Job Opening: Thornburg Foundation

Position: Policy Officer – Water, Thornburg Foundation

Reports to: President Location: Thornburg Foundation, 2300 North Ridgetop Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico USA Hours: Full-Time

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Thornburg Foundation is seeking applications from qualified candidates to lead the Water Initiative, which focuses on advancement of policy reforms, planning efforts, research and data, and other work to modernize and transform water management in New Mexico. The Initiative is driven by collaborative approaches and informed by community needs. Partnerships with Tribal and Hispanic communities will be particularly important for this work. The position will be chiefly responsible for managing a multi-year grantmaking portfolio consistent with the organization’s strategic plan.

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Commitment to, experience in, and enthusiasm for advancing policy to reform and modernize water management approaches in New Mexico; required.
• Experience working in a bi-partisan way, building coalitions, and engaging diverse stakeholders and tribal communities; required.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, as well as organizational and interpersonal skills; required.
• Must operate with an entrepreneurial mindset, be self-directed, and highly collegial; required.
• 5+ years of executive, legislative, campaign, or related political or advocacy experience from within government, the non-profit sector, philanthropy, or other related industry; required.
• Undergraduate degree in conservation ecology, environmental science, public policy, social sciences, business, or related field; required. Master’s or Juris Doctor degree; preferred.
• Strong project management skills to assure grants are developed, submitted, monitored and reviewed on a timely basis; required.
• Understanding of the New Mexico political landscape; strongly preferred.
• Experience building issue-advocacy strategies to advance long-term policy objectives; preferred.
• Willingness to learn and ability to be flexible with changing priorities and responsibilities; preferred

Essential Duties:

• Refine and lead a comprehensive strategy designed to advance modernize water management and build climate resilient water systems in New Mexico.
• Work closely with prospective and current grantees to develop new grant applications, support grant implementation, and ensure grant reporting.
• Make quarterly presentations to the Foundation’s Board of Directors on the progress of the initiative and grant recommendations.
• Coordinate and collaborate with partners and stakeholders to advance a strong research and policy agenda.
• Work in a bi-partisan way to build coalitions and engage diverse stakeholders in any strategy, such as national and local business organizations, community and elected officials, tribal entities, legal experts, nonprofit organizations, foundations and community-based organizations.
• Consult with national, regional and state funders and funding collaboratives to coordinate, strengthen, and leverage the Initiative. Report to the President regularly to support their communications with the Thornburg Foundation executive committee.
• Ensure Water Initiative alignment and coordination with the Foundation’s other strategic initiatives, especially the Land & Agriculture and Pursuing Public Funding Initiatives.
• Work with the highest integrity and in full compliance with applicable rules, regulations and standards.

Requirements:

• Occasional travel in-state as well as national travel.
• Applicant must pass a background check.

Compensation & Benefits:

Competitive salary; health care benefits; paid time off; sick leave; professional development funding, and 401(k) plan with generous employer contribution.

Location:

This position is based at the Thornburg Foundation office in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The position allows for hybrid work. Staff schedule requires 3 days per week in the office. The Foundation does not offer remote work options.

To Apply:

No phone calls. Please submit a cover letter that specifically addresses how your expertise and background match the job description requirements, your resume, and contact information for three references (two must be former or current employers) by November 11, 2025. Email applications to leslie@thornburgfoundation.org and include “Water Policy Officer” in the subject line. We plan for first-round interviews for this position to be conducted between November 24 and December 5, 2025. The target start date for the position is February 24, 2026. All qualified applications receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status. Please note: in order to adhere to strict IRS guidelines for private foundations and in keeping with our internal conflict of interest policy, Thornburg Foundation employees may not hold any elected office. Find the job posting on Thornburg Foundation's website here.

