking.
Experience managing a portfolio of donors, including active cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Demonstrated success in developing positive, constructive relationships with a variety of people. Facility in working with donors in person, over the phone, and via email and mail.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across teams, including development, marketing, and program staff.
Discretion and ability to work with confidential donor information.
Accuracy and proficiency with donor databases. Familiarity with Salesforce a plus.
Ability to communicate AMC’s mission and programs with sincerity, persuasion and passion.
Strong interest in outdoor recreation and a willingness to be trained in outdoor leadership skills. Interest in environmental/conservation, outdoor education, and policy issues a plus.
Willingness and ability to adhere to Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Standards.
This position requires 6-8 overnight trips annually, often to backcountry locations requiring ability to ski, snowshoe, or hike comfortably up to 7 miles in difficult terrain in all weather conditions, carrying loads of up to 20 pounds.
Ability to obtain and maintain Wilderness First Aid certification
Valid driver’s license.
What AMC Can Offer You
Other Northeast Based Locations: $85,170 - $114,954
Boston Based: $97,946 - $132,197
We are committed to fair compensation practices, and we encourage qualified candidates to apply. The initial salary represents our starting point, and our compensation philosophy is designed to reward and recognize the contributions of our employees as they grow within the organization. External candidates typically begin their journey with us at the starting point of the salary range. The final compensation offer will be based on factors such as experience, education, skills and geographic differential relevant to the position, and will be discussed during the interview process.
Benefits
Health Plan: Generous employer contributions through Cigna with optional vision and dental.
Other Insurance: 100% employer paid life insurance, AD&D insurance, long-term disability.
Career Progression: The potential to have annual compensation reviews commensurate with performance and effort.
Retirement: Mandatory 403(b) with 4% matching employer contributions and a vesting schedule.
Paid Time Off: up to 4 weeks of paid earned time and up to 11 paid company holidays.
Other Team Member Perks:
30% discount on AMC Merchandise
Free Annual AMC Membership
10 Free nights at AMC locations
Educational Assistance
Prodeals discounts on equipment & gear and more!
To Apply:
Please include a resume and cover letter. No phone calls or agencies please.
The Appalachian Mountain Club has zero tolerance for child abuse or placing children in danger. The AMC requires all employees to have a criminal background record check performed on their name annually with employment contingent upon satisfactory results.
The Appalachian Mountain Club has zero tolerance for child abuse or placing children in danger. The AMC requires all employees who work in a program or facility which serves children, disabled persons, or the elderly to have a criminal background record check performed on their name annually with employment contingent upon satisfactory results.
