Major Donor Engagement Manager

Planet Reimagined is seeking a highly experienced development professional to establish and expand a new major donor program, building on the organization’s recent successes to secure major philanthropic investments from individuals.   
Work: Full-Time, 40 hours per week 
Salary Range: $120,000 - 130,000 USD annually

The final offer will consider factors such as the candidate's location, cost of living, and experience level.

Location: Remote, work US EST hours with additional flexibility
Authorization: Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Resident with Authorization to Work

About Planet Reimagined: 

Founded by a multi-platinum musician and a UN advocate, Planet Reimagined was built on the belief that big change happens when people act together—and when that action drives shifts in policy and industry. We mobilize fans at concerts to take real-time civic action (35,000+ in 2024 alone), and we help renewable energy companies access public lands once closed to them. From legislative wins to global campaigns, we turn bold ideas into action—and we’re just getting started.

On a mission to deliver fair solutions for people and the planet, we use an innovative action-research method to incubate and scale creative solutions to our most pressing climate problems.

About the Role:

Since hiring our first development staff and implementing core fundraising systems in January 2024, Planet Reimagined has seen extraordinary fundraising growth, increasing grant revenue tenfold in just 18 months.

That kind of leap is rare. It reflects not only the urgency of our mission, but also the trust we’ve earned from catalytic institutional and corporate funders. 

We are now positioned to grow our development team, starting with this role and with immediate plans to bring on additional staff to power this next phase of expansion. Our vision is to build a fully developed, strategic fundraising program—and this role is central to making that vision a reality.

The Major Donor Engagement Manager is a new position within Planet Reimagined. (In fact, it’s so new that it might not end up with that exact job title, but that’s the gist of it).  The Major Donor Engagement Manager will have the opportunity to build our major donor program from the ground up, expanding our capacity to secure major investments from individuals annually. Planet Reimagined’s new Major Gifts leader is set up for success with:

1) an effective senior leadership team, with a high-profile Executive Director who is committed to fundraising, an experienced Managing Director who recognizes and respects the specialized expertise of development professionals, and a pioneering Development Manager who will be a strategic partner and collaborator; and 2) a ring-fenced development budget to ensure that even in a small scrambling start-up situation, the team has staff capacity and research and contact management tools to deliver on ambitious goals.

To help launch our major donor program, we have secured a $1M matching contribution from a committed individual donor. We are excited to work with a passionate climate supporter who is an energetic, creative professional able to harness Planet Reimagined’s assets, and package our impact and potential, to inspire high net worth individuals to invest in our work. 

Duties and Responsibilities will include:

  • Build and lead a $1M+ annual major donor program, including prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-net-worth individuals

  • Partner with leadership and co-founders to identify prospects and secure high-level contributions, including personalized outreach and strategic support, with tailored engagement plans and updates for top donors

  • Advise on donor messaging and organizational positioning for donors 

  • Oversee donor events and undertake strategic travel to deepen relationships and build momentum

  • Involve program staff to strengthen donor communications and highlight mission impact

  • Manage donor data, budgets, income targets, and progress reporting to leadership

  • Work closely with our Development Manager to coordinate and strategize around relationship building with individuals working within or on the board of an institutional funding partner who may also be a potential major donor

  • Help the organization explore the benefits and challenges of developing a small and mid-size donor program with an eye toward building a pool of major donor prospects

  • Help recruit and supervise a development associate and expect to help develop further growth in the development team

  • Contribute toward healthy and collaborative work culture in an organization committed to a high degree of collegiality and shared purpose and navigating diverging views productively and respectfully

  • Will report to our Managing Director

Required Skills and Experience:

  • 5+ years of major gift or similar experience preferred, with extensive experience in direct donor solicitation and donor relations

  • Understands and can apply principles of persuasion and motivation when developing donor cultivation strategies, particularly for a policy advocacy organization

  • Has made direct asks of at least $50k with repeated success

  • Has built long-term relationships with major donors that resulted in increased contributions

  • Has used wealth screening and other research tools to qualify prospects

  • Has supported organizational leaders to succeed in asking individuals for investment level contributions

  • Has translated complex program information—ideally in the climate or environmental advocacy space—into compelling pitches/investment opportunities for high-net-worth individuals in writing and verbally; strong visual communications skills also an advantage

  • Is energized by the chance to build something new for a fast-growing, fast-paced, entrepreneurial organization

  • Experience with both U.S. and international programs or contexts is a plus

  • Experience working with artists, musicians, or other high-profile creators is a plus 

Salary and Benefits:

Salary Range: 120,000 - 130,000

The final offer will consider factors such as the candidate’s location and cost of living as well as experience level.

We offer excellent, comprehensive benefits. We also offer a casual and friendly work environment.

How to Apply:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to those received by September 15. To apply, please complete the Google form application and upload the following materials:

  1. CV

  2. Cover Letter: Rather than repeating your CV, use this as an opportunity to tell us a story from your fundraising experience. We’d especially love to hear how you navigated a complex donor relationship—perhaps a moment when a donor was dismayed, overly involved, or required extra care to bring back into alignment with your organization’s mission.

  3. Writing Sample: Please share a brief donor communication you personally wrote. This could be an informal update to a funder or prospect—something that translates the work into accessible, compelling language and demonstrates your voice and approach to donor engagement.

  4. List of references (only to be contacted after confirming with applicant)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to those received by September 15. We encourage early submissions. 

About our Founders:

Planet Reimagined was co-founded by Adam Met, PhD in human rights law and sustainable development, and Mila Rosenthal, PhD in social anthropology. Together, they bring a unique combination of cultural influence, academic depth, and strategic leadership to the climate movement. 

Adam is the ‘A’ in the multi-Platinum band AJR and a recognized climate advocate, recently named a TIME Earth Award honoree and New York Times Changemaker. He is the author of  Amplify: How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action, and Build a Better World.

Mila is a leader in global climate campaigning and human rights, with a career spanning the UN and major NGOs. She has held executive roles in policy, advocacy, communications and research including at UNDP and Amnesty International. 

Adam and Mila co-teach climate policy and advocacy at Columbia University. 

Together, Adam and Mila are building Planet Reimagined to accelerate bold, scalable climate solutions—through public policy, cultural momentum, and grassroots mobilization.