Milwaukee Water Commons is seeking a full-time Co-Executive Director. We are building a multicultural, multi-racial movement that invites leadership and innovation from throughout the city and includes everyone in decisions about the care of our water. In keeping with the Common’s values of shared governance and community wide stewardship, Milwaukee Water Commons (MWC) uses a co-leadership team model with decision making, and power shared by two Co-Executive Directors in an inclusive manner with staff, the Board of Directors and community. The Co-Executive Director team model enriches our ability to address complex environmental challenges across our entire city through complementary perspectives and experiences. By having two leaders with different lived experiences, professional backgrounds, and expertise, we create a more comprehensive and adaptable approach to water protection, environmental stewardship, leadership development and advocacy work. This approach allows us to authentically guide the movement of engaging with the entire city, working across neighborhoods and cross-city networks to be leaders in the sector. The combined strengths of Co-Executive Directors help create more accessible engagement pathways and enables the ability to build broader coalitions for environmental action, resulting in a more effective and sustainable impact for all city residents. The ideal candidate will embody Milwaukee Water Commons’ core values (see below), demonstrate strong executive level leadership, comfort with ambiguity, a deeply collaborative spirit, management skills, and a commitment to the ongoing work of being an antiracist. This position requires someone who can navigate conflict, complex policy landscapes and demonstrate strong emotional acuity while maintaining strong community and funder connections. Position Responsibilities: The Co-Executive Directors will share overall strategic and operational responsibility for the Milwaukee Water Commons. This will include execution of the mission, staff and program management, fundraising, relationship development, and future expansion planning. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Promote programmatic excellence, evaluation, finance and administration, positive organizational culture, fundraising, thoughtful communications, and systems; timelines and resources needed to achieve the goals of Milwaukee Water Commons.
• Shared responsibility with the Co-Executive Director to implement all of Milwaukee Water Commons programs and events.
• Aspire to and build a deep understanding of the Milwaukee community and maintain authentic solidarity with local residents.
• Guide intersectional environmental justice work, strategic coalitions, and partnerships to advance the Milwaukee Water Commons mission.
• Generate revenue and fundraising activities to support and build existing program operations.
• Maintain strong relationships and diversify support with individual donors, foundations, and the broader funding community.
• Strategic thinking and adaptation to changing political and funding circumstances.

Essential Qualifications: The Co-Executive Director will demonstrate executive level leadership skills with a deep commitment to Milwaukee Water Commons’ mission and values, bring proven experience in organizational leadership, team development, working with people different from yourself, fundraising, and relationship building. This role requires fiscal management skills and the ability to build a collaborative movement through navigating complex community partnerships while advancing environmental justice work. Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent combination of relevant experience and community recognition. We value lived experience, community leadership, and demonstrated impact alongside formal credentials. Concrete demonstrable experience and other qualifications include: Community Leadership & Movement Experience

• Expertise leading community-based groups, organizations and/or movement building work in solidarity with communities most impacted by environmental injustice.
• History balancing organizational needs with community accountability and broader systems change.

Executive Leadership & Management

• Management experience in nonprofit, government, or community organizing.
• Experience leading and building trust with multi-cultural and multi-racial stakeholders
• Strategic planning and implementation experience with ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Proven success working with a Board of Directors along with an ability to cultivate existing member relationships and expand and diversify the board.
• Experience in team leadership, staff development, and stakeholder management, with proven ability to coach, mentor, and supervise diverse teams effectively.

Environmental Justice & Advocacy

• Demonstratable antiracism efforts with a political understanding of environmental justice principles and intersectional approaches to represent community voice in regional/national forums.
• Experience interrupting systems of oppression through policy, organizing, and/or direct action with government officials, funders, and corporate partners.

  Preferred Qualifications Communication & Relationship Building

• Compelling storytelling ability that connects local work to broader social movements, especially around complex environmental issues
• Proven success and experience navigating funding landscapes, developing and maintaining key community partnerships and donor relationships.
• Experience in shared leadership or co-leadership models.

Operations & Financial Management

• Nonprofit resource management, budgeting, and financial oversight experience.

  About Milwaukee Water Commons: Since 2014, Milwaukee Water Commons continues to build multicultural, multi-racial movements for water justice that center community leadership and innovation. We engage Milwaukee's communities to address critical water issues and work at the intersections of race, privilege, and policy that perpetuate environmental injustice. Our work combines grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and community-led solutions to ensure everyone has a voice in decisions affecting water stewardship. Through connection, collaboration, and broad-based leadership development, we advance both immediate community needs and long-term systemic change. The Co-Executive Director will join a dynamic organization committed to a shared leadership team, community accountability, and environmental justice. This role offers the opportunity to lead transformative work at the intersection of water policy, racial equity, and community organizing while building power with communities most impacted by water injustice. Mission: Milwaukee Water Commons is a cross-city network that fosters connection, collaboration and broad community leadership on behalf of our common waters. We promote stewardship of equitable access to and shared decision-making for our common waters. Core Values:

• Water is an essential element for all life on Earth.
• Water belongs to no one and cannot be owned.
• We recognize the gift of the Great Lakes; they have nurtured our ancestors and shaped us as a people and as a community. They continue to sustain us.
• We all have a profound responsibility to protect and pass on clean and abundant fresh water to future generations.
• Decisions about the care and use of our waters must involve all of us.
• We see water not as a resource, but as a friend and treat it as such.

We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we do at: Milwaukee Water Commons.

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Anti-Discrimination Policy: Milwaukee Water Commons is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. MWC is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at MWC are based on programmatic needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to a person’s race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, or physical, disability, HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations of our city & state. MWC will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. MWC believes the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be on behalf of our community. Compensation and Benefits: To help you assess alignment with your compensation expectations, the current salary for the Co-Executive Director role is: $150,000.

• Health, vision, dental coverage, sabbatical policy and retirement benefits.
• (5) weeks of PTO and twelve paid holidays.
• Professional development opportunities.

