The National Geographic Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to research, exploration, and The diffusion of geographic knowledge. The Society has approximately 9 million members worldwide. Revenues in 1997 were $448 million-deriving from membership, advertising, product sales, and philanthropic gifts.

There is no other organization like the Society in the world. Known largely for its media products - National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Television, Travler and World Magazines, the Society has been making grants to support field research since the its founding in 1888. It has awarded over 5,700 grants to scientists and principle investigators (typical awardees in the past have included Jane Goodall, Bob Ballard--some of the Society's "greats") and the Society currently gives away $4.0 million annually through the Committee on Research and Exploration. This is one important area for development - as the Development Office would like to increase outside funding for these grants. In addition, the National Geographic Society Education Foundation has been a key beneficiary of private support since its founding in 1988 to promote geographic literacy in grades K-12. Efforts to date have resulted in an $80 million endowment.

The Society is instantly recognizable.

Planned giving is a relatively new program, created in 1985. Presently the program is directed at enhancing future gifts through bequest and annuity programs. The person coming in can help develop it further, possibly with the introduction of new deferred gift programs.

The support of NGS management is evidenced by the fact that Society chairman, Gilbert M. Grosvenor, recently created a deferred annuity trust. One priority will be to work with the director of development in soliciting planned gifts from members of the Board of Trustees.

An informative and attractive newsletter, Connections--news about donors and the programs they support--published quarterly by the Development Office, is available for cultivation and recognition.

The Development Office raised $4.4 million in 1997, up from $3.1 million in the previous year.

There are outstanding opportunities to name parts of Explorers Hall, and underwrite lectures, photography and scientific field projects. A recent example, although not a planned gift, is a $6 million initiative to explore, document and provide critical scientific data on America's coastal

waters was launched in April 1998 with a goal of developing a strategy for the restoration and conservation of the nation's marine resources. The five-year Sustainable Seas Expeditions project, which will use new technologies to pioneer deep exploration, will be funded with a grant of $5 million from the Richard & Rhoda Goldman Fund, a philanthropic and environmental foundation based in San Francisco, and $775,000 from the National Geographic Society's Exploration Council. Various Federal agencies have earmarked resources to support the project and have drawn public attention to the Marine Sanctuary Program, National Geographic's primary partner in this project. The Society will also provide in-kind contributions to generate public awareness of the national marine sanctuaries. For further information on The Sustainable Seas Expeditions project, visit (www.nationalgeographic.com/seas).

Reports To:
Director, Individual Giving who in turn reports to the development (chief development officer).

Basic Function:
Plan, direct and implement a comprehensive planned giving program of national scope. Program responsibilities will encompass major gift cultivation and solicitation, direct mail prospecting, and introduction of a stewardship program for donors of planned gifts.

Major Responsibilities:

• Maintain an active portfolio of major gift prospects nationally. Specifically, identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major gift prospects. Maintain active portfolio of 200 prospects nationally requiring a minimum of 20 substantive contacts per month;
  
• While working within a regional framework, develop and execute strategies that promote capital giving through the planning and implementation of cultivation events, and the creation of relationships with referral sources such as CPAs and bank trust officers;
  
• Develop and implement a marketing plan to promote planned giving among the Society's membership through a national direct mail program, advertisements and newsletters. Conceive and implement 16 mailings/year to reach 250,000 prospects;
  
• Serve a resource to the rest of the Development Office team on issues related to planned gifts or tax issues.
  
• Provide the conceptual framework and action plan for the ongoing cultivation and stewardship of planned gift donors. Conceive and produce new materials. Organize regional events to highlight initiatives & promote support; and
  
• Coordinate with Corporate Counsel, Treasurer's Office, and outside counsel in structuring and negotiating planned gift policy, as well as individual gifts.

Qualifications

The Ideal Person Should Have:

• A Bachelors degree (advanced degree preferred);
  
  
• Progressive and successful experience in development or equivalent experience in a related field;
  
  
• Excellent verbal and communication skills;
  
  
• Knowledge of planned giving instruments and their tax implications; and
  
  
• Strong human relations and motivational skills.
  
  

The Ideal Person Should Be:

• Tolerant of an expanded program in planned giving, be willing to go "the extra mile" to set up something new, and to make adjustments as the program evolves.
  
  

• Able to travel extensively.
  
  
• Able to know how to act in every situation, ranging from blue jeans at a barn dance to a meeting in Palm Beach.
  
  
• Committed to the Society's mission.
  
  
• Able to understand the Society's core mission and activities--what the Society has that would be of interest to prospective donors.
  
  
• Creative.
  
  
• Enterprising.
  
  
• Able to talk about science, field research, K-12 education reform, and the power of visual communications.
  
  
• Curious about the world.

ROBERT SELLERY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
1155 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W.     WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036     202.331.0090
sellery@cais.com