Program Assistant Director
Sierra Club
Remote
Posted on Jul 9, 2025
Job Title: Program Assistant Director, Chapter Fundraising
Department: Membership Growth
Location: Remote (anywhere in US). This position requires an ability to travel.
Reports To: Senior Director, Chapter Fundraising
Supervises: 3-4 staff
Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.
Scope: Each of our 64 local chapters is responsible for raising the majority of their annual budget. The SPARC (a Strategic Path for Advancing Relationships through Coaching) Program is a new approach to support chapters with their larger dollar fundraising through project management and coaching. The SPARC Program Assistant Director plays a crucial role in helping Sierra Club Chapters raise the money they need by helping manage their mid and major gift level program. More than anything else, they will:
1) Supervise, manage, and support 3-4 SPARC Program Regional Strategists who will serve as lead coaches/project managers of an assigned portfolio of chapters on their mid to major gift fundraising program.
2) Serve as the coach/project manager to an assigned portfolio of chapters focused on their mid to major gift fundraising program. Their support to individual chapters will help build effective, efficient fundraising programs focusing on building authentic relationships with mid to major gift level funders.
3) Coordinate closely with major gift officers in their region to support strategies for major gift level donors.
4) Work closely with the Senior Director on mid to major gift fundraising strategy for chapters.
In order to be successful, the SPARC Program Assistant Director must be an experienced fundraiser with a strong understanding of how to effectively cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts of $1,000-$25,000+ from individuals, enhance a fundraising program’s efficiency, and coach individuals with little to no fundraising experience how be effective fundraisers. This position will serve as a major point of contact for staff involved in all aspects of Chapter fundraising, will interact with many departments across the Sierra Club, and will meet with external funders. This role may manage a portfolio of donors when there is a gap at chapters and may also support the chapter with grants by identifying prospects and creating a strategy for the foundation, working collaboratively with Chapter Grant Writers.
This position requires an ability to travel. While not extensive, you need to be willing to travel occasionally for on-site Chapter visits or meetings.
Job activities include but are not limited to:
- Coaching chapter leaders with strategic and tactical advice to improve fundraising performance. Consults and supports chapter leaders on fundraising strategy and program implementation at individual chapters. This may include site visits and in-person coaching.
- Leading the effort to develop and execute chapter fundraising plans. Facilitate the creation of and execution of chapter fundraising plans, meeting with chapters regularly to ensure the completion of fundraising activities specifically related to mid to major gifts.
- Coaching chapters on ways to leverage volunteer involvement with fundraising. Works with volunteers and staff leaders to create opportunities for volunteers to participate in fundraising—particularly at the board level.
- Coaching chapters on grant strategy. When needed this role by helping to identify potential grants, support the chapter with grant strategy, and work collaboratively with Grant Writers.
- Meet with external funders. This role may need to manage a portfolio of donors if there is a gap at chapters, by cultivating relationships, making asks, and stewarding donors.
- Collaborating with leaders in our Advancement and Membership Growth Departments to facilitate coordination between major gift staff, mid-level managers, and chapter leaders. Facilitates collaboration between chapter staff and the national organization’s fundraising team, particularly with major gift work.
- Representing the Chapter Fundraising Team in collaborative spaces across the organization. Regularly attend meetings within the department or larger organization to share our team’s perspective and elevate the needs of Chapter fundraisers.
- Work closely with the Senior Director for Chapter Fundraising. Regularly providing updates on progress and working with them to continually improve the mid to major gift level fundraising program at chapters.
The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:
- Extensive experience overseeing and implementing fundraising programs, preferably in a small non-profit. Your ability to provide sound advice to Chapter Directors, fundraising staff, and volunteer leaders based on your own experience and study is crucial in this role.
- A deep understanding of how to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward $1,000-$25,000+ gifts from individuals. You must be able to understand, teach, and project manage a mid to major gift level fundraising program at chapters. how a small non-profit organization must blend multiple fundraising strategies targeting many levels of giving in order to meet its fundraising goals.
- Experience supervising fundraising staff. You must be able to supervise, manage, and coach multiple fundraising staff to be most effective in their work.
- Extensive experience and expertise in coaching. You will be working with individuals and small teams that need your advice, assistance, and accountability. Successful coaching skills are a must. You must be able to inspire and instill confidence to fundraise in the chapters you are assigned to.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills. The highly collaborative nature of this position requires exceptional interpersonal skills. You may also meet with external funders, so your ability to present information verbally and in writing is essential.
- Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
- Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.
- Project management and logistics skills. You will be asked to create and oversee projects for an assigned portfolio of chapters at once. You need to be comfortable designing tools that help you manage this complexity and see projects through to completion. Demonstrated ability to prioritize and meet deadlines and fundraising goals.
- Demonstrated skill using tact and diplomacy with confidential and sensitive matters. Deep understanding of the importance of remaining confidential when working with donor information.
The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:
- Passion for environmental issues and local, grassroots activism
- Experience with Salesforce
To Apply
The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.
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