Instructions for Applicants: To be considered for this opportunity, please send a detailed and updated resume and cover letter to (MWC@spectrumnonprofit.com) by September 19, 2025. All inquiries about, and interactions with, candidates are kept in strict confidence.

Location: Hybrid; based in West Concord, MA with regional travel Position Type: Full-time, Exempt Reports to: Director of Communications and Development Salary Range: Starting at $65,000–$75,000, commensurate with experience, with performance-based annual bonus potential up to $50,000

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

OARS 3 Rivers is the watershed organization for the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers (SuAsCo), working to protect, improve, and preserve these rivers and their watershed for all people and wildlife. Our vision is a watershed with resilient streams and rivers that provide healthy wildlife habitat, clean water, natural beauty, education, and recreational opportunities for all. We are a science-based, inclusive, and innovative nonprofit that combines advocacy, education, ecological restoration, and community engagement to achieve this vision. As a growing force for environmental change, OARS is leading the charge toward a healthier, more connected watershed in the face of climate change and regional development.

JOB OVERVIEW

OARS 3 Rivers seeks a proactive, results-driven Major Donor Officer to join our growing team. Reporting to the Director of Communications and Development (DCD), the Major Donor Officer will lead efforts to cultivate and secure major gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations with the capacity to make four-, five-, and six-figure contributions. This is a pivotal moment for OARS: recent growth in visibility, programming, and grant funding has positioned the organization for an ambitious leap in philanthropic support, with annual fundraising needs expected to double from $750,000 in 2025 to $1.5 million by 2027. The Major Donor Officer will play a central role in making this growth possible, managing a robust donor portfolio, developing strategies for individual and foundational giving, and helping drive our mission forward. This is a hybrid position, with staff typically working 2–4 days per week from our West Concord, MA office. The role requires frequent in-person donor meetings across the SuAsCo watershed and Greater Boston area, as well as occasional evening and weekend commitments for events and cultivation opportunities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Major Gifts Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Partner with the DCD to design and implement an individual giving strategy aligned with OARS’ strategic growth goals.
• Develop and maintain a dynamic portfolio of 100–150 current and prospective donors with giving capacity at the four-, five-, and six-figure levels.
• Build, assess, and refine the portfolio in coordination with the DCD to ensure optimal donor engagement and revenue outcomes.
• Establish and meet annual revenue goals for each donor and for the major gifts program overall.
• Design and implement a robust moves management plan for cultivating and soliciting major gifts.

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

• Conduct 10–12 donor meetings monthly, primarily in-person, to build relationships and solicit gifts.
• Prepare personalized proposals, presentations, correspondence, gift agreements, and stewardship communications.
• Support the donor engagement efforts of the Executive Director and Board members through briefings, meeting coordination, and follow-ups.
• Manage peer-to-peer fundraising and donor engagement activities in collaboration with DCD.
• Cultivate and secure planned gifts as appropriate.

Development Operations & Cross-Departmental Collaboration

• Accurately record all donor interactions and plans in OARS’ CRM system (Bloomerang).
• Analyze donor data and generate reports to track progress toward goals.
• Collaborate with other departments (Ecological Restoration, Education, Water Quality, Community Engagement) to align funding priorities and messaging.
• Contribute to a collaborative team culture in a small office where flexibility, initiative, and teamwork are essential.
• Attend staff and committee meetings and perform additional duties as assigned.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

Skills & Experience

• Minimum of three (3) years of successful frontline fundraising experience with major donors in a nonprofit with a $1M+ budget.
• Proven track record securing five- and six-figure gifts from individuals and foundations.
• Strong storytelling, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Experience creating compelling proposals and presentations.
• Ability to maintain high standards of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in donor relationships.
• Proficient in donor CRM systems (Bloomerang experience preferred), Microsoft Office Suite, and virtual collaboration tools.
• Understanding of and enthusiasm for OARS’ mission and programs.

Personal Attributes

• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Strategic thinker with a goal-oriented mindset.
• Flexible, organized, and detail-oriented.
• Comfortable with regional travel (up to 75%) and evening/weekend events.
• Familiarity with the Greater Boston philanthropic community a plus.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary range starting at $65,000–$75,000, based on experience.
• Annual performance bonus up to $50,000 based on fundraising goals achieved beyond baseline.
• Benefits include flexible hybrid work schedule, generous paid time off, professional development support, and the opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of the region’s rivers and communities.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

OARS does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We recognize that individuals from underrepresented groups may not meet every listed qualification, and we strongly encourage you to apply if you believe you have the potential to succeed in this role and contribute meaningfully to our mission. Your perspective and lived experience are valuable to us.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your cover letter and resume to Matt Brown, Executive Director of OARS 3 Rivers, at: MBrown@oars3rivers.org