American Farmland Trust (AFT) is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to saving America’s farm and ranch land, promoting sound conservation practices and keeping farmers on the land. Since our founding in 1980, the organization has helped protect more than 5 million acres of our country’s working lands.

Executive Assistant

American Farmland Trust (AFT) is seeking a full-time Executive Assistant to provide support to the Vice President of Development and External Relations and the AFT Development team.  The Executive Assistant will assist in advancing the fundraising effort by supporting donor outreach and stewardship efforts; preparing donor reports; assisting with donor events and providing general administrative support.

Essential Functions:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide administrative support to the Vice President of Development and External Relations including scheduling meetings and donor appointments; preparing visit materials for donors; completing expense reports and assisting with donor mailings, managing email, correspondence and phone requests for the Vice President.
• Enter contacts, cultivation steps and other information for the Vice President in the Raiser’s Edge database. Develop and manage a comprehensive communication plan for select prospects. 
• Coordinate internal and Board of Directors meetings and help manage Board and Fundraising and Communications committee relations.  Arrange logistics for committee meetings. Draft power point presentations and compile all materials for meetings.
• Coordinate regional Donor events – approximately 5-10 a year by identifying and securing venues and managing donor invitation process.  Work collaboratively with development and program staff on the onsite event logistics including nametag production, signage, donor gifts and event materials.
• Coordinate travel schedule and make travel arrangements for Vice President based on key donor meetings.  Review and analyze donor reports (daily/weekly) to identify key visits, follow up from previous visits and contact donors to secure meetings.
• Work with the Director of Operations and VP of Development to draft and prepare acknowledgements for gifts which include drafting the letter, securing live signatures and preparing custom notes.  Work with the development team to determine which letters require customization and ensure that all major gifts of $1,000+ are acknowledged by phone within 24 hours of receipt.

Minimum Qualifications:

The ideal candidate has the following qualities:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Seven+ years of administrative experience; development, environmental, non-profit experience a bonus
• Strong computer skills especially with all MS Office and Raisers Edge; willing to learn specialized software
• Innovative self starter, creative thinker, demonstrated initiative, able to work independently; confident decision maker with a positive attitude
• Strong interpersonal, communication and customer service skills
• Team player and ability to work collaboratively with staff at all levels
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, stay organized and follow through independently
• Excellent proof-reading skills and knowledge of grammar
• Proofread/edit correspondence, reports, presentations as needed
• Flexibility to adapting work capacity to the needs of the Fundraising and Communications unit
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and adjust workload accordingly

Applications and Inquiries:

Send letter and resume with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments to:  jobs@farmland